Essendon chief executive Andrew Thorburn admits the church of which he is chairman has views which are offensive and upsetting to some, but insists his business record shows he is welcoming and endorses diversity.
Thorburn has taken charge of the Bombers at the end of a tumultuous season for the club, but his appointment has also generated unwanted headlines, primarily because of his involvement with The City on a Hill church movement.
New Essendon chief executive Andrew Thorburn has opened up about his faith, and his stance on diversity.Credit:Eddie Jim
The former NAB chief executive plays a key role in a church which, in a sermon, likens abortion to a concentration camp, and says practising homosexuality is a sin.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, a Bombers supporter, had a strong response when asked on Tuesday about the views expressed by Thorburn’s church, but acknowledged the CEO’s appointment was a matter for the club’s board.
“Those views are absolutely appalling. I don’t support those views; that kind of intolerance, that kind of hatred, bigotry is just wrong,” Andrews said.
“All of you know my views on these things. Those sort of attitudes are simply wrong, and to dress that up as anything other than bigotry is just obviously false.”
However, the Premier said he would continue as an Essendon member next season.
“There are many reasons to be a somewhat disappointed Essendon supporter. I don’t want to make light of this, though,” he said.
“I don’t appoint the CEO of the Essendon footy club or any footy club. That’s a matter for the board, and they’d be best placed to speak to you about that.”
One of Thorburn’s chief tasks at Essendon is to unite a club which has been fractured, this exacerbated over the sacking of Ben Rutten as coach, the departure of former chief executive Xavier Campbell, and then the appointment of new coach Brad Scott, with board member Kevin Sheedy publicly declaring he had backed James Hird.
Thorburn’s personal beliefs could upset the Bombers’ AFLW side, which preaches diversity and inclusiveness, as well as the Purple Bombers, the club’s official diversity and inclusion supporter group. The Purple Bombers were contacted for comment.
Thorburn, also a lifelong Essendon supporter, defended the church on Tuesday, saying “different views” should be respected in the community.
“I understand that some of these views – and I’ll come to them – are offensive to people and upset people and I really respect that,” Thorburn said.
“Firstly, my faith is a very personal thing. I think my faith has helped me become a better leader because at the centre of my faith is the belief you should create a community and care for people and help people be safe and respect them as humans. That’s actually helped me become a better leader.
“Second is, I’ve been a CEO for 13 years, this is my third CEO job. I was CEO of a bank that had 5000 people, I was a CEO of a bank that had 35,000 people, now I’m going to a different organisation but in all those, there’s a diversity of people.”
Speaking on SEN, Thorburn, who begins in his new role on November 1, said his record showed he was “inclusive and welcoming and caring and diverse”.
“I think that makes us a more human organisation and makes us a higher performing organisation. My commitment – and it’s always been this, and I think my record stands – is that I will create that organisation and lead that organisation. Personally, I feel I have role-modelled that,” he said.
“I haven’t been a perfect CEO, but I think my respect for people, my care, my love, my welcoming style, I welcome all those people, everybody is welcome. That’s really what I want people to look at, look at my actions, look at my words as a leader and the organisations I’ve created to enable safe, diverse, inclusive workplaces, that’s my record I want people to look at and have confidence in.
“I would say … I respect and care about you, and you’re welcome in this organisation and I want to hear what you think to ensure you feel safe and can speak out.”
Essendon president David Barham was impressed with Andrew Thorburn’s business background and his knowledge of the AFL industry.Credit:Getty Images
Bombers president David Barham was contacted for comment. In a statement on Monday when confirming Thorburn’s appointment, Barham said fellow board director Dorothy Hisgrove had also been involved in the process.
“He [Thorburn] impressed the board with his understanding of the AFL system but also the business of sport on a global scale. Most importantly though, Andrew has demonstrated throughout his business career that he can execute the priorities that the organisation has,” Barham said.
Thorburn suggested he did not endorse the church’s stance on all issues.
“But I also want to say in the church – like any diverse society – there are very different views on all these matters. I have different views on some matters, I’m not a pastor, my job in a governance role is to make sure it’s run well,” he said.
“I don’t always agree with what’s said, but in a way that’s not the point. If we want a diverse society it also means there’s going to be people with different views, and I think as we go forward in Australia, it’s not whether those views exist because they do, the question for harmony is whether we can co-exist and hear each other and respect each other’s views.
“I totally respect that people will have different views to what was expressed, and I’m sort of saying in some ways I do. The church itself has very different views, very diverse views, not everyone in the church agrees with those views, but it’s very important in a society that those views can be expressed. And people should disagree with them, but sort of respectfully.”
