Castle joins select group

Dec 12, 2017 - 3:50 AM In succeeding Bill Pulver as chief executive of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle has become the first female boss at the governing body of any of the four major football codes in Australia. She joins a select group of female executives who have broken the glass ceiling in Australian sport.

KATE PALMER

Palmer took over as the Australian Sports Commission's first female CEO in 2016 after a successful 10-year stint heading Netball Australia.

PEGGY O'NEAL

The lawyer became the first woman in AFL history to serve as a club president, elected in October 2013 to head up the Richmond board. She played a key role in steering the Tigers to a long-awaited premiership this year.

TRACEY GAUDRY

Became the first female CEO of an AFL club when she took over at Hawthorn in May 2017, but her troubled tenure lasted just five months.

NICOLE LIVINGSTONE

The three-time Olympic swimmer and executive member of the Australian Olympic Committee recently joined the AFL to oversee the AFLW competition and all of the AFL's female footy programs.

MARNE FECHNER

Promoted from deputy chief executive at Netball Australia into the top job following the departure of Kate Palmer.

FIONA DE JONG

De Jong was chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee from 2014-16.

Source: AAP