WAFC Update: New President and Member Elect

The West Adelaide Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Grigson to the role of President following last night’s AGM. Having served as the Governance Director since 2020, Emma’s focus is on strategic planning, governance, leadership and risk management. Emma spent 19 years serving in the Australian Army and is a mother to two young children. Her roles included Health Operations Officer, Strategic Health Advisor to Afghan National Medical Corps [NATO] and 3^rd Battalion Operations Officer.

Emma has held numerous Board positions including Chair of Harness Racing SA, Vice-Chair of Alliance Francaise d’Adelaide and Board Director of Mt Barker Waldorf School.

She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, having completed a Bachelor of Arts – Leadership, Bachelor of Commerce/Sports Management, Masters of Health Science as well as undertaking her PhD in Science [injury prevention] and Doctorate in Law.

“It is an extreme privilege to be elected to lead the West Adelaide Football club as President – and I am conscious of the responsibility I bear, along with my fellow Directors, to lead the club through this next phase of growth.

I have always believed in the power of sport to drive social change, provide connection and be a force for good and this has always been the case within the WAFC community. It is a club with a strong history, where our members have been the very lifeblood – it is my intent to ensure we deliver the results our community deserves.

I thank John Kantilaftas for his leadership and know that his stepping away from this role is by no means a step away from the club. John has a long and intimate association with the club, from passionate player to key leader and every role in between. I wish John all the best and am confident he will be back.”

Congratulations also to Daniel Rossetto who has been appointed as a Member Elected Director. Daniel is an experienced energy and environmental finance executive. He has enjoyed much of his career working abroad in leading multinational corporations, Enel (Italy) and J.P. Morgan (US and UK) – in the energy, banking and finance industries.

His business experience spans across six continents, and is fluent in five languages. Daniel has undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in energy, management and finance obtained from the University of South Australia, Murdoch University (WA) and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (UK).

“I am honoured to join the West Adelaide Football Club board. I have supported Westies since my family moved to Adelaide from the Northern Territory in the 1980s. My Zio (uncle) Aldo won the league Best and Fairest in 1956. I played for the club for many years and captained various junior teams.

As a board member, I want to help West Adelaide achieve sustained on-field success, foster the development of our players, enhance our club’s position in our evolving community and optimise the experience for current and future Westies members, supporters and sponsors”.