Orienteering Australia has announced today that Bill Jones (ACT) will be the Federation’s new president, effective immediately..

Bill comes to Orienteering Australia with vast experience as a competitive orienteer and in orienteering administration. He started his orienteering life as an active member of the Waggaroos club, before moving to Canberra in the late 1990’s. He has made a strong impact in Canberra — culminating in a 3-year term as OACT President which finished this year.

Bill’s other major contribution is in the adoption of technology in orienteering, including the adoption of electronic punching and, more recently, the use of SI radio controls as part of the 2007 Voice of the Forest JWOC commentary team.

Bob Mouatt, OA’s Immediate Past President welcomed the Board’s decision, saying, “I thoroughly endorse the Board’s decision to appoint Bill Jones President.  I have known Bill for quite a while and consider him to be an excellent choice.  We have spent a lot of time working together on many activities at both ACT and national levels.  Over the past 12-18 months we have collaborated on making the OACT website a focal point for both regular and prospective orienteers.  The biggest challenge for Bill and OACT will be to find somebody to takeover many of the tasks he currently performs for OACT, as he won’t have time to do just to both.  I wish him and Orienteering Australia all the best for the future.”