2021 Board Elections

Which candidate will you be voting for?


  • Total voters
    26
  • Poll closed .

hey shorty

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30k Posts 10k Posts TheBrownDog
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I have a fair bit to do with two existing board members, nice people but would offer very little in the Board. I have no idea why one of them is even on there. They have no idea about football or what your average supporter would want.

Feels to me we are over represented by lawyers, risk managers and diversity inclusion specialist. Not sure we really need someone on the board whose big claim to fame is they have been mentoring wives and girlfriends.
To be fair Donny is a very successful businesswoman
 

hey shorty

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30k Posts 10k Posts TheBrownDog
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I wouldn't be able to stop saying "Shut the fu** up, Donny" every time she opened her mouth
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought that.

Perfectly appropriate in the interviews I've heard from her too.
 
Nov 24, 2007
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Here's my hot take. I have highlighted all the things I think sound like total bullshit; the rest is normal level bullshit. Jesus H Tapdancing Christ, WE CAME ******* LAST.

Having read these, I'd probably go for Nick, then Kym. So many buzzwords, inclusion, inclusion, inclusion. Stop ******* including people that are s**t, and put together a program that wins matches. I remember Mr Ryder being the only lawyer on board at some stage (?), so I'd be happy if they just sacked the rest of the board. I might find that other thread and have another vent.



***********************

Nick Takos

I was born in South Australia and have spent my life here supporting the State, and the Adelaide Crows since the Club started. I have worked in a number of industries in South Australia, as well as developing my skills and attributes with study in the areas of economics, management, leadership, and organisational culture. I have spent over 23 years working in sport management across the sports of football (AFL), cricket, and netball. This included working for the Crows for 14 years (incorporating the Premiership years) and additionally, volunteering on the Crows past players and officials board for 7 years. I believe football is a “people game” and that developing and protecting the club culture is a key responsibility for the board and management of the Club. Having completed a PhD in leadership within AFL boards, where I researched 10 clubs within the AFL, I have a strong knowledge and appreciation for the role a board plays in driving club culture and success. With my sport management experience in both industry and academic contexts, I provide a balanced approach to decision making that requires understanding both the business and human relations considerations. I would represent the members strongly and openly, and whilst understanding the business and financial necessities of running an AFL club, I am a strong advocate for a club culture that is built on strong relationships, and decisions that are always underpinned by our club values.

Shanti Berggren

Having for many years lived the highs and lows of a team I love; I have decided to run for the Adelaide Crows Board. The off-field experiences of the last few years need to be put behind us, and we need to develop an inclusive and engaging future for everyone in our Club. I want us to get back to really feeling that we Fly as One. This means better, more direct and honest communication, this means members being consulted and included in decisions, and it means members being heard by the Board and receiving a response. I promise to champion your voice and help get us back on track! I am an experienced Commercial Lawyer well known for taking a strategic and collaborative approach to achieve the best outcomes for all stakeholders. I have worked in Los Angeles, Singapore, Sydney and Adelaide. My work requires a very high level of people management and negotiation skills. I have an open and rigorous analytical style and firmly believe in the challenger culture of asking ‘why’ as a catalyst to find ways to continually improve. I am the daughter of Indian immigrants and the daughter-in-law of Italian immigrants connected by their love of Adelaide, Australian Rules Football and the Crows. I believe in all things South Australian. As a Board member I will contribute by bringing my corporate and active board experience and equally importantly bringing another slice of our diverse South Australian community into view for the Crows.

Kym Ryder

It has been my honour and privilege since 2019, to be one of the 2 directors appointed by the Members. I would love to continue in that role. In the past two years, we have had fewer wins on the field than we would have liked. However, we are committed to strong football programs that deliver success for our Men’s and Women’s teams. I think that my skills as a Lawyer have enabled me to have been a contributor at Board level. I have also been a member of the following subcommittees: Finance and Audit; Professional Standards and Integrity; and Diversity and Inclusion. In addition, I have sought to regularly interact with our Members by attending functions arranged by the Club, communicating directly and by social media with those Members. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t speak to a Member or supporter of our Club. Further, I have built strong links with the Adelaide and Fleurieu Peninsula Member/ supporter groups. In my view, our Club should be focused on: A new facility that will facilitate regular interactions for our Members and the Club; and Continuing to build open and transparent communication with our Members; Continuing the rebuild of the men’s playing group; and Strong men’s and women’s football programs and cultures that deliver long term success. I would love to continue to be a Members voice at Board level.

Donny Walford

My focus as a Board director of the Adelaide Football Club is to contribute to the Club getting back into the top four on the Premiership ladder and that we win a Premiership in the next five years. I have played football all of my life playing with the boys in primary school but banned from playing in secondary schooling. I was born in the wrong era! I am an experienced Non-Executive Director with specific expertise in Strategy, Finance, Strategic Marketing and building businesses. Core competencies and capabilities include: Extensive commercial experience and a skilled contributor at Board and Executive management level. Broad and deep knowledge of finance, governance, marketing & business development, strategic change and people and culture.
Established business relationships, strategic partnerships and networks at a national level. Adept at influencing and negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes. Creating national businesses 15 years ago, Behind Closed Doors and Bottomline, reflects my entrepreneurism and commercial acumen combined with unique insight into the importance of diversity in organisations and on Boards. As a passionate Crows supporter and Gold member since 2013, I have been involved with the Club in mentoring wives and girlfriends of our Players and have been a member of the Community, Government and Inclusion committee for the past three years. I understand the challenges facing the Club, the AFL, members and fans of our great Club. Being appointed to the Board will give me the opportunity to contribute to the Crows being a top four team.
 

WeeBlake

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To be fair Donny is a very successful businesswoman
I’ve read her bio on her website, and to me it looks like her main background is in HR, which is fine, it’s relevant everywhere including at our club. And then later on the kind of management consultant/government organizations/AICD/CV padding stuff that I am always very wary of. It seems very clear she’s well-connected, including to govt, and that might be very valuable in itself (although we already have Kate Ellis). But i wouldn’t be picking her as a business-person, because it is not clear to me that she’s ever really run a significant commercial enterprise.
 

Redline

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You would have to ask what value most of the board has added to any decision. I think the answer is very little. Especially if you have a very vanilla CEO.

In the end the only thing that matters to 90% of supporters is that we feel like we are going somewhere on field. The problem is the guys that have any input to that are not up for election.
 

Redline

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I’ve read her bio on her website, and to me it looks like her main background is in HR, which is fine, it’s relevant everywhere including at our club. And then later on the kind of management consultant/government organizations/AICD/CV padding stuff that I am always very wary of. It seems very clear she’s well-connected, including to govt, and that might be very valuable in itself (although we already have Kate Ellis). But i wouldn’t be picking her as a business-person, because it is not clear to me that she’s ever really run a significant commercial enterprise.

Kate should be there to have to connection to supporters and like you say Business/Government. Instead she is there as a hobby and to stay relevant.
 
Last edited:
Jun 7, 2011
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Any criticism of Kym Ryder aside (I think he promised more than he could practically deliver), I think it's worthwhile to think about what we can expect from the member rep on the board.

Should they advocate for members' interests / concerns / issues on the board? I would expect so, but what issues / opinions should they take to the board, and where do they get them from? BigFooty? Facebook? I don't know that I expect a members' rep to go to a board meeting and say "the members think the club's management sucks and we should clear out the footy ops manager and most/all of the coaching panel", but at the same time I'd expect them to have their ear to the ground, and to think about the impact on members of any given initiative.

Should they be reporting / communicating to members on various club issues? Well.... That's really the club's job, and a board member (in any organisation) is constrained in what they can / are authorised to tell members / shareholders off their own bat. I think the club's media / marketing people would not be happy about any board member (or member of staff) who felt they could just say whatever they like.

I mean they're sort of like a member of parliament for a given electorate, but at the same time not so much. Probably not an easy role to fulfill, in line with the expectations that some members might have.

it’s not a member rep. It’s an ordinary board position elected by the members from the hand picked candidates that got through Hazel’s screening process. Once elected, their duties and responsibilities are no different to the appointed members.
 
it’s not a member rep. It’s an ordinary board position elected by the members from the hand picked candidates that got through Hazel’s screening process. Once elected, their duties and responsibilities are no different to the appointed members.

Chapman's right hand man. How the * is he still here?
 
Aug 4, 2004
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My problem with Nick Takos is that he isn't a members representative.

If his resume is accurate and he has that wealth of experience, then why isn't the board adding him to one of their own positions? Surely he should have been hand picked to fill one of their previous vacancies?

I don't like a Crows insider being pushed as a member representative. That's the last thing we need.
 
Nov 1, 2012
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Any criticism of Kym Ryder aside (I think he promised more than he could practically deliver), I think it's worthwhile to think about what we can expect from the member rep on the board.

Should they advocate for members' interests / concerns / issues on the board? I would expect so, but what issues / opinions should they take to the board, and where do they get them from? BigFooty? Facebook? I don't know that I expect a members' rep to go to a board meeting and say "the members think the club's management sucks and we should clear out the footy ops manager and most/all of the coaching panel", but at the same time I'd expect them to have their ear to the ground, and to think about the impact on members of any given initiative.

Should they be reporting / communicating to members on various club issues? Well.... That's really the club's job, and a board member (in any organisation) is constrained in what they can / are authorised to tell members / shareholders off their own bat. I think the club's media / marketing people would not be happy about any board member (or member of staff) who felt they could just say whatever they like.

I mean they're sort of like a member of parliament for a given electorate, but at the same time not so much. Probably not an easy role to fulfill, in line with the expectations that some members might have.

I think members rep is similar to HR in an organisation. Both have ultimate loyalty to the company.

HR is not here to help employees, and Members Rep isn’t here to help members. They serve the board & organisation

if you think about it like that more accurate expectations are possible
 

Vhaluus

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My problem with Nick Takos is that he isn't a members representative.

If his resume is accurate and he has that wealth of experience, then why isn't the board adding him to one of their own positions? Surely he should have been hand picked to fill one of their previous vacancies?

I don't like a Crows insider being pushed as a member representative. That's the last thing we need.

Are you aware of the history of the 'member representative'?

It has been more Crows insiders than not.
 
Nov 1, 2012
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Our board is full of status seekers, and look-at-me types. Fine.

but this is the reason why someone like Roo had so much influence, perhaps more than he originally intended or wanted. No one else knows about the core business of footy.

you have a CEO who knows nothing about footy, a board who largely knows nothing about footy, and you might not be so surprised by our recent scandal and spoon acquisition programme
 
Our board is full of status seekers, and look-at-me types. Fine.

but this is the reason why someone like Roo had so much influence, perhaps more than he originally intended or wanted. No one else knows about the core business of footy.

you have a CEO who knows nothing about footy, a board who largely knows nothing about footy, and you might not be so surprised by our recent scandal and spoon acquisition programme

Spot on.

Also a COO who had no involvement in the football side of things, so Fagan couldn't even defer to him.
 
Nov 1, 2012
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Whilst not entirely relevant, it’s not inapplicable either - but I’m thinking of Theranos.

the great Silicon Valley scandal of recent times, which was in large part fuelled by the fact that they had an illustrious board who knew literally zero about the science of the business there were in. They were not able to provide critical challenge because they had no idea how impossible some of what they were being told was.

at some point you need governance and oversight who understands what is being said
 
Nov 24, 2007
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Whilst not entirely relevant, it’s not inapplicable either - but I’m thinking of Theranos.

the great Silicon Valley scandal of recent times, which was in large part fuelled by the fact that they had an illustrious board who knew literally zero about the science of the business there were in. They were not able to provide critical challenge because they had no idea how impossible some of what they were being told was.

at some point you need governance and oversight who understands what is being said

Yup, a heavy-hitting board designed to attract investment, with precisely zero knowledge in the sector.

Just like us, except we’ve got no heavy hitters.

Elizabeth Holmes goes on trial next month too, should be fun. The 8th of March I think.
 
Nov 1, 2012
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Yup, a heavy-hitting board designed to attract investment, with precisely zero knowledge in the sector.

Just like us, except we’ve got no heavy hitters.

Elizabeth Holmes goes on trial next month too, should be fun. The 8th of March I think.

the most interesting part of that story for me, is how Rupert Murdoch refused to intervene at the WSJ investigation despite having only dumped $100million in a few weeks earlier

everyone likes to pretend he’s some interfering oligarch, but as a matter of record here he was happier to burn $100m rather than get involved in editorial
 
Aug 4, 2004
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Are you aware of the history of the 'member representative'?

It has been more Crows insiders than not.
Definitely - see Jamo.

However, looking at those candidates, I'm not keen on voting for one that has that type of Crows background. I'd like someone who comes from outside that sphere.
 

WeeBlake

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Our board is full of status seekers, and look-at-me types. Fine.

but this is the reason why someone like Roo had so much influence, perhaps more than he originally intended or wanted. No one else knows about the core business of footy.

you have a CEO who knows nothing about footy, a board who largely knows nothing about footy, and you might not be so surprised by our recent scandal and spoon acquisition programme
agree up to a point. Def need some more footy experience on the board. Need very few lawyers - one or maybe two. Also need people who have experience on big projects like our new hq. projects of that size need ppl who have worked with govt. probably need a finance person. Need people who successfully built (or at least successfully run) a big commercial outfit - someone who makes good decisions. need zero management consultant and look at me types. But the thing is, each of these ppl needs to be really good at their thing. Ours have shown themselves (collectively) not to be.
 
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Info on Board Directors

8610E003-8D73-4A39-8AA1-96CAA2BB3655.jpeg
 

Paragon360

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Feb 12, 2021
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Hey everyone,

long time reader, first time poster and Crows member.

I listened to the interviews on 5AA today and my vote is going to Shanti Berggren, for most of the reasons already written above.

A refreshing voice which we need and a commitment to actually engage with members - something our club hasn't had in such a long time.
 
Nov 1, 2012
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Hey everyone,

long time reader, first time poster and Crows member.

I listened to the interviews on 5AA today and my vote is going to Shanti Berggren, for most of the reasons already written above.

A refreshing voice which we need and a commitment to actually engage with members - something our club hasn't had in such a long time.

Hi Shanti
 
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