April Cavanagh is passionate about providing a regional voice to her new role as a director on the Queensland Rugby Union Board.
Stepping up to fill a casual director vacancy, the Toowoomba-based Cavanagh will bring a strong understanding of regional Queensland gained from more than 25 years of leadership experience across financial services, agriculture, risk management, manufacturing and governance.
As a rugby mum, with sons at Toowoomba Grammar and the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Club, she lives the grassroots of the code every weekend during the season.
“I’m passionate about a regional voice. As a fourth-generation rural Australian, I feel I know the value of that voice and what a team sport like rugby means to the communities across the state,” Cavanagh said.
“That regional voice has been my everything. I think there is a great opportunity on the Board to have an influence and wanted to take it.
“I’ve seen first-hand the important role that community rugby plays in building values, friendships, and resilience in young players on and off the field.”
As a former Head of Agribusiness at Suncorp Bank (2009-22), Cavanagh was immersed in finance industry leadership with a $5 billion portfolio, dealings with more than 3000 farming families and managing a staff of more than 100.
Floods, export bans and biosecurity threats were amongst the major events which required well-planned responses.
Cavanagh is the current Chair of Manufacturing Skills Queensland. She also serves as Chair of the Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) and as a Non-Executive Director of Endeavour Meats and Cotton Australia.
“You spend a lot of time at community events, and a number of rugby events, in places like Emerald, Roma and Longreach to realise what is important in different communities and the different ways of doing things,” Cavanagh said.
“I’m someone who is always going to step up and say ‘gidday’ and back myself.”
Cavanagh said she was delighted to see The Girls Can Tackle Anything program take off in Queensland rugby with nine regional hubs across the state galvanised to develop more girls-only environments for players from Under-6s to Under-12s.
“I never got that opportunity as someone born in country Australia. It’s incredible to now see Darling Downs girls teams, for example, going away to play rugby,” Cavanagh said.
“It’s incredibly good for culture too with boys learning how to relate and see girls as equal."
QRU Chair Brett Clark welcomed Cavanagh to the Board.
“April brings to the Board a wealth of experience across regional Queensland, a deep understanding of governance and a strong passion for rugby. We are confident that her contributions and advocacy for regional rugby will strengthen the Board and support the continued growth and success of rugby in Queensland,” Clark said.
Cath Clark has been appointed as the Independent Director representing the Australian Super Rugby Clubs on the Super Rugby Pacific Board.
Clark will step down from her position as a director of the QRU to take up the appointment.
“This important appointment follows a QRU recommendation to the SRP Board and was supported by the other Australian Clubs,” QRU Chair Clark said.
“Cath’s experience in sports governance, strategic leadership and high-performance sport see her well-placed to contribute to the continuing evolution and success of Super Rugby Pacific.
“We are proud to see the QRU playing a leading role in this appointment and look forward to the positive impact Cath will have in her new role, both for the competition and the broader rugby community."
