Dear Bike SA Members,

By the time you read this I will still be dipping my toes into the shallow end of this great organisation but I am tremendously excited to be coming on board to lead the team serving this strong, diverse and passionate community of South Australian cycling enthusiasts.

Before I discuss what’s ahead, I must pay my sincere respects to my predecessor, Brett Gillett, whose contribution over the past two years has been immense. He is an amazing human being whose energy will be sorely missed in the office and I am grateful for the comprehensive transition into the role that he has given me.

I have always loved sports, both as a participant and as someone fortunate enough to work in this energising and inspirational industry. While I have held roles working among elite level athletes, my passion is at the community, recreation and activity level.

So, for the past 11 years I was CEO of Little Athletics in South Australia, a role and an organisation that I adored. Their motto is “Be your best” and that’s something I’ll strive to achieve for the rest of my life after my time with them. It will also underpin how I will embrace the role of leading Bike SA.

After 11 years, I felt Little Aths could do with some fresh ideas. I knew my next role needed to be a community-focused organisation that had its members at the heart of it. Bike SA is that and more, and leading it is something I am very humbled to have been chosen to do.

Now I’m here, I feel very fortunate and can’t wait to get involved with everything Bike SA is committed to achieving. I have a very clear understanding of what recreation means to communities and I love getting people out, active, laughing and enjoying life.

I think this organisation is incredible. I don’t believe in change for the sake of change – that will not be happening. My goal right now is to strengthen a steady ship. I love and value teamwork and I’ve already seen this is a strong team and a human organisation with heart, including our army of amazing, dedicated volunteers, for whom we are all tremendously grateful.

Mostly, for the next few months I will be learning. I am here now to introduce myself and share my enthusiasm for the activities and community we all share. But in three months, in my next CEO column for Cycle Magazine, it will be a different conversation. I will be sharing what I have found and where I want us to be heading.

I want us to take that journey together and I intend to be accountable to you as we proceed. To that end, I want to hear from you and what you think about Bike SA. This will involve surveys and forums to grasp the big picture and I also encourage our members to stop by or call for a chat. This organisation is a community and all members of a community deserve a voice in where we are headed.

I am very keen to understand the needs of all who call Bike SA their organisation. I hope you seize this opportunity and I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can throughout 2024 and beyond.

Sincerely,

–

Sue Bowman

CEO, Bike SA