Many bowlers will have heard that Brett O’Riley, former a director of Bowls New Zealand, is now the Regional Director Oceania for World Bowls.

But few will have much idea of what the job actually entails, imagining that maybe he’ll be just another ‘blazer’ strutting about World Bowls events.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

There’s much, much more to the role.  In fact, for a purely voluntary role, the regional directorship is a really big commitment … a commitment which Brett took on only recently after big changes at World Bowls.

“John Bell, the long-serving President of World Bowls recently retired,” says Brett.  “And his place was taken by Australian Darryl Clout who had been the previous Regional Director Oceania.  I was initially an ‘out-of-cycle’ appointment to the role, though now I have been elected.  There are five regional directors … for Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania plus two appointed independent directors, and the President.”

“After Darryl’s appointment as President, the Board kicked off a strategic review which confirmed the need for change at World Bowls.”

“As part of this change, we ran a competitive process which moved the headquarters of World Bowls from Edinburgh in Scotland to Australia.  It’s been a big move … but a lot of the action and innovation in bowls is occurring in Australia.  From an Oceania point of view, I think it’s very positive for our sport.”

However, while initial changes have been operational housekeeping at World Bowls.  Brett’s remit is far more strategic … covering 4 or 5 areas that were part of the key themes from the strategic review.

“The first big area is around expanding the game.  In my case, expanding it in the Oceania region.  The Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga are all member nations of World Bowls.  But facilities in these countries are often limited … which limits the number of players, and as a result, the local competition.  Tonga, for instance, doesn’t even have a bowling green at present, though we are working on resolving that!”

“One of the answers may be having ‘virtual clubs’ in New Zealand which are affiliated with their island home nation.  They will be set up around existing bowling clubs where there is a strong Pacific Island presence … for example, at the likes of Royal Oak, Bridge Park or Naenae.  It would enable ex-pat Pacific Island bowlers to play in their home competition, even though they live away from home in New Zealand.”

“It would also have the knock-on effect of making their home competition far more viable, and encourage more participation by Pacific Island players in New Zealand, who would love the opportunity to potentially play for the nation that they, or one of their parents, originated from.”

“The second area is around consolidating lawn bowls’ place in the Commonwealth Games, and along with that, potentially expanding the sport into the Olympics.”

“It needs to be remembered that lawn bowls is only an optional sport under the new Commonwealth Games Federation guidelines.  We tend to expect lawn bowls at every Games, but the sport has been left out before … at Jamaica in 1966, because there were no facilities that were up to scratch for Games competition.”

“We also need to bear in mind that only 40 of the 72 countries who attended the Birmingham Games have bowling associations … there’s still a lot of potential within the Commonwealth.”

“And even more potential throughout the world.  With Brisbane being awarded the Olympic Games in 2032, there’s a real opportunity to include lawn bowls at those Olympic Games … especially given Australians are already well-disposed to our game.”

“Of course, we’ll almost certainly need more than 40 member nations (which converts to even less ‘Olympic’ nations) to make it a goer.  And getting more countries playing bowls won’t be an easy task, though we are seeing many new countries in Europe starting to embrace the game.”

“It may be easier (or less hard!) to target inclusion in the Winter Olympics … and get the game being played indoors accepted for those Games. The Paralympics is also a priority … our game has been included before.”

The third area where Brett is helping with the development of the game is in India, working alongside World Bowls Asia Regional Director Claudius Lam.

“India has been a member nation since Delhi secured the Commonwealth Games. But there’s only 6 bowling greens throughout the whole country.  And they’re mostly near Delhi   There are now 19 states in the country that have committed to our game, so an expansion of facilities will make bowls more accessible with potentially thousands of new bowlers.”

“Despite these challenges the Indian women picked up a gold in the Fours at the recent Birmingham Games, and the men picked up a silver in the Fours.  They were remarkable results.  And showed what could be possible in India.  Imagine a bowls version of the IPL!”

The Birmingham Games also again showcased the integration of para competition into lawn bowls.

“We’re really leading other sports in this respect,” says Brett.  “But we’ve still got a lot further to go.  And that’s the fourth area that’s on World Bowls’ plate that I will champion in Oceania.”

“We’re looking at working with all of the five disability categories : blind; deaf; physically disabled; intellectually disabled and those suffering mental health issues, and maximising their participation in our World Bowls events, Commonwealth Games and hopefully the Paralympics.”

“We know our para athletes have better opportunities than in other sports, but we know we can do better ... and make our sport even more inclusive and diverse, and create more participation.”

“And that brings me on to the fifth area … World Bowls is keen to promote bowls not only as recreation for fun and competition, but recreation as a public health good … one that promotes both better physical health and better mental health, played at facilities that are part of local communities.”

That sounds a lot.  And is a lot.

The trick for Brett is managing a full-time job on top of that … his high-profile role as Chief Executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) headquartered in Auckland.  It’s a role he’s now been in for over three and a half years.

“To a certain extent, the roles are much the same,” says Brett.  “At the EMA, I’m there to support employers and manufacturers, and help provide them with the tools to enable better business.”

“At World Bowls, I’m there to support bowlers throughout Oceania, and help provide them with the tools to enable a better sport in every sense. Ultimately it is a privilege to serve the game that I love and has been a constant throughout my life.”