2023 SMAANZ Distinguished Service Award Announcement

It is with great pleasure the SMAANZ Board announces Professor Alison Doherty as the 2023 SMAANZ Distinguished Service Award winner. The award will be presented at the 2023 SMAANZ Conference Dinner in Canberra later this year.

Professor Doherty is currently a Professor at the University of Western Ontario. Alison has previously held roles as an Editorial Board member, Associate Editor, and Editor with Sport Management Review. Alison has also served on SMAANZ award committees, been a regular attendee and contributor to our SMAANZ conferences. She has also been an advocate for SMAANZ and its role in the international sport management landscape and has encouraged participation from other international scholars in SMAANZ activities.

In addition to this, Alison’s academic scholarship includes an excellent track record of peer-reviewed journal authorship, as well as authorship and editorship of books and chapters in the areas of organisational capacity and management of nonprofit and community-based organizations. Alison has also received significant research grant funding, with several successful grants with fellow SMAANZ members. The award also acknowledges her continued mentorship of her students, SMAANZ community members, and broader sport management community as well as her impactful engagement with the sport industry. These include contributions with Canadian Women & Sport, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association Gender and Recreational Sport Advisory Group, and the Sport Information Research Centre. 

In announcing the award, SMAANZ President, Dr Ashleigh-Jane Thompson noted:

We are delighted to announce and congratulate Professor Alison Doherty as the recipient of the SMAANZ Distinguished Service Award for 2023, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to SMAANZ, to the field of sport management, and the broader sport management community. Alison’s prolific research track record, ongoing support and engagement with SMAANZ activities, editorial roles with Sport Management Review (including as Editor 2013-2016), mentorship, and strong and impactful collaborations within the sport industry make her a deserving recipient of this award. A standout in her nomination was the acknowledgement of her international leadership and impact; notably, Alison’s ongoing mentorship and support of the career development of others, from students to early and mid-career academics.

Professor Doherty was honoured to accept the award:

It is a personal and professional honour to be receiving this award. The SMAANZ community is a valued family for me, and it ​`has been highly rewarding to support the organization, its journal, and its members over the years. I look forward to celebrating in Canberra at SMAANZ 2023.

Professor Doherty becomes the ninth winner of the SMAANZ Distinguished Service Award. See the full list of winners here. Alison was nominated for the award, with the nomination enthusiastically supported by letters from members of the SMAANZ community based locally and internationally. The nomination was then ratified by the SMAANZ board. We thank the nominators and those who provided letters of support for this award round. Please join us in congratulating Alison and we look forward to the formal presentation in December.