BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Director

Role

Bio

Meg Delahoy

President/ Elected Director 

Richard Hatherall 

Vice President/ Elected Director 

He has over 30 years of executive experience, primarily in strategy consulting with Bain & Company, where he is a Senior Partner based in Sydney. His areas of expertise include strategy, customer-led growth, organisational effectiveness and operational excellence (including digital and AI capability development). His clients include both large corporates and pro bono organisations.

Born in the UK, Richard has lived and worked across the US, Europe and Asia. Richard and Jess (wife of 25 years) have lived in Australia for over 20 years and have three teenage children. He co-organised  the Kite the Reef expedition in 2015. This set a world record of 1200km for longest kiteboarding journey as a team in 2015 (since broken by another team!).

Andrew Chandler 

Elected Director 

MA (International Relations)

Andrew brings extensive executive leadership and governance experience to the Kiteboarding Australia Board. A long-standing member of Kiteboarding Australia and of its Governance Committee, Andrew has over 30 years of executive experience in the Australian Public Service.  He has led policy development, program delivery and large teams across a range of national security, emergency management and central portfolios. His extensive international experience spans North America, South-East Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Within the National Emergency Management Agency, Andrew oversaw strategic governance, capability development and delivery of disaster resilience and recovery programs worth more than $20 billion. As former Chief Risk Officer for the Department of Home Affairs, he has specialist expertise in enterprise strategy, governance frameworks, and risk management.

Andrew has shaped critical defence policy and strategy, coordinated operational responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, and deployed operationally to Bougainville,  Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and Aceh following the 2004 tsunami.

A long-term kiteboarding enthusiast and budding wing foiler, Andrew combines his passion for the sport with extensive experience in securing government funding and cultivating stakeholder relationships across industry, not-for-profit and government sectors. His strategic leadership approach and proven track record in complex policy environments uniquely position him to drive Kiteboarding Australia's continued growth and development.

Phil Wishart

Elected Director

 Phil Wishart EMPA

Phil has extensive experience within the sport and major events industry, currently employed at Paralympics Australia as the General Manager of Government Relations and Stakeholder Engagement.

Previously led the NSW Government’s 10 World Cups in 10 Years initiative at the NSW Office of Sport. Phil has worked closely with a range of organisations across the industry to help maximise the benefits of hosting major events, now leveraging these relationships to support the advancement of the Paralympic Movement in the lead up to Brisbane 2032.

Phil was a non-executive Director for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Local Organising Committee and represents Paralympics Australia on several Brisbane 2032 working groups. Throughout his career he has worked in local and state government in addition to the corporate and non-for-profit sector. He holds and Executive Masters in Public Administration, a Graduate Diploma of Sports Media, and a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Management.

Appointed  Director

BSc. /BA 
With a career spanning both land and sea, Jeanette is part of the Hamilton Island Executive Team with responsibility for the Property and Marina portfolio. Over the past 13 years she held several senior leadership roles at Hamilton Island where she implemented strategic systems and operational improvements that enhanced efficiency, governance and revenue performance across diverse business units. 

Her international experience includes senior management at Vas Marina in Abu Dhabi, hosting some of the world's largest superyachts during the Formula One Grand Prix, as well as several years crewing aboard superyachts throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Pacific. This global exposure has strengthened her expertise in operational leadership, stakeholder engagement, safety management and service excellence within complex environments. 

Jeanette holds a BSc/BA degree, a Queensland Real Estate Licence, and is the Principal Licensee for Hamilton Island Real Estate. 
While not a kiteboarder herself, she is chief supporter, beach crew and bridle ­replacement expert for her family. Wife to an OG kiteboarder who's addiction began with a 2-line Wipika kite, and Mum to 15yr old twin sons who were recently selected to join the Australian Sailing National Youth Squad representing the Kitefoiling class. She is committed to supporting the safe, sustainable growth and high-performance pathway of kiteboarding nationally. 

Gavin Hirschhausen

Appointed Director 

MEdLead, GradDipEd, BEd

For over 20 years Gavin has led educational organisations, including eight years as CEO/Principal of a K–12 college, accountable to a governing board for strategy, multi-million-dollar builds & budgets, compliance & child safeguarding. A proven community club-builder as founding President of the Strath Lions Soccer Club and long-serving President of the Drummond Cove Progress Association, securing $3.5 million in bi-partisan government funding for foreshore redevelopment.

A kitesurfer of more than two decades and arguably the fastest kiter in the country, winning shark bay back to back, Caranrvon and taking out the Boss of WA title in 2023.  Gavin manages Ultimate Watersports Geraldton and instructs with KiteWest. He is a long-time event participant and coordinator, having run the first WA-hosted Australian Kitesurfing Nationals at Point Moore, Geraldton.

Gavin's safety and risk background spans professional ski patrol and avalanche control in Canada, as well as commercial marine experience. He brings his expertise to the Schools & Education portfolio, supporting instructor standards and school accreditation across Australia.