For the first time in its history, the Australian Volleyball Federation will be led by a woman. Former national player and participant in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Anita Palm, was elected president of the organization during the General Assembly held on November 7, 2026.
The news was officially announced by Volleyball Australia on November 9, and a day later, the election was also reported by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
Palm succeeds Craig Carracher, who led Australian volleyball since 2013. He steps down from the presidential post after 13 years at the helm of the federation but remains a member of the Board of Directors.
The new president is very familiar with the organization, as she held the position of vice-president since 2013.
Anita Palm has an impressive sports biography. Before turning to beach volleyball, she recorded 28 appearances for the Australian national team in indoor volleyball. A six-time national champion, she participated in the beach volleyball Olympic tournament in Atlanta in 1996, where, together with Liane Fenwick, she finished in seventh place.
In 2013, Palm was inducted into the Australian Volleyball Hall of Fame.
In addition to her sports career, she possesses more than 20 years of experience in managing and organizing major international sporting events. She has worked on the preparation and execution of Olympic and Paralympic Games, starting from Sydney 2000.
She currently holds the position of Executive Director for Games Coordination in the Queensland state government structure, involved in the preparation of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"Volleyball has given me so much throughout my life. Now, as the first female president of the federation, I feel a real responsibility to give back to the sport and the community that have shaped me," Palm stated after her election.
She emphasized that her main task will be to build on the achievements of previous years, increase the number of volleyball practitioners, and enhance the popularity of Australian athletes.
Of particular importance for the new leadership are the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and Brisbane's hosting four years later.
Australia has already taken an important step in establishing itself as an organizer of major volleyball events, after Adelaide hosted the Beach Volleyball World Championship in 2025.
During the change of leadership, Palm specifically thanked her predecessor Craig Carracher for his work both nationally and internationally. She highlighted his role in attracting the World Championship to Australia and including beach volleyball in the Commonwealth Games program.
The General Assembly also brought other changes to the Board of Directors. Boris Georgiev, a specialist with nearly 30 years of experience in coaching and organizational activities, was elected as a member and received honorary lifetime membership in the federation. Jane Ballantyne and Simone Waugh also joined the leadership, while Mal Borghero concluded his participation in the Board of Directors, which began in 2012.
Anita Palm's election was also welcomed by the Asian Volleyball Confederation, whose president Ramon Suzara described the event as a historic moment for Australian volleyball.

photo:stories.uq.edu.au