Dear Members and Friends,
I am writing to you in my first week of the role and am thrilled to be the new CEO of Bicycle Network, to work with the wonderful team to make bike riding easier for everyone and get more people riding.
Riding bikes is a major part of my life. I met my husband riding, along with many of my close friends. I rode to school, commute to work, participate in bike events around Australia and love travelling and going places with the bike. To have the opportunity to combine my passion for riding with my professional experience is simply a dream come true.
Bicycle Network too has been a large part of my life. My husband and I have ridden 11 consecutive Peaks Challenges together and numerous Around the Bay rides. I have volunteered for the past 10 years as a ride leader for Peaks Challenge, led numerous training rides, information sessions and participated in training camps. I am an ambassador for Bicycle Network's Women’s Community and have worked with bike clubs and organisations to increase participation, and help make riding a bike inclusive and increase diversity.
People would ask why I volunteer and the answer is simple, there is nothing more rewarding than helping people achieve their goals on a bike. Over the years, I have met so many people, riding together and sharing stories of ‘why’ you ride and being a little part of that journey to achieve someone's goal is so special. Every year there are tears of joy at the finish line and sometimes disappointment, but the journey to get there is a life-changing experience.
The ‘why’ is the motivation. My own first goal was set when my mother passed away suddenly; a friend reached out to get me on a bike after moving back to Melbourne after living overseas for several years and returning unhealthy. Riding transformed my life; it is not only a great means of transport; it is a community of friends and family with so many physical and mental health benefits.
I look forward to connecting and engaging with our members, government, bike organisations and stakeholders over the coming months to inform a strategy encompassing initiatives across active transport, health and wellbeing, behaviour change, environment, education, tourism, accessibility, economic benefits, and diversity, to get more people riding.
To make a difference and to get more people to experience the joy of riding a bike is my own mission. To change people's behaviours, advocate for safe infrastructure, educate and make it easier for everyone to ride.
My first week at Bicycle Network has confirmed what I knew as a volunteer, this long-standing organisation has a talented team of like-minded, driven staff and volunteers who contribute and want to make a change to cycling in Australia. I look forward to working for our members and stakeholders to advocate and increase participation for everyone across all types of bike riding, influencing, and changing behaviours, and making it safer for people to get on a bike.
