Josephine Sukkar Explained

Josephine Louise Sukkar (née Macdessi) is an Australian business executive and was Chair of the Australian Sports Commission from 2021 to 2024.

Personal

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 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. [4]

Career

She taught science at Gymea High School from 1988 to 1989. She and her husband, Tony Sukkar, established Buildcorp in 1990.[5] She is Chair of Buildcorp Foundation, which is a charitable structure concerned with initiatives such mental health and suicide prevention.[6]

Sport

She has a long involvement in rugby union as volunteer, administrator and board member.[7] 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 Chair of the Australian Sports Commission from 2021 to 2024, the first woman appointed to this position.[8]

Boards

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

Notes and References

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