Josephine Sukkar

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Josephine Louise Sukkar AM (née Macdessi) is an Australian business executive and, in 2021, was appointed as the chair of Sport Australia.

Personal[edit]

She was born in 1963 as Josephine Louise Macdessi. Her mother, Mary Macdessi, came to Australia from Lebanon when she was six and moved to Wingham in New South Wales, where her family ran a general store.[1] Her father, Buddy Macdessi, was a doctor[2] who came to Australia from Lebanon when he was eleven, took to sports, and became a rugby league supporter and Canberra Raiders team doctor.[3] She has two sisters and grew up in the Sutherland Shire[4] and attended Gymea Bay Public School. She obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in physiology and pharmacology and a Graduate Diploma of Education (1987) from University of New South Wales. She is married to Tony Sukkar. Their daughter is a doctor and their son now works in their business, Buildcorp. [5]

Career[edit]

She taught science at Gymea High School from 1988 to 1989. She and her husband, Tony Sukkar, established Buildcorp in 1990.[6] She is Chair of Buildcorp Foundation, which is a charitable structure concerned with initiatives such mental health and suicide prevention.[7]

Sport[edit]

She has a long involvement in rugby union as volunteer, administrator and board member.[4] She has been president of Australian Women's Rugby since 2015 and Director of Sydney University Football Club Foundation since 2010. Her company, Buildcorp, has been a major sponsor of rugby in Australia for nearly 30 years and, in recent times, particularly women's rugby. She was co-president of YMCA NSW from 2008 to 2015. She was appointed as the chair of Sport Australia from February 2021, the first woman to hold the position.[8]

Boards[edit]

Her membership on private, public, government and not-for-profit boards includes Growthpoint Properties Australia, Parramatta Park Trust (2017–2020), Australian Rugby Foundation (2015–2019), Australian Museum Trust (2019–),[9] Melbourne University Infrastructure Advisory Board (2017–2020), the Sydney University Football Club Foundation, Opera Australia (2011–),[10] Centenary Institute (2011–)[11] and Green Building Council of Australia (2021–).[12][13]

Recognition[edit]

  • 2017 – Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through a range of roles with sporting, social welfare and cultural organisations and to the construction sector.[14]
  • 2019 – Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney, in recognition of longstanding and continuing contribution to the University.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Three generations of women talk about mothers, daughters and feminism". ABC 7.30 Report. March 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  2. ^ Pender, Kieran (6–12 March 2021). "Australian Sports Commission chair Josephine Sukkar". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Dad's volunteering inspired a life-long passion for sport". Australian Sports Commission. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Australian Sports Commission welcomes new Chair, Josephine Sukkar". Sport Australia website. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Josephine Sukkar". Women for Media website. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. ^ "How a passion for rugby helped this construction giant succeed". Australian Institute of Company Directors. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. ^ "About Us". Buildcorp Foundation website. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. ^ Holmes, Tracey (31 January 2021). "Josephine Sukkar appointed as chair of the Australian Sports Commission". ABC News. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Our Trustees". Australian Museum website. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Board of Directors". Opera Australia. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Ms Josephine Sukkar AM". Centenary Institute. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Our Board and Trustees". Centenary Institute website. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b "University recognises support from Buildcorp founders". University of Sydney. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Josephine Louise SUKKAR". It's An Honour. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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