Marianne Loh’s ‘unconventional but privileged’ journey to NSWIS Para Unit

Marianne Loh, the Head of NSWIS’s Para Unit, summons three succinct words when asked to describe her career: ‘unconventional but privileged.’ 

Loh, who joined NSWIS from Paralympics New Zealand where she made significant inroads as its Para Sport Community Manager, has worked tirelessly since joining the Institute in April.   

Besides recruiting a team of sport administrators, coaches, sports science practitioners, along with Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement personnel, she’s setting the foundations that are needed to ensure the Unit fulfills its vision – to help the nation’s pool of Para athletes grow substantially.  

“For people who don’t know much about Para sport or sport in general, I’d tell them my role is to support the national sports system to identify and progress Para athletes into a level that they can succeed and win well,” said Loh, who also worked as Badminton Australia’s National Sport Development and Participation Manager. 

And Loh is aware there’s a lot riding on her ability to do just that. Besides being in a position to expose potential athletes to the joy, sense of purpose and camaraderie sport can provide, she’s also driven by the national ambition to make Brisbane 2032 Australia’s most successful Paralympic Games. 

“It’s exciting and daunting at the same time,” said Loh. “With the team rallying together, I believe we can do a lot; achieve the outcomes that NSWIS, the system partners and the NSW government are looking for. So, while it’s exciting and daunting, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to sink my teeth into it.” 

Loh is armed with the qualities – and hard-earned experience – required to achieve her aims. Besides a stellar career in sports management and leadership, of which her achievements include overseeing the development of participation programs which resulted in over a 30 percent increase in Badminton Australia’s membership (over a three-year period), she also enjoyed a rewarding 10 years with IBM in sales, consulting and management roles. 

“My strength is primarily in the participation, recruitment and referral space through to pre-high performance, because that comes with trying to progress athletes,” she said. ” The experience I’ve gained, not just through Paralympics New Zealand, but also through badminton, especially in that grassroots space will help build on a pipeline of Para athletes.” 

Indeed, experience taught Loh – who concedes she’s data driven – that her immediate priority at NSWIS was to understand the lay of the ‘Para sport land.’

“Getting as much data as possible is crucial,” she said. “That could allow us to make the right decisions before jumping to conclusions. I see mapping the stakeholders – and their roles – as being very important to make sure that not only are we not duplicating, but we’re addressing gaps and opportunities together.”  

“The principles of [Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy] Win Well also encourage collaboration, working towards shared goals and this allows us to ask questions and be proactive with the outreach.” 

The Para Unit, which was announced at NSWIS HQ last March with NSW Sports Minister  The Hon. Steve Kamper MP, Australian Sports Commission Executive General Manager of AIS Performance  Matti Clements, Paralympics Australia’s CEO Cameron Murray, NSWIS Chair  Gary Flowers and NSWIS CEO Kevin Thompson, Office of Sport’s Acting CEO Adam Berry in attendance, aims to get more NSW athletes involved in Para sport and, by doing so, increase the nation’s medal prospects at major events, including Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.  

However, there are hurdles that need to be overcome. A study into Para sport revealed 160 systemic barriers are preventing Australians with disabilities from participating in sport. It also discovered while three out of four Aussies with a disability want to participate in sport, only one out of four do because of the barriers.  

  The role of the NSWIS Para Unit is to work in conjunction with National Sporting Organisations to identify talent and determine whether they should enter a high performance program. However, Loh conceded the barriers are a ‘shock.’ 

“I can’t find another word for it, but I’m shocked by the 160 barriers that were identified in high performance pathways for Para athletes,” she said. “Hopefully, in this role we can help to reduce them. By working collaboratively with all our system partners, there’s a lot of potential in changing the landscape for Para athletes in the future and that could make it easier for them to not only enter Para sport, but also progress.” 

“Whilst environmental barriers can be physical or non-physical, systemic and attitudinal barriers are quite similar across the world, so there is a need for a universal approach to addressing these issues.” 

“Paralympics Australia has taken a lead in developing a set of universal design guidelines that sports organisations can use as reference. But it doesn’t matter what sector you’re in, it could be sport, health, education or corporate; you could take those considerations in mind and succeed in removing barriers.” 

Loh said there was good reason for all Australians to welcome the spotlight that has been cast on the Brisbane Paralympic Games.

“I think the first thing the Paralympic Games being in Brisbane has delivered is an awareness of how important equitable opportunities are for athletes or people with disabilities,” she said. 

“The Para Uplift has provided significant investment into the system, and while I can’t comment on what Para sport investment other home countries have received ahead of hosting a Paralympic Games, in Australia, it’s unprecedented. I hope that creates a massive shift, not just from an Australian sporting context, but societal change. And it is pleasing the government(s) have acknowledged that Brisbane could help shift that to inspire all Australians.” 

Daniel Lane, NSWIS