A fresh look at FISA Staff for 2017

Twice World Rowing Coach of the Year, Gianni Postiglione is FISA’s new Director of Coaching. Postiglione, from Italy, has brought unprecedented success to rowing programmes throughout the world. This includes his incredible winning streak in the 1980s in Italy as well as his recent achievements with the Greek and Lithuanian national teams. He has been an advisor to national team programmes throughout the world. Postiglione will work part time for FISA developing coaching development programme levels four and five which are mentoring phases.

South African Olympian Colleen Orsmond returns to FISA after spending three years in Rio de Janeiro as the Rio Olympic Rowing Manager. Orsmond’s new role is as Sports Director and she will oversee the events team as well as work with the development programme and head the new sustainability department.

Joining FISA as Events Coordinator is Cameron Allen from Australia. Allen moves from his position as Event Manager for Rowing Australia and has already been involved in FISA as part of the Events Commission. He replaces Tine Jacobsen who has just become a mother.

Of the current FISA staff there have been a number of promotions. Canadian Sheila Stephens Desbans moves into the role of Development Director. This fills the place left by the retirement of longstanding director, Thor Nilsen. Stephens has been with FISA since 2000 as Development Manager and has played a huge part in increasing the participation of new rowing nations from around the world. She is joined by Development Coordinator Yihuan Chang of the Netherlands. Former development coordinator, Daniela Gomes has returned to her native Portugal and now works for the International Table Tennis Federation.

Jillian O’Mara has been promoted to Communications Manager – Digital. O’Mara, from the United States, joined FISA in 2013 and has been instrumental in the growth of World Rowing’s social media presence as well as overseeing the redesign of the World Rowing website. O’Mara has also been involved in a number of new FISA initiatives including the Kafue River & Rowing Centre and the World Rowing Indoor Sprints. She collaborates closely with New Zealander Melissa Bray, FISA’s Communications Manager – Content.

Lucy Trochet, originally from Great Britain, moves into the role of Governance Manager. Trochet works closely with FISA President Jean-Christophe Rolland and FISA Executive Director Matt Smith and has been closely involved with the Governance Working Group which has proposed several initiatives to clarify FISA’s governance.

Major Service Providers
After an extensive request for offer process, FISA has selected the following as the major service providers for FISA in the period 2017 to 2020:

• Swiss Timing (ST Sportservices) – Timing and Data Service Provider
• Gold Performance Services – TV Cat transport and Commercial Branding
• Quattro Media – Television Services and Production Consultants
• Sports Presentation Services – Sebastian Franke, Michiel Jonkman and Michael Hein’s company will replace Great Big Events as Sports Presentation service provider
• DeltaTre – continues as website provider and developer
• European Broadcasting Union – television partner for Europe – this relationship has been confirmed for the next four years.