The Beijing 2008 kayak gold medallist had been interim chair of ONOC AC but has now been officially appointed following a vote today, along with three other candidates - Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga (Samoa), Matelita Buadromo (Fiji) and Kayla Whitelock (New Zealand).

The four join Sarah Walker (Deputy Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and IOC Member), Papua New Guinea’s Ryan Pini (Pacific Games Council’s Athlete Representative) and Australia’s Jess Fox (IOC Athletes’ Commission Member). All three members automatically get a seat on the ONOC AC Executive because of their roles with the IOC and the Pacific Games Council.

AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll says Mr Wallace’s appointment is significant, given the Pacific Region is a key stakeholder as Australia prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

“The Brisbane Games are also a Games for all Oceania. To have Ken Wallace and Jess Fox on the Athletes’ Commission is very important for Australia. Ken will again lead Australia’s campaign as Chef de Mission at the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands later this year, as he did at Samoa 2019.

“He brings wonderful experience to the ONOC Athletes’ Commission having also been Deputy Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team in Tokyo 2020 – a role he will reprise in Paris next year.

“Our commitment to the Pacific region is strong. Previously, the AOC has partnered with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to provide assistance to 76 athletes from 11 countries in the Pacific to train, prepare and ultimately attend the Tokyo 2020 Games against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic.

“The AOC, as a proud member of ONOC, stands ready to assist our Pacific neighbours as we look towards Paris. Earlier this year, AOC President Ian Chesterman was elected to the ONOC Executive Board, emphasising our commitment to ensuring the Pacific region will share in the benefits of Brisbane 2032,” Mr Carroll concluded.