Arts Museum Executive is New Bicycle Network CEO
Melbourne, Victoria
Accountant and experienced government executive Alison McCormack has been confirmed as the new CEO of Victorian-based advocacy group Bicycle Network.
“She has probably got more women riding bikes than anyone else I can think of in many years of community activism.”
Alison has held numerous senior leadership roles at the State Government’s flagship film and events centre, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), which is Australia’s national museum of screen culture.
She has overseen its retail operations, festivals, event management and hospitality services, as well as serving as its chief financial officer for many years.
“Sitting alongside Alison’s professional experience is her commitment to getting people on bikes,” Bicycle Network president James Garriock told the Micromobility Report.
“She has probably got more women riding bikes than anyone else I can think of in many years of community activism.
“To top it off, she has tremendous respect for our culture, and is a perfect cultural fit.
“She has been a Bicycle Network volunteer for the last 10 years and was just made a life member.”
In a statement to Bicycle Network members, James says: “Alison is a passionate, highly committed rider who understands first-hand the health, wellbeing, social, and environmental benefits of cycling.
“She rides to work every day and spends the early mornings riding with her husband and friends. She is a regular participant in Bicycle Network’s flagship events such as Peaks Challenge and Around the Bay.”
Alison said she is looking forward to combining her “personal mission for getting more people on bikes” with her professional background.
“I cannot wait to join Bicycle Network to build a strong network, advocate, and influence change for riders and make it easier to get more people riding regularly,” she added.
“I want to move from getting hundreds of people onto bikes as a volunteer, to hundreds of thousands as CEO of this exceptional organisation.”
James said the board was impressed by Alison’s combination of finance with experience running events and honing the relationship with the public.
“In addition, she is very well connected with both the City of Melbourne and the Victorian State Government,” he explained.
“This role brings together her weekday role as an executive in a public-facing organisation with her out-of-hours passion for riding a bike.
“Culture was one of the board’s non-negotiable parameters in the CEO search and we are sure that as a long-term volunteer and life member, Alison will build on our strong cultural foundation.”
Alison will start in the role on 22nd August when she returns from an extended honeymoon, after getting married in December.
“We got married during a break in between COVID outbreaks and now we’re having our belated honeymoon, which is really a European summer trip,” she added.
“I’m looking forward to seeing some fabulous European cities with some great bike infrastructure.
“I could not have scripted a better 2022, to head off for a honeymoon and return to this new dream job.”