Commonwealth Games Australia board member Darryl Clout has been elected as the President and Chair of World Bowls, the global governing body of Lawn Bowls.
Clout, who serves on the Commonwealth Games Australia board of directors and who was formerly Bowls Australia’s President, assumes the position following the immediate resignation of Englishmen John Bell, after seven-years at the helm and a further two years as a Board Director.
Following a long and distinguished career in sports management, Clout joined Bowls Australia’s Board in 2012, before taking the reins as President in 2017, which he relinquished when he stepped onto the World Bowls board in June 2020.
From a professional sports management perspective, after 25 years of service on the personal staff of NSW Government Ministers, including two Ministers for Sport, Clout held the position of General Manager of NSW Sport and Recreation for six years.
He also has a rich history of sports governance from a voluntary perspective, as formerly the President of Softball Australia and Vice President of the International Softball Federation before moving across to the sport of bowls, and has been a Board Director of Commonwealth Games Australia since 2018.
“I feel privileged to be elected as President of the sport’s international body,” Clout said after learning of his appointment.
“The next 12 months will continue to present huge challenges as the world tries to deal with the effects of a global pandemic which has led us to change the way we all live, work and play.
“With the encouragement and support of our members our Board has decided to conduct a major review of what our sport should look like as we head into the next decade; our, vision, our mission, our values and how we present the sport will all come under scrutiny.
“Along with my Board and our members I hope to be able to play a key part in that review so when it is concluded we can all enjoy the benefits this great sport has to offer.”
Clout follows in the footsteps of two other Australians that have presided over the sport’s international body, in Victoria’s Betty Collins OAM from 2003 to 2009 and Joe Aarons AM from 2012 to 2014.
Clout, who is a member of NSW’s Marks Point Bowling Club, will serve in the coveted role until at least the conclusion of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Bowls Australia acknowledge the tireless work of John Bell as President of World Bowls and congratulate Darryl Clout on his historic appointment.
With thanks Bowls Australia.
