TTA Board Update: Thank You Marie Pinkewich and Sean Shwe | Welcome Steve Knapp and William Henzell

The 2023 TTA AGM was held in Adelaide on 29 April. One of the key outcomes was changes to the TTA Board composition.

Thank You Marie Pinkewich and Sean Shwe
Marie Pinkewich and Sean Shwe did not seek re-election and retired from the Board upon completion of the 2023 AGM.

Marie first joined the Board at the 2018 AGM, before being re-elected again in 2019 and 2021. For the past year Marie served as TTA Deputy President. Marie also served on the TTA Umpires & Referees Committee since 2019, including being Committee Chairperson since late 2020.

Marie has been instrumental across many key areas, most notably leading the project which identified every player who has represented Australia at senior level (able-bodied and para) including compiling their career records, and compiling comprehensive historical national results. Marie always provided a steady hand and exercised considered judgement in all decision making and it is difficult to imagine anyone with a stronger moral compass than Marie.

Thank you Marie for five outstanding years on the Board and we look forward to you continuing in other areas of table tennis moving forward.

Sean joined the Board in July 2022 when he filled a casual vacancy. Sean contributed strongly during his time on the Board and was a valued member of the team. Thank you Sean and we look forward to you continuing to contribute to table tennis in Western Australia and beyond.

Welcome Steve Knapp and William Henzell
Steve Knapp and William Henzell were elected to the Board at the 2023 AGM for a two year term, after which time they can seek re-election.

Steve is a TTA Life Member and TTA Hall of Fame Member and was a TTA Board Member and President in the 1990’s. Steve enjoyed a decorated playing career where he represented Australia between 1973-1979, winning 13 international medals, three Oceania titles and 22 national titles. Steve was also a member of the famed Ping Pong Diplomacy Tour of China. Following his playing career, Steve established an outstanding corporate career owning and operating multiple businesses and serving on many different Boards and Committees.

William is arguably the greatest ever Australian player, representing Australia between 2001-2015. William is a 3-time Olympian, 4-time Commonwealth Games representative, 19-time Oceania champion and a 49-time national champion. William is the youngest person to be awarded both TTA Life Membership and TTA Hall of Fame Membership. Upon retiring as a player, William moved into the corporate world, holding multiple senior leadership positions, running his own business and earning an MBA. This is William’s second stint on the TTA Board, previously serving as the Athletes Commission Representative in the 2000’s.

TTA are fortunate to have people of Steve’s and William’s calibre wanting to join the Board. No doubt they will be valuable contributors to Australian table tennis moving forward.

The full composition of the TTA Board is: Graham Symons, Leeanne Grantham, Kamalesh Tharmasuthan, Steve Knapp, William Henzell, Karen Zhang and Anthony Moore.