Tasmania JackJumpers make history announcing NBL’s first-ever female Chairman of the Board

The Tasmania JackJumpers have announced Communications Professional and Company Director, Keryn Nylander as the Club’s inaugural Chairman of the Board, at the Club's 'Courtside Lunch with Larry' in Launceston on September 1. Ms Nylander becomes the first ever female to be appointed to the Chair position in the history of the National Basketball League (NBL) and its 10 franchises.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to take on this important role in this incredible new era in Tasmania’s history and in the Australian Sporting landscape” Ms Nylander said. 

“I believe in the power of sport to be a great community builder, unifying and creating a sense of belonging and pride. We have a rare opportunity to create something special for Tasmanians and for the community from the ground up and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

Ms Nylander is a proud Tasmanian, growing up in Launceston where she began her journalistic career with The Examiner Newspaper. She has since pioneered and fostered female leadership representation across the media, business and sports industries over three decades in an executive and non-executive director career. 

NBL Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman said “Keryn is highly respected in the Tasmanian community for her acumen, professionalism and tenacity over a decorated career. Her appointment as Chair is culturally and socially significant and the NBL is pleased to support the overdue elevation of women to such leadership positions”. 

Ms Nylander was the first female appointed as News Director of WIN News Tasmania. For the past two decades, she has worked as a leading communications consultant in Tasmania including at the helm of her own company, Nylander Consulting. In 2013, Ms Nylander was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (Tasmania). 

“Still in 2021, there is such substantial under-representation of women in leadership and executivepositions particularly in sport. Too often, women underestimate their ability and value to organisations. I hope that my appointment can go some way in inspiring other women to lead, whatever their chosen field” Ms Nylander said.

Ms Nylander will chair the Tasmanian JackJumpers board which consists of some of Tasmania’s most recognised and respected industry and business leaders including Damon Wise, Michael Bailey, Scott Harris and Steve Old.