The Adelaide Football Club will hold an election after receiving four nominations for the vacancy on the Board of Directors.

The process involves an online ballot, which will be independently run by CorpVote, with voting opening at 9am on Monday, February 15.

The ballot will close at 5pm on Monday, March 1.

To be eligible to vote, you must be a financial Member who has access to not less than three Crows home or away matches in a given season or Gold Member.

CorpVote will send relevant information regarding the election directly to Members.

The successful candidate, who will serve a two-year term, will be announced at the Club’s Annual Members Meeting at Adelaide Oval on March 3.

A statement from each of the candidates can be found below.

Nick Takos

I was born in South Australia and have spent my life here supporting the State, and the Adelaide Crows since the Club started. I have worked in a number of industries in South Australia, as well as developing my skills and attributes with study in the areas of economics, management, leadership, and organisational culture.

I have spent over 23 years working in sport management across the sports of football (AFL), cricket, and netball. This included working for the Crows for 14 years (incorporating the Premiership years) and additionally, volunteering on the Crows past players and officials board for 7 years.

I believe football is a “people game” and that developing and protecting the club  culture is a key responsibility for the board and management of the Club.

Having completed a PhD in leadership within AFL boards, where I researched 10 clubs within the AFL, I have a strong knowledge and appreciation for the role a board plays in driving club culture and success.

With my sport management experience in both industry and academic contexts, I provide a balanced approach to decision making that requires understanding both the business and human relations considerations.

I would represent the members strongly and openly, and whilst understanding the business and financial necessities of running an AFL club, I am a strong advocate for a club culture that is built on strong relationships, and decisions that are always underpinned by our club values.

Shanti Berggren

Having for many years lived the highs and lows of a team I love; I have decided to run for the Adelaide Crows Board.

The off-field experiences of the last few years need to be put behind us, and we need to develop an inclusive and engaging future for everyone in our Club. I want us to get back to really feeling that we Fly as One.

This means better, more direct and honest communication, this means members being consulted and included in decisions, and it means members being heard by the Board and receiving a response. I promise to champion your voice and help get us back on track!

I am an experienced Commercial Lawyer well known for taking a strategic and collaborative approach to achieve the best outcomes for all stakeholders.

I have worked in Los Angeles, Singapore, Sydney and Adelaide. My work requires a very high level of people management and negotiation skills. I have an open and rigorous analytical style and firmly believe in the challenger culture of asking ‘why’ as a catalyst to find ways to continually improve.

I am the daughter of Indian immigrants and the daughter-in-law of Italian immigrants connected by their love of Adelaide, Australian Rules Football and the Crows. I believe in all things South Australian.

As a Board member I will contribute by bringing my corporate and active board experience and equally importantly bringing another slice of our diverse South Australian community into view for the Crows.

Kym Ryder

It has been my honour and privilege since 2019, to be one of the 2 directors appointed by the Members. I would love to continue in that role.

In the past two years, we have had fewer wins on the field than we would have liked. However, we are committed to strong football programs that deliver success for our Men’s and Women’s teams.

I think that my skills as a Lawyer have enabled me to have been a contributor at Board level. I have also been a member of the following subcommittees:

• Finance and Audit;
• Professional Standards and Integrity; and
• Diversity and Inclusion.

In addition, I have sought to regularly interact with our Members by attending functions arranged by the Club, communicating directly and by social media with those Members. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t speak to a Member or supporter of our Club.

Further, I have built strong links with the Adelaide and Fleurieu Peninsula Member/ supporter groups.

In my view, our Club should be focused on:

• A new facility that will facilitate regular interactions for our Members and the Club; and
• Continuing to build open and transparent communication with our Members;
• Continuing the rebuild of the men’s playing group; and
• Strong men’s and women’s football programs and cultures that deliver long term success.

I would love to continue to be a Members voice at Board level.

Donny Walford

My focus as a Board director of the Adelaide Football Club is to contribute to the Club getting back into the top four on the Premiership ladder and that we win a Premiership in the next five years.

I have played football all of my life playing with the boys in primary school but banned from playing in secondary schooling. I was born in the wrong era!

I am an experienced Non-Executive Director with specific expertise in Strategy, Finance, Strategic Marketing and building businesses.

Core competencies and capabilities include:

• Extensive commercial experience and a skilled contributor at Board and Executive management level.
• Broad and deep knowledge of finance, governance, marketing & business development, strategic change and people and culture.
• Established business relationships, strategic partnerships and networks at a national level. Adept at influencing and negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes.

Creating national businesses 15 years ago, Behind Closed Doors and Bottomline, reflects my entrepreneurism and commercial acumen combined with unique insight into the importance of diversity in organisations and on Boards.

As a passionate Crows supporter and Gold member since 2013, I have been involved with the Club in mentoring wives and girlfriends of our Players and have been a member of the Community, Government and Inclusion committee for the past three years.

I understand the challenges facing the Club, the AFL, members and fans of our great Club. Being appointed to the Board will give me the opportunity to contribute to the Crows being a top four team.