QBE Insurance have been the longest-serving supporters of the Swifts in the Club’s illustrious 27-year history, and now one of Australian sport’s most successful partnerships is set to continue for another three years.
The NSW Swifts are delighted to announce that the Club’s Principal Partner QBE has recommitted with the seven-time Premiers in a deal that runs until the end of 2025.
The three-year extension will bring the length of the partnership to 18 years of supporting the Swifts at National Netball League level, and the next generation of elite netballers via the QBE Swifts Academy and a range of community initiatives.
Sue Houghton, Chief Executive Officer, QBE Australia Pacific, said the partnership will help support the dreams of aspiring female athletes as the company continues to stand beside the Swifts.
“Our long-term relationship with the Swifts recognises the positive impact this sponsorship has on our community and women’s sport,” she said.
“This reflects our business philosophy of creating and nurturing partnerships and our enduring support for netball and the Club.
“We’re proud to be empowering and supporting female talent from the grassroots level, through to elite amateur and eventually to the professional NSW Swifts team.
“Through this partnership we are creating more pathways to success through programs and initiatives which are inspiring young people, on and off the court.”
Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle said the news was a wonderful boost for the team as pre-season preparations ramp up ahead of her side’s bid to claim a third Suncorp Super Netball Premiership in five years.
“While Australia is now rightly recognising and riding a wave of female team sport success, netball has led the way for a long time and QBE were one of the first companies to recognise the positive impact that supporting teams like the Swifts could have… and that should always be recognised,” she said.
“QBE have always respected and recognised netball and the Swifts’ place as pioneers when it comes to women in sport and in my time as Head Coach they have been exceptionally supportive and keen to understand how they can help us build on the world-class pathways and structures we have today, many of which they have directly supported.
“I think it’s fair to say our relationship with QBE is one of the best in not just netball, but sport across NSW and beyond.
“On behalf of the players, and our high-performance and wider Club staff I would like to thank QBE for their continued support and investment, and I look forward to where we’ll go next.”
Akle’s sentiments were shared by Swifts Executive General Manager Kath Tetley.
“QBE’s logo has had pride of place on the Swifts dress since 2008 when the Club rebranded from the Sydney Swifts to the NSW Swifts, so to say that they are part of our fabric would be an understatement,” she said.
“They are the longest-serving Principal Partner of a Club in National Netball League history and their support has been key to the Club reaching five Grand Finals and winning three Premierships since the partnership began.
“What has been most pleasing about our relationship over that same time is how it has evolved in an ever-changing sports market. QBE have always been open to supporting new ideas to advance our Club and our game with their support of the QBE Swifts Academy a prime example of this.
“We are now seeing local NSW players such as Sophie Fawns and Lili Gorman-Brown graduate from the Academy to become fully-capped Swifts.
“We are very proud of everything we and QBE have been able to achieve so far and look forward to making our partnership even more successful in the seasons ahead.”
The Swifts’ 2023 Super Netball season starts on Saturday 18 March when they face the Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena.
