Chairman of Basketball NSW, Bob Elphinston, has announced today that Ms Maria Nordstrom has been appointed CEO of Basketball NSW and will commence duty on 2 February, 2017 for a five year term.
Maria Nordstrom born in Sweden, and now a citizen of Australia for many years, has had a remarkably successful career with Fuji Xerox as Managing Director NSW and subsequently National Sales Director. This was followed by a stint as Managing Director of Technogym, Asia Pacific, supplier of fitness equipment to the Olympic Games. More recently Maria has managed her own business focusing on strategic planning and business management.
In basketball, Maria represented her country Sweden and played college basketball in the US, She also played domestically in Melbourne for many years, and continues her enthusiasm for the game by coaching her teenage son’s team in Sydney.
Maria has played a prominent role in ‘Not for Profit’ organisations and appreciates the role of the volunteer, being one herself in a local community group.
BNSW Chair Bob Elphinston said, “We are delighted to have secured the services of Maria Nordstrom to lead NSW Basketball for the next five years. Maria will bring great passion in her role as CEO, will lead from the front and will be a strong advocate of the sport. She is determined to grow the sport and provide support to the staff, Association members, basketball stakeholders and the greater basketball community in NSW.”
Within a short period of time, Maria demonstrated a great understanding of the Strategic Plan, which places particular emphasis on growing the sport, re-uniting the many disparate groups in the community participating in basketball activities, and the urgent need to work with local and State Government and our 87 member Associations in dramatically increasing the availability of basketball facilities across the State.
Maria has a very strong commercial and financial background which will complement the existing staff in BNSW.
Maria Nordstrom has expressed her delight in being able to work with a high profile State basketball organisation – “Basketball has been part of my life for many years, both in Sweden and here in Australia, and with the very successful roles, I have enjoyed in the Australian business environment , I am honoured to be appointed CEO of Basketball NSW and to have the opportunity to work closely with a very united and experienced Board, a highly experienced and dedicated staff and the 87 member Associations spread across the length and breadth of NSW, the Premier State. I look forward to working closely with Basketball Australia and our State/Territory colleagues with the challenge of ‘growing basketball to new heights’.”
Bob Elphinston further indicated Kim Murphy, former long standing Company Secretary, and more recently acting as Office Co-ordinator since August, 2016 will continue his role for a further two months to assist in the transition of the CEO responsibilities. He will provide direct support for the immediate activities on the BNSW Calendar plus the challenge of gaining Government support for increased basketball facilities.