As a teen and after missing selection for a representative team, Kathryn set herself the challenge of repeating 100 sprints up a 30-metre hill in the following pre-season.
Kathryn Harby-Williams burned with ambition as a youngster. And while that quality is more measured now, it has hardly been diluted.
She is one of few elite players whose career has taken them from playing the game, in fact captaining the Diamonds, to administrating the national game.
After playing, she also began a successful career as a television presenter and commentator.
Kathryn Harby has since been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) and led the players to a successful outcome over an enduring pay dispute with Netball Australia prior to the 2024 Super Netball League season.
An unrelenting will to take command underlies her success on and off the court.
She typified that competitive attitude as a teenager.
After missing selection for a representative team, she set herself the challenge of repeating 100 sprints up a 30-metre hill in the following pre-season.
Kathyrn Harby would not be defeated.
She debuted for the Australian Diamonds in 1993 and seven years later earned the enormous honour of being appointed captain – from 2000 to 2003 – leading the Diamonds to the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2002 and silver at the 2003 World Cup in Jamaica.
In spectacular consecutive seasons at her dominating goal defence position, she was also named the Netball Australia Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
Reaching a solo pinnacle within a team sport, Kathryn Harby-Williams was named Australian international player of the year in 2001, a huge honour
Harby-Williams is a passionate advocate for netball players and is committed to improving their working conditions and pay.
In 2023, Harby-Williams was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “significant service to netball as a player, national captain, coach, commentator, board member and player’s advocate”.
There is a free and deeply competitive spirit within this woman.
She has snared opportunities and learned everything she could from them – including as Commercial Manager at the Adelaide Football Club and eight years in NZ as a leading netball commentator and host.
Each role has taught her something of influence.
After captaining her Contax club team under coach Marg Angove, Harby-Williams became the first captain of the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy national league from 1997 until 2003.
In 2010, she was inducted into the Netball Australia Hall of Fame.
