Q & A with Michael Thomson

Michael Thomson, by his own admission, isn't a gifted sportsman - but not from a lack of trying.

A sports lover from the beginning, he spent winters – 20 of them – playing rugby and long summer days on the cricket field. From learning to work in a team to experiencing the highs and lows of winning and losing, there was a lot to gain from playing sport and he wanted to experience it all, even if it was with “very limited talent”.

His lack of natural ability on the field, however, has failed to stymie his progress off it. In a fiercely competitive industry in which jobs are highly sought-after, Michael has ascended to the peak and is currently at the helm of the ACT Brumbies, Australia’s most successful Super Rugby team.

Armed with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Canberra, as well as economics and science qualifications obtained at the Australian National University, Michael briefly plied his trade as a commercial lawyer before transitioning into sport. As FIFA’s Head of Business and Legal Affairs, he helped deliver the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan – a career highlight to date.

After four years with FIFA in Switzerland, Michael returned to Australia where he worked with Football Federation Australia, Nike, the Brumbies, and the Australian Rugby Union in a variety of commercial and administrative roles. In 2013, he took a China-based role with Nike to oversee the sportswear giant’s marketing operations in Asia.

Born and raised in Canberra, Michael returned home in 2015 to lead the Australian Sports Commission’s participation and sustainable sports division, a move that preceded his return to the Brumbies in 2016 when he took the reins as Chief Executive Officer.

You’ve had a long career in sport. Have you always loved it?

From a very young age I was enthusiastic about playing whatever sport was going, albeit with very limited talent. But that didn’t stop me. I really like all the positive things that sport can bring – be it the community side of things, the teamwork, the leadership, learning to win and lose, and so on. Sport benefits individuals and society in many ways and it’s a great way to connect with people. Most Saturday mornings you’ll find me running a line either for my 10-year-old or 13-year-old’s sport.

What attracted you to the top role at the Brumbies?

I’m a Canberra boy. I was born and bred here. I’ve always been passionate about the Brumbies and what they represent for Canberra and the region. The club went through a tough time a couple of years ago and I felt that perhaps I could contribute and help stabilise the organisation. I wanted to come back and help the club return to its strengths and reconnect it with the community. I saw it as an opportunity to make a difference.

In what ways does the club benefit from being based at the University of Canberra?

Being based at the University of Canberra is fantastic. There’s no question that we have one of the best, if not the best, facilities in Super Rugby in Australia. With the set up here, our players have access to everything they need in one location – gym facilities, training fields, locker rooms, rehabilitation areas. Having access to the University’s researchers is also very helpful. Our staff collaborate with PhD students and established research teams to enhance our injury prevention techniques and rehabilitation measures. We also benefit from having so many willing students wanting to undertake internships with us. We have students coming in and helping with everything from media and marketing to high performance.

How is the club training players for life after rugby?

It’s very important for us to develop better people as well as better rugby players. We want our players to be happy and content off the field because if that’s the case, we find they perform better on it. Our relationship with the University of Canberra means players can study in addition to their playing commitments, with many currently undertaking a Master of Business Administration. We’ve also got a scholarship program in place to support young and upcoming players to make the transition from schoolboy rugby into the professional environment. We require players in that program to be either studying or working while they are contracted with us. There’s no question winning rugby matches is very important, but how we set these guys up for life after rugby is also a key focus at the Brumbies.

How do you see the Brumbies and the University working together moving forward?

We’re only just scratching the surface of what is a hugely beneficial relationship for both the Brumbies and the University. For us, having access to a cohort of very intelligent students as well as ground-breaking research teams and academics is invaluable to our work. At the same time, we provide some great opportunities to the University, which we signed on as our official education partner earlier this year. There aren’t many universities in Australia that have a professional rugby team on campus that wants to work with the institution. There’s good will on both sides and it’s pleasing how well both organisations are working together.

How has your tertiary education helped you in your career?

Studying law at the University of Canberra opened the world up to me, literally. I worked in Switzerland as a commercial lawyer for FIFA and I led sports marketing teams at Nike in Australia and in China. The degree was very practical – all the skills I learned I have been able to apply to the various roles I have worked in. When I came out at the end of it, I had the knowledge and the skillset to understand and work through problems, which is a requirement of any job you work in. The social aspect of studying at the University was also fantastic. Sport is a people business and the ability to build relationships, which I honed while studying, is key to success.

What are you most proud of professionally?

Turning a profit last year at the Brumbies after losing $3.5 million over three years is a real highlight. So too was helping deliver the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. That was special. I was the last person to walk off the ground following the final in Yokohama and that felt pretty good.

Why is it important to be challenged at work?

If you’re not being challenged, you’re not reaching your potential. It’s very easy to give way to inertia, but in doing that, you can’t change anything because you don’t have a voice. If you want to succeed, you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and jump in. You’ve got to wake up every morning prepared to face whatever the day throws at you I really appreciate the opportunity to be challenged.