Fairbreak founder makes decision to step back from day-to-day running of Fairbreak more than a decade after kickstarting the groundbreaking movement.
Shaun Martyn has today announced that he is to step down from his operational role at Fairbreak. The Australian game-changer will still remain as Founder and a member of the board but will no longer head up the day-to-day operations of the organisation.
Founded in 2013, Fairbreak was initially intended to be a standalone tournament to lead the way in providing opportunities for women in cricket and advance the remunerations for female players from all corners of the globe. It has since evolved into a programme for huge change that aims to progress gender equality on a global scale using cricket as its primary vehicle.
In 2022, the first FairBreak Global tournament took the cricket world by storm with players from 36 countries competing with and against each other at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament returned for its second edition in Hong Kong in 2023 and plans are in place for another in 2024.
Martyn alongside the six FairBreak Global 2023 captains. (L-R: Sana Mir, Sindhu Sriharsha, Nicola Carey, Shaun Martyn, Suzie Bates, Stafaine Taylor, Heather Knight)
For Martyn, this is not a complete departure from Fairbreak as he will remain in place as a member of the board and Founder but running of the organisation will now fall to others including Cheryll Rogers who was named CEO in 2023.
Cheryll Rogers was appointed CEO in September 2023
Upon his announcement, Martyn said: "I take this opportunity to especially thank Mr Geoff Lawson and Mr Paul Harvey, and in more recent years, Mr R.V. Venkatesh for their unwavering support and commitment.
I would also like to thank the extended management team, all the players, officials, managers, production crews and commentators that it has been my pleasure to work with over the years. I have witnessed, at close hand, your dedication and passion. You will remain my lifelong friends. Together, we have achieved significant milestones, including the delivery of two ICC-sanctioned 10-day cricket tournaments showcasing the global superstars of women’s cricket."
He continued by adding: "I am immensely proud of the progress we've made. We have fostered equality, diversity, and opportunity, not only for the players, but in the umpiring, coaching, commentating, and broadcasting of our great game. We have also pioneered innovation around uniforms, breast protection and sustainability."
He finished by saying: "As I embark on this new chapter, I believe it is time to pass the baton onto a new leadership that will further propel FairBreak's mission and vision. I will forever cherish my time at FairBreak, and I remain a passionate advocate for all women in sport. I look forward to witnessing the organisation's continued success from a different vantage point."
We caught up with Shaun on the podcast last year and you can catch the episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/womens-cricket-chat-shaun-martyn/id1548245875?i=1000597556417