Dear Members,
The Board of NSW Touch Football (NSWTF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Rushworth as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 7 April 2026.
Daniel returns to NSWTF with a deep understanding of our sport, our community and our operating environment. Having previously spent 18 years with NSWTF in senior leadership roles – including Sport Manager and Business Development Manager – Daniel has played a significant role in shaping the modern foundations of our organisation.
Since departing in 2019 to broaden his executive experience, Daniel has served as Chief Executive Officer of Softball NSW and Motorcycling NSW. In those roles, he led strategic reform, strengthened governance, restructured businesses and operational teams, improved commercial performance and delivered measurable participation growth. Most recently, Motorcycling NSW achieved a Tier 1 ranking in the Australian Sports Commission Governance Benchmarking Report under his leadership.
A Leader Who Knows Our Game
Daniel is not new to our community. During his previous tenure at NSWTF, he oversaw membership, development, competitions, pathways and events, and played a key role in the implementation of the NRL–Touch Football strategic alliance. He has worked closely with Affiliates, Regions, volunteers, schools and national partners, and brings both institutional knowledge and fresh external perspective to the role. Having intentionally stepped away to broaden his executive leadership experience, Daniel now returns with enhanced perspective and proven capability – well placed to guide NSWTF through its next phase of growth, reform and long-term sustainability.
Strategic Focus – What’s Next
NSWTF is at a defining moment. With the Governance and Operating Model Review complete, our transition to a Company Limited by Guarantee finalised, and the upcoming Strategic Plan well advanced, the organisation has formally entered a new era of governance, clarity and opportunity.
Daniel’s immediate priorities will include:
Finalising and launching the next Strategic Plan
Reviewing the organisational structure to ensure alignment with future needs and provide clarity for our staff
Implementing the remaining recommendations of the Governance and Operating Model Review
Deepening engagement with Affiliates, Regions and stakeholders, and supporting initiatives to grow our sport
Strengthening capability and alignment across participation, pathways and events
Advancing the upcoming Region Review and Technical Arm State Panel Review processes
Working closely with Touch Football Australia to reinforce a genuine whole-of-sport approach
Closing
On behalf of the NSWTF Board, I congratulate Daniel on his appointment and welcome him back to NSWTF. We look forward to working with him as we continue to strengthen our organisation and position the sport for long-term growth and success. Daniel is eager to reconnect with members, Affiliates and Regions in the coming weeks and will undertake a series of engagement meetings shortly after commencing.
Please join us in welcoming Daniel Rushworth as Chief Executive Officer of NSWTF.
Kind regards,
Anthony Dudeck
Chair,
for and on behalf of the NSWTF Board