The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has today announced the appointment of its inaugural Independent Chair, the Hon Stephen Conroy.
During his 20-year career in Federal Parliament, the Hon Stephen Conroy has served as a Minister, Senator and Leader of the Senate. Conroy, who starts in the role this week, brings with him a wealth of experience and political capital, and is a life-long football fan and amateur football player.
Stephen served as Leader in the Senate and Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy during his twenty-year career in Federal Parliament (1996 to 2016).
Stephen’s many achievements as Minister included: establishing Australia’s National Broadband Network; overseeing the transition of all television broadcasts in Australia to digital; and establishing Australia’s National Digital Economy Strategy.
Throughout his parliamentary career Stephen held a number of Parliamentary and government leadership roles. He was also renowned for his active participation in Senate Estimate Committees and contribution to many Senate Inquiries into financial services regulation and taxation policy.
Following his departure from the Senate in 2016, Stephen founded a boutique consulting firm providing advice on business development and government and regulatory affairs to clients across a range of sectors.
Stephen was the Executive Director of Responsible Wagering Australia, the independent peak body representing the Australian online wagering industry from 2016 to 2019.
He is Chair of public affairs consultancy T.G. Public Affairs which provides strategic advice to a range of Australian companies. He is also a regular contributor to Sky News Australia as a commentator on a wide range of the network’s political and news programs.
Stephen grew up in Canberra and attended Australian National University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics.
He and his wife live in Melbourne with their daughter. Stephen is a passionate football fan and a former junior state football representative, and he still pulls on the boots to play when he has time.
