2019/20 PRESIDENT’S REPORT.............................................................................2 CEO’S REPORT ..........................................................................................4 MESSAGE FROM SPORT AUSTRALIA ......................................................7 WPA PARTNERS ........................................................................................8 ATHLETES’ COMMISSION .......................................................................9 HIGH PERFORMANCE REPORT .............................................................10 EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION .........................................................12 MEMBERSHIP .........................................................................................13 COMPETITION & EVENTS ......................................................................14 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ................................................................16 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS ....................................................................18 BOARD COMPETENCY AND ATTRIBUTE MATRIX .................................22 DIRECTORS’ REPORT .............................................................................24 AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION ......................................26 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ................................................28 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS ..............................................................29 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY .................................................29 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ...........................................30 DIRECTORS’ DECLARATION ..................................................................38 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT ...................................................38 OFFICE BEARERS ...................................................................................40 HONOUR ROLL .......................................................................................41 1 PRESIDENT’S REPORT It is my pleasure to present the CORPORATE 2019-20 Water Polo Australia A key focus for the Board was to keep WPA in a strong (WPA) Annual Report. It has been financial position while supporting our teams, clubs and an extraordinary time in our world States to deliver on our strategic priorities. with COVID-19 impacting so many of us here at home and abroad, It is pleasing to once again report for the second consecutive not only bringing huge changes year that we will have a surplus of $0.3 million. Additionally, to our sporting world but also our $1.1million in high performance reserves will be carried everyday lives. forward to support the Tokyo Olympic Games campaign for 2021. The impact of COVID-19 on community sport is one that many Our strong financial position was again testament to the sports, including water polo, has hard work of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC), been affected by. I want to take including outgoing Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Cara O’Neil this opportunity to commend our State Associations and Clubs and current CFO Adrian Cornish. for adapting during these unprecedented times to ensure WPA announced a further two year partnership with that where possible waterpolo could be delivered in a safe Tourism and Events Queensland and the Brisbane Economic environment Development Agency for the Australian Youth Water Polo WPA also recognises the incredible strength and resolve Championships (AYWPC). The significant investment from the shown by our Aussie Stingers and KAP7 Aussie Sharks tourism bodies secures the AYWPC in Brisbane for 2021 and whose lives were turned upside down when the Tokyo 2020 2023, and provides strong financial support to deliver this true Olympic Games were delayed by 12 months due to COVID-19. festival of water polo that has grown to become a hallmark This decision was devastating for all Olympic sports and our event on the WPA calendar. athletes have shown true resilience and have adapted to WPA also welcomed additional support from major partner ensure that their Olympic preparations carry on with a focus KAP7 who added the naming rights of the AYWPC and the towards July 2021. Aussie Sharks to their sponsorship portfolio of WPA. As the In November 2019, Joelie Chisholm took compassionate leave official ball supplier of WPA, KAP7 has continued to grow after a family member was diagnosed with a serious illness. their investment in the sport from the grassroots through In April 2020, Joelie made the difficult decision to step down to the elite. from her role as CEO of WPA and relocate to the UK to be with her family. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank GOVERNANCE Joelie for her dedication and hard work during her tenure in Governance reform remains a key priority for the Board, which she helped to oversee governance reforms, the high ensuring that our sport is operating at its most effective performance program refresh and helped guide WPA to a capacity at both a national and local level. There have been strong financial position. major advancements in governance reform in the last 12 Richard McInnes was appointed interim CEO while Joelie months, building on the work completed by the Governance was on leave and has now stepped into the role permanently. Reform Council (GRC) in the previous reporting period. Richard faced the challenges of COVID-19 during this time and In the last 12 months, WPA has worked with the States to form has been critical to navigating the sport through this difficult a National Steering Committee to develop a truly national year while helping set up the long term strategic framework strategic framework for the sport for the next decade. Soon to for the sport. be released, the new National Strategic Framework (NSF) will Despite the disruptive year, including the postponement of provide a greater voice for our clubs whilst also establishing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and cancellation of major alignment across key areas for how the sport is delivered. tournaments including the 2020 Australian Waterpolo League, The new NSF incorporates feedback from members, clubs and good progress has been made across water polo development. volunteers, collected via survey participation and a number of The lifeblood of our sport is our volunteers; the workshops conducted across Australia. The Board would like administrators, club supporters, coaches, officials and so to thank the States for their active participation in the process many more. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank and their collaboration towards a joint vision and plan for the everyone who gives up their time to support our great sport. sport for the next ten years. I would like to acknowledge outgoing Board members Thomas Whalan, Daniel Bartels, Steve Blunt and Phil Scales. All have served the Board over a number of years, bringing significant expertise both within and outside of water polo, to guide 2 positive change for the sport. In particular, I thank four time HIGH PERFORMANCE Olympian Thomas Whalan for his service to the sport as an While it was reflected on last year, it is worth noting again athlete and as a member of the Athlete’s Commission, but that during the reporting period Australia achieved its most more recently for his contribution as President of the Board. successful FINA World Championships campaign since COMPETITION 1998, with the Aussie Stingers and Beach teams bringing home the bronze medal and KAP7 Aussie Sharks finishing The second KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships sixth. These strong results put our Aussie Stingers and were held in 2020, bringing together more than 3,500 KAP7 Aussie Sharks in good stead to achieve podium participants in Brisbane for the annual two week festival of performances at the deferred Tokyo Olympic Games. The water polo. WPA was pleased to welcome KAP7 as the naming athletes, coaches and support staff should be commended rights sponsor for the event, broadening their association with for their resilience and ability to adapt in this time of the event which they helped launch in 2019. uncertainty and I look forward to seeing them in action During the Championships, WPA also welcomed the USA when the Olympic Games take place in July 2021. senior national teams who contested a three test match series Our junior national teams also contested World Championship against our Aussie Stingers and KAP7 Aussie Sharks. It was campaigns during the reporting period. The Junior Women’s great to see so many fans fill the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, competition was held in Funchal, Portugal, with head Coach recording the biggest crowd at a water polo match in Australia Georgina Kovacs and her team securing a ninth place finish. since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Led by Head Coach Andrew Yanitsas, the Junior Men’s Thanks to 7Mate, Australian water polo was broadcasted on team represented Australia at the Junior Men’s World free-to-air TV for the first time in a number of years. More Championships in Kuwait, finishing in eleventh position. than 170,000 fans tuned in for replays of men’s and women’s These tournaments are extremely important in preparing test matches on Australia Day, watching the KAP7 Aussie our pathway athletes for potential senior team representation Sharks take out the three-test series and the Aussie Stingers and the opportunity to learn at major international end the reigning Olympic Champions’ 69 game winning streak. tournaments is invaluable. We thank all the competitors, families, friends, volunteers, clubs, staff and