St Kilda has become the first AFL club to appoint an overseas based director to its Board with the appointment of Wellington based Liz Dawson.

Ms Dawson’s impressive governance credentials span a three decade long professional and non-executive career in trans-Tasman business and sporting organisations which will strengthen the link between the Saints and New Zealand.

St Kilda has hosted games on Anzac Day in Wellington for the past two seasons and is set to return to the New Zealand capital again in 2015 to mark the 100^th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.

Ms Dawson joins the Saints board as a replacement for Victorian Supreme Court judge Jack Rush who recently resigned from his Club directorship due to his judicial responsibilities.

St Kilda President Peter Summers said Dawson was a significant appointment to the Saints Board.

“Liz brings an extensive background in sports administration and governance to our Board while also giving us a distinctively New Zealand perspective,” Summers said.

“This appointment adds to what is already a diverse Board with a rich mix of business and sporting backgrounds.

“Having a New Zealand based Director will also give our club a stronger foothold in Wellington, where we continue to build our home away from home.”

Summers also paid tribute to outgoing director Jack Rush.

“We are enormously grateful to Jack for his contribution to the club and we look forward to continuing to draw upon his support, albeit not as a Club director during his tenure as a Supreme Court judge.”

Ms Dawson has had more than 30 years of experience in senior executive and governance roles. Her new position on the St Kilda Board will be combined with roles on the Boards of New Zealand Cricket, the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Rugby Super 15 team the Hurricanes.

Ms Dawson is also a trustee of Wellington’s Westpac Stadium and has previously served on the Board of the Central Pulse (Central Regions Netball Ltd), the New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association and the South Australian Greyhound Racing Association.

Ms Dawson’s sports administration background includes work on the successful New Zealand bid for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and roles with Rugby League teams New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys and former Super League team Adelaide Rams where she served as CEO.