World Bowls president Darryl Clout and his executive colleagues are delighted to announce the appointment of Brett O’Riley from Auckland, New Zealand, one of his country’s leading industry executives, to the organisation’s Board of Directors.

’Brett’s appointment brings a new set of skills and experience to the World Bowls Board. I am sure he will be able to make a positive contribution to our important work as the review of our operations gets under way,’ President Darryl said at the announcement. ‘We all look forward to working with him to ensure that we set a platform for greater development and success in the coming years as we hopefully emerge into a post-COVID-19 world.’

Mr O’Riley is chief executive of the EMA (Employers and Manufacturers Association in New Zealand), having commenced in that role in January 2019. He is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, with post graduate qualifications from MIT (Boston) and Singularity University (San Jose). He returned to New Zealand from Australia in 2009 and has spent the last 12 years dedicated to the goal of growing the capability of New Zealand businesses and the innovation eco-system, as founding CEO of the NZICTindustry association, founding deputy CE of the Ministry of Science + Innovation, and as chief executive of economic development agency Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development.

 Brett has played bowls since he was a teenager, played in the New Zealand Emerging Players team in 1991 and has been runner-up in the New Zealand National Singles and National Fours. He has been a bowls journalist and broadcaster throughout this time, is a member of SSI, and has played bowls in many countries around the world over the years. Brett was vice chair and then chairperson of the Professional Bowls Association between 2002 and 2008, and served as a Director of World Bowls Tour during this time, while also involved in the running of the PBA New Zealand branch. He was also briefly an observer on the World Bowls board as the PBA representative during the presidency of Australia’s Betty Collins.

More recently Brett has served on the Bowls New Zealand board. Brett is an active member of the Takapuna Bowling Club in Auckland where he is selection convenor and a match committee member, and he is a member of the Bowls North Harbour men’s selection panel, having retired from representative play last season.

Mr O’Riley takes over the role of Regional Director for the Oceania Region, replacing Australia’s Darryl Clout, the recently elected World President.