At the 2020 Queensland Athletics Annual General Meeting, long standing President, Des Johnston announced he would be standing down from the role immediately after the AGM, he will remain on the Board as a Director until the end of his current term in 2022.

Des started as President of Queensland Athletics in February 2012 and had presided over a very successful period for the organisation.  In 2012 the membership of Queensland Athletics was at 4400, in 2020 the number is 14300. We have also seen significant increases in participation in Shield Meets and Championships. QA is in a sound finical position and leads the country in the Recreational Running space with the innovative Qrun program. Significantly, the once fractured relationship with Athletics North Queensland has now become a partnership based on trust and common goals for our sport. Always approachable Des could be seen on the track officiating most weekends in the summer and at Cross Country during the winter.

“It’s been a great honour to work with this Board to improve athletics in Queensland Des said, the Board have been very dedicated and a great support, I believe that QA is in many ways now the leading State body in Australia, after nearly 10 years it’s time to pass the baton on and spend a bit more time with my family.”

On behalf of the board and all the Members I thank Des for his sound leadership over the past nine and a half years.

The Board of Queensland Athletics announced Yvonne Papadimos as the new President starting on the 11 June 2021. Yvonne in one of the most respected athletics administrators in the country. Currently the Executive Director of Oceania Athletics, Yvonne was one of the founders of Athletics North Queensland and President of that organisation for 23 years. Her diverse roles give her extensive experience from the grass roots to the international level. Yvonne is a regular official and volunteer at events in both the south and north of Queensland.

On behalf of the Board and the Members, I welcome Yvonne to the position of President of Queensland Athletics.

Yvonne said “It's difficult to put into a few sentences the impact that Des Johnson has had on sport over the past 10 years. Des fell into the role of President of Queensland athletics, when our dear friend Reg Brandis passed away in early 2012. We went from being a state divided to an organisation that Finally sat together at the one table and, to be honest, it could’ve gone all wrong.”

“But with Des' leadership we were able to work together to ensure that we had a stable and strong association that put athletes front and centre. Des, on behalf of the board, the staff, the clubs and again most importantly the athletes here in Queensland, thank you for your service to our sport... you are gentlemen and a scholar, and we look forward to continuing to work with you as a member of the QA board through to your retirement in 2022.”