The AFL has announced that Gold Coast SUNS’ chief operating officer Andrew Travis has been awarded the 2013 Graeme Samuel Scholarship.
The Graeme Samuel Scholarship provides $20,000 for a study course. It is awarded to a senior manager within the football industry who is working specifically in business or administration.
Andrew has worked in the sporting industry for the past 19 years.
He was Finance Manager/Commercial Manager at Essendon Football Club during 1994 - 2002, Etihad Stadium’s General Manager Operations between 2002 - 2006, and Director of Infrastructure at Melbourne & Olympic Parks where he led the client team in the construction of the iconic $268 million AAMI Park.
In 2010, Andrew, his wife Natasha and three children, Kye, Ella and Tanner moved to the Gold Coast, joining the Gold Coast SUNS.
Andrew has not only played a significant role in the birth of the Gold Coast SUNS, but oversaw the construction of the $144 million Metricon Stadium at Carrara.
Andrew has also led the implementation of a distinctive customer experience operating philosophy which has resulted in Metricon Stadium being ranked the number one AFL match day experience and number one venue in the country in 2011 and 2012.
“I’m incredibly honoured to receive the Graeme Samuel Scholarship. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have worked with and been supported by so many great people throughout my time in the sports industry, in particular in my current role with the Gold Coast SUNS. I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank them for their on-going support, and in doing so I express my appreciation to the AFL for making available this opportunity, ” he said.
The scholarship has been awarded by the AFL Commission since 2003 to recognise Graeme Samuel’s contribution to the game.
Graeme Samuel was one of the original AFL Commissioners when it was formed in 1984. He resigned from the Commission 2003 to take up the position of Chairman of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission. Over two decades Graeme played an invaluable role in the strategic direction of the AFL competition and Australian football in general.
Previous recipients of the Graeme Samuel Scholarship:
- Trevor Nisbett, CEO, West Coast Eagles FC
- Steven Trigg, CEO, Adelaide FC
- Geoff Walsh, then CEO of North Melbourne FC and now Director of Football, North Melbourne FC.
- Rob Threlfall, General Manager, Finance & Administration, Geelong FC
- Justin Reeves, Director, Commercial Operations, Collingwood FC
- Simon Garlick, CEO, Western Bulldogs FC
