Senior netball administrator Karen Rosen Baugh has indicated that she will be putting herself up for the presidency of Netball Jamaica (NJ) at next month’s annual general meeting (AGM). Originally scheduled for December 14, the AGM was postponed to January due to the unavailability of the organisation’s audited financial statements.

The last AGM was held in 2021, with all NJ positions, including the presidency and directorship roles, up for re-election in the upcoming meeting. President Tricia Robinson, now serving her second term, will also be eligible for re-election.

Rosen Baugh, who has been NJ’s director of marketing and sponsorship since 2021, is widely regarded in the netball community as a strong contender for the position. She explained to the Jamaica Observer that her decision to run was made after careful consideration and consultation with family and key stakeholders in the sport.

“I have thought long and hard about this and consulted with my family, friends, and colleagues,” she said. “I have received many calls encouraging me to run, but for a while, I was undecided as my desire has always been just to quietly serve and contribute as best as I can to the success of the sport and the support for these awesome Sunshine Girls.

“Our stakeholders rightly demand that we be accountable and transparent, and that is my mantra as well.”

Rosen Baugh expressed her commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure significant global growth for the sport and for the Sunshine Girls to rise to become the number one team in the world.

“I think I have more to offer to the sport,” she said. “We need a reset in certain areas, especially governance, communication, and national development of the sport. The proper marketing and support of the team is a huge need and they deserve so much more.

“We want them to be in a well-supported elite environment, and for them and the coaches to be properly remunerated when they represent the country. The rest of the programme will be impacted by their success.”

Rosen Baugh says she intends to strengthen grassroots development and ensure that local coaches and umpires receive the necessary support to become internationally certified.

“Development opportunities for our clubs, coaches, and umpires is also a big priority if we are to sustain our progress and properly feed the national programme,” she said. “There is so much to do, so the team leading the charge is very important.”

Baugh previously served on the NJ board from 2012 to 2016, primarily during the presidency of Marva Bernard.

Robinson has remained reserved about whether she will seek re-election. Several calls to her mobile phone Monday for clarity on her plans went unanswered.