Anna Carroll appointed as inaugural Chief Executive Officer
Lacrosse Australia has today announced the appointment of its first-ever Chief Executive Officer, Anna Carroll, marking a historic milestone for the organisation and signalling an ambitious new chapter for the sport nationally.
Carroll brings more than 15 years of senior executive experience across sport, government, community, and the cultural sector. She has held leadership roles with Netball Queensland, HOTA – Home of the Arts, the Australian Electoral Commission, and the Gold Coast Light Rail project, and currently serves as President of the Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Across her career, she has established a strong reputation for organisational transformation, strategic growth, stakeholder engagement, and high-performance leadership.
Lacrosse Australia Chair Abbie Burgess-Brice, said Carroll’s appointment positioned the organisation for a bold and sophisticated era of development.
“We have been working towards this milestone for some time, and the appointment of our first CEO marks a significant moment in Lacrosse Australia’s evolution,” said Burgess-Brice.
“Anna brings an exceptional blend of executive experience across sport, governance, and organisational leadership, and offers deep capability across both strategic development and operational delivery. Her leadership will be instrumental in guiding Lacrosse Australia through our next phase of growth.
“This appointment represents an important step forward as we prepare for LA28 and look ahead to Brisbane32. It also strengthens our ability to continue building a sustainable future for our sport, independent of Olympic cycles.”
Across her career, Carroll has:
Led organisations through periods of significant transformation and growth, including managing teams of over 220 staff and 80 volunteers at HOTA;
Overseen major infrastructure and capital projects exceeding $200 million;
Secured substantial government and commercial investment, including $30 million for the Nissan Netball Centre while CEO of Netball Queensland;
Delivered strategic workforce mobilisation at a national scale, deploying 22,000 personnel across Queensland and the Northern Territory for the Australian Electoral Commission;
Shaped long-term organisational strategies that lifted operational performance, improved financial sustainability, and enhanced customer and community outcomes.
As Lacrosse Australia’s inaugural CEO, Carroll will lead the design and implementation of the organisation’s long-term strategy, strengthen pathways and participation, and expand the sport’s national footprint as it prepares for upcoming Olympic campaigns and future major international events.
“I am thrilled to join Lacrosse Australia at such a pivotal moment in the sport’s history,” said Carroll.
“With Olympic inclusion for LA28, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to elevate lacrosse’s visibility, participation and performance across the country. I am looking forward to supporting players, coaches, officials, clubs and member associations to build a thriving and sustainable future for lacrosse in Australia.”
This appointment marks a significant shift toward greater organisational capability, improved governance, and sustained growth across both elite and community lacrosse.
Carroll’s appointment comes ahead of the release of the organisation’s 2026 calendar which features a number of domestic and international events. This includes Lacrosse Australia hosting the first-ever APLU Sixes Championship, a pathway event to Olympic qualification, on the Sunshine Coast in October.
ENDS
For any further media enquiries please contact:
Carly Luke
Media Liaison, Lacrosse Australia
media@lacrosse.com.au
+61 433 279 133