Brian Cook appointed AM in King’s Birthday Honours List

VETERAN footy administrator and premiership-winning chief executive officer Brian Cook is among the local names in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.

The Torquay resident was today (Monday, May 9) appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to Australian rules football, to business, and to the community.

Mr Cook guided the West Coast Eagles as CEO to AFL flags in 1992 and 1994, and was one of the architects, in the same role, of Geelong’s recovery in the 2000s that culminated in premierships in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

He left the Cats after 23 years at the end of 2001 and has been CEO at AFL club Carlton since then.

“I was quite thrilled actually when I first found out; I was quite excited,” Mr Cook said of learning he had been appointed an AM.

“It’s an award, it’s an honour, I think it’s a recognition of quality service and then hopefully the effect I’ve had with that service over a long period of time.

“It was a reinforcement as well as an acclamation, so I’m very grateful and I hope that I show great humility around this as well. It should be shared by a lot of other people, not just me.”

As well as the premierships, he is proud of the infrastructure (particularly the five-stage, $340 million redevelopment at Kardinia Park) and the cultural change he has driven at West, Geelong and Carlton over his 40 years in footy.

Mr Cook originally wanted to be a physical education teacher and gained a bachelor’s degree, but said he did not enjoy his student teacher experience.

“I did seem to be so focused on a career in sport, but not necessarily in teaching.”

He then completed one of the first master’s degree courses in sports administration.

“To be a success in AFL footy, you’ve got to be team-driven – that whole concept about people’s growth, being selfless, being part of the team, searching for team goals rather than personal ambition,” he said. “All of those things have been very attractive to me, and seeing the joy in in supporters’ faces when you win.”

He said he had been fortunate to work with and learn from excellent chairs, board directors and “a lot of great people” throughout his career, including Terry O’Connor, John Worsfold, Frank Costa, Joel Selwood and Patrick Cripps.

Aireys Inlet resident James Demetriou was also appointed an AM, for significant service to sport, to education, and to business, including as founding chair of both the Australian Sports Technology Institute and Sports Without Borders.

People in the Geelong region awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) this year include:

• Dr John (Jack) Ayerbe, of Newtown, for services to veterinary science, including the
• Dr Stephen Bolsin, of Newtown, for service to medicine as an anaesthetist
• Roger Sykes, of Moolap, for service to the community through a range of organisations
• Dr David Iser, of Barwon Heads, for service to medicine as a general practitioner
• Bill McFarlane, for service to the community of Geelong, and
• Barry Solomon, for service to the communities of Geelong.

Recipients will attend investiture ceremonies at Victoria’s Government House in coming months to receive the insignia of their award.