Andrew Demetriou

Recent Speaker

Chief Executive Australian Football League

May 25, 2011

11.30am - 1.30pm

"Address to the National Press Club"

About Mr Demetriou's Address.

What the AFL's $1.25b broadcast rights will mean for viewers and supporters of football across the country and the opportunity it presents for players, clubs and the development of the game, particularly in indigenous and multicultural communities.

The AFL's plans for the future and an update on the expansion of the game into Queensland and NSW with the introduction of the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants.

The AFL and community responsibility - dealing with major social and community issues under the glare of the media spotlight and how sport can - and should - take on a community leadership position.

Andrew Demetriou is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Football League, which guides the 17-team AFL competition and is the guiding body for the code which has more than 780,000 participants, 120,000 volunteers and employs more than 11,000 people across the country.

Mr Demetriou and his team just negotiated the $1.253 billion AFL rights deal, the richest sporting rights agreement in Australian history after overseeing the introduction of the Gold Coast Suns into the AFL this year ahead of a new team from Greater Western Sydney in 2012.

Before being appointed AFL CEO in September 2003, he served as General Manager – Football Operations, overseeing all aspects of the AFL competition after serving for two years as CEO of the AFL Players Association.

Andrew was previously managing director of the Ruthinium Group and also served as Non-Executive Chairman of the Baxter Group, a Waste Management group that listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2003.

Andrew is Public Appeal Chairman for the Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre, chair of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council which recently delivered the People of Australia report, a board member of the Climate Institute and a member of the NAB Community Advisory Council.

Andrew is married to Symone and is the father of four children.