Helen Brownlee
{{short description|Australian Olympic Committee executive}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Helen Brownlee
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AM}}
| image =
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1945|5|18}}
| birth_place = Sydney, Australia
| death_date =
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| nationality = Australian
| other_names =
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| years_active =
| known_for = First woman to be elected as one of the vice presidents of the Australian Olympic Committee Executive Board
| notable_works =
| honours = Medal of the Order of Australia (1985)
Olympic Order (2015)
Member of the Order of Australia (2018)
| spouse(s) =
| children =
}}
Helen Margaret Brownlee {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 18 May 1945){{cite book |title=Who's Who in Australia |date=2019 |publisher=ConnectWeb}} is an Australian executive with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). In 2013, she was the first woman to be elected as one of the vice presidents of the AOC executive board.
The daughter of a founding member of Australian Canoeing, Brownlee began canoeing at a young age. She specialised in canoe slalom and served as a judge at various Summer Olympic Games. In 1976, Brownlee became the first woman elected to the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Slalom and Wildwater Committee and was eventually promoted to the ICF Board of Management.
In 1985, Brownlee was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her contributions to the sport of canoeing{{Cite web|title=Miss Helen Margaret Brownlee|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/886737|access-date=2021-05-18|website=It's An Honour}} and received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.{{Cite web|title=Miss Helen Brownlee|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/973029|access-date=2021-05-18|website=It's An Honour}} In 2015, she was honoured with the Olympic Order for her contribution to the Olympic Games and was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2018, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to sports administration, to women as an advocate for greater participation in sport, and to the Olympic movement".{{Cite web|title=Ms Helen Margaret Brownlee OAM|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2002002|access-date=2021-05-18|website=It's An Honour}}
Career
Brownlee was born to father Os Brownlee, a founding member of Australian Canoeing. With his paddling experience, he helped raise and train her in competitive canoeing.{{cite web |title=Paddle Australia congratulates Helen Brownlee on Queens Birthday Honours |url=https://paddle.org.au/2018/06/11/paddle-australia-congratulates-helen-brownlee-on-queens-birthday-honours/ |website=paddle.org.au |access-date=21 February 2019 |date=11 June 2018}}{{cite web |title=Helen Brownlee to join Sport Australia Hall of Fame |url=http://olympics.com.au/news/helen-brownlee-to-join-sport-australia-hall-of-fame |website=olympics.com.au |access-date=22 February 2019 |date=14 October 2015}}
With her father's help, Brownlee trained on the Parramatta River in the K1 and K2 classes but shortly thereafter switched to canoe slalom. Brownlee won Australia’s first international slalom medal;{{cite web |title=Helen Brownlee OAM |url=https://paddle.org.au/about-us/hall-of-fame/helen-brownlee-oam/ |website=paddle.org.au |access-date=8 March 2019}} however, because Australian Canoeing focused mostly on sprint canoeing, she was unable to compete in the 1972 Summer Olympics. As a result, Brownlee served as a judge for both the 1972 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games and later was a member of the competition jury at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. In 1976, Brownlee became the first woman elected to the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Slalom and Wildwater Committee and was eventually promoted to the ICF Board of Management.{{cite web |title=Helen Brownlee Australia |url=http://iwhof.org/honorees/2010-2/helen-brownlee-australia/ |website=iwhof.org |access-date=22 February 2019}} In 1985, Brownlee was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her canoeing career and contributions.
In 1992, Brownlee created the Pierre de Coubertin Awards to recognise secondary school students who are active participants in sport and demonstrate fair play and sportsmanship.{{cite web |last1=Etchells |first1=Daniel |title=Australian Olympic Committee presents 70 students with Pierre de Coubertin award |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1051718/australian-olympic-committee-presents-70-students-with-pierre-de-coubertin-award |website=insidethegames.biz |access-date=22 February 2019 |date=19 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://olympics.com.au/news/pierre-de-coubertin-award-turns-25 |title=Pierre de Coubertin award turns 25! |first=Ashleigh|last=Knight |date=16 June 2017 |publisher=Australian Olympic Committee |access-date=6 April 2019}} After the 2000 Summer Olympics saw a rise in female slalom canoeists, Brownlee was awarded the 2002 Trophy for Oceania by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for encouraging females to participate in Olympic canoeing.{{cite web |title=IOC 2002 WOMEN & SPORT TROPHY WINNERS |url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-2002-women-sport-trophy-winners |website=olympic.org |access-date=22 February 2019}}
Starting from the 1972 Olympics, Brownlee served as an official or jury member for the sport of canoeing until 2010.{{cite web |title=Helen Brownlee: A Lady of Many Firsts! |url=http://www.archive.sportscene.tv/news/helen-brownlee-a-lady-of-many-firsts |website=sportscene.tv |access-date=8 March 2019 |date=24 March 2012}} In 2010, Brownlee was inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame.
In 2013, following referendums for gender equality, Brownlee became the first woman to be elected as one of the vice presidents on the Australian Olympic Committee.{{cite news |last1=Lane |first1=Samantha |title=Women added to AOC board |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/women-added-to-aoc-board-20130404-2h9mv.html |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=5 April 2013}} While serving as vice-president, Brownlee was inducted as a General Member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2015.
Since 2015, she has served as Chair of the Oceania National Olympic Committees Women and Sport Commission which encourages female participation in sports{{cite web |title=Promotion of women in sport: action in Europe |url=https://www.olympic.org/news/promotion-of-women-in-sport-action-in-europe |website=olympic.org |access-date=8 March 2019 |date=11 May 2015}} as well as president of the Commonwealth Canoe Federation and Oceania Canoe Association. On 5 May 2015, Brownlee was awarded the Olympic Order for her contributions to bringing international recognition to the sport of canoeing.{{cite web |title=Olympic Order awarded to Helen Brownlee |url=http://olympics.com.au/news/olympic-order-awarded-to-helen-brownlee |website=olympics.com.au |access-date=8 March 2019 |date=5 May 2015}}
In 2017, both Brownlee and her father were inducted into the Paddle Australia Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Canoeing greats recognised in inaugural Hall of Fame |url=http://olympics.com.au/news/canoeing-greats-recognised-in-inaugural-hall-of-fame |website=olympics.com.au |access-date=22 February 2019 |date=6 November 2017}} She was later re-elected to her vice presidency position with the AOC alongside Ian Chesterman that same year.{{cite web |title=John Coates re-elected AOC President |url=http://olympics.com.au/news/john-coates-re-elected-aoc-president |website=olympics.com.au |access-date=22 February 2019 |date=6 May 2017}}
In 2018, Brownlee was awarded the Order of Australia and was appointed to the International Olympic Committee Education Commission.{{cite web |title=Helen Brownlee, AM, amongst Seven Australians Appointed to IOC Commissions |url=https://paddle.org.au/2018/08/13/helen-brownlee-appointed-to-ioc-commission/ |website=paddle.org.au |access-date=22 February 2019 |date=13 August 2018}}
References
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Category:Members of the Order of Australia
Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
Category:Sportswomen from New South Wales
Category:Australian female canoeists
Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order
Category:Australian International Olympic Committee members
Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees