ABOUT APL
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) is the governing body that operates, markets and commercialises the top tier professional domestic football competitions in Australia, known collectively as the A-Leagues.
Since gaining independence from Football Australia in December 2020, the APL has embarked upon an ambitious strategy to develop top-tier professional football talent in Australia and New Zealand, drive engagement across the leagues and to build on football’s undisputed position as the country’s most popular participation sport.
The re-branded men’s and women’s competitions (brought under the A-Leagues brand to reflect football’s young, inclusive and forward-looking audience) are made up of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women.
With 13 clubs in the men’s league and 12 in the women’s competition, the APL aims to grow both competitions to be the league of choice for modern Australians and New Zealanders, and unite communities through a shared love of football.
OUR BOARD
The current members of the APL Board are:
The Hon Stephen Conroy –
The Hon Stephen Conroy was appointed as Independent Chair of the Board in September 2023. Stephen served as Leader in the Senate and Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity during his twenty-year political career (1996 – 2016).
He is currently Chair of public affairs consultancy T.G. Public Affairs, which provides strategic advice to a range of Australian companies, and Pennytel. He is also a Political Contributor to Sky News Australia where he appears regularly as a commentator on a wide range of the network’s political and news programs.
Stephen Evans –
Stephen Evans is a Managing Director at Silver Lake, the global investment firm.
Stephen serves on the Boards of multiple organisations across the world including Ambassador Theatre Group, Diamond Baseball Holdings, Endeavor, Learfield, NZ Rugby Commercial, TEG and Thrasio.
Ebru Köksal CFA –
Ebru Köksal CFA was appointed to the Board in 2022 as Football Australia’s nominated board member. Köksal is an experienced football and finance executive and an advocate for women’s football and gender equality.
She is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director of the UK’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and also holds board positions with Women in Football UK (Chair) and Doublepass BV (Non-Executive). She is a senior advisor at the investment management firm J. Stern & Co where she advises on football finance transactions.
Gino Marra –
Gino Marra is the Chairman of Macarthur Bulls FC, where he played an instrumental role in successfully establishing the Club and overseeing its entry into the competition during the 2020/21 season.
Gino is currently the Managing Director of Marra Capital Partners, a leading private equity and investment manager. Gino also oversees a diverse investment portfolio that includes investments in the finance waste technology and telecommunication sectors.
Rob Morrison –
Rob Morrison was appointed to the Board in November 2023 and has been owner and Chairman of Wellington Phoenix Football Club since 2011.
He is currently Chairman of H.R.L. Morrison & Co, a leading specialist investment and asset manager, previously served as an independent director of Kiwibank from 2009 to 2017, and held a dual role as CEO and Chair of CLSA Asia Pacific between 2002 and 2008.
Rob is also a council member of the Asian Corporate Governance Association, a director the regional advisory board of The Nature Conservancy and an advisory professor at Nankai University in Tianjin, China.
Simon Pearce –
Simon is a member of the boards of City Football Group and Manchester City Football Club. He is also Vice Chairman of Melbourne City FC and was appointed to the Board in December 2020.
In 2006, Pearce joined the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi, and currently serves as Special Advisor to the Chairman. He is also a Board Member of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, operator of Yas Marina Circuit and home of the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and a Board Member of Manchester Life Development Company.
