Ben Houston, centre, has extended his CGA Presidency for a second term, having first been appointed in 2018 ©CGA

Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) has re-elected Ben Houston for a fresh four-year term as President at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), meaning he will lead the organisation at Victoria 2026.

Houston succeeded Sam Coffa as President in 2018 after the former weightlifter ended his 20-year stint in the role.

Former Triathlon Australia President Houston has also served as Australian Sailing chief executive since 2019.

Australia again topped the medals table at his first Commonwealth Games as CGA President in Birmingham last year, becoming the first nation to surpass 1,000 gold medals since the inaugural British Empire Games in Hamilton in 1930. 

Houston serves as a CGA representative on the Victoria 2026 Board, and wants to build on the success of Birmingham 2022 when the Games return to Australia.

"It is a privilege to serve as President of CGA with a home Games on the horizon and the success of Birmingham 2022 to build upon," he said.

"The CGA Board and I have worked tirelessly to deliver against our strategy of First Among Equals and I look forward to continued collaboration with fellow Board members as we look ahead to a future that begins with Victoria 2026."

Australia became the first nation to reach 1,000 Commonwealth Games gold medals at Birmingham 2022 ©Getty Images
Australia became the first nation to reach 1,000 Commonwealth Games gold medals at Birmingham 2022 ©Getty Images

Leanne Grantham was re-appointed for a fresh four-year term on the Board at the AGM, with the Board electing her as the vice-president.

Grantham is the former chief executive of Australia's Women’s National Basketball League and head of women's football at Football Australia, and served on the Board for the Organising Committee of last year's Women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney.

She is currently a Table Tennis Australia director.

Four-time Commonwealth Games medallist Steve Moneghetti, winner of the men's marathon at Victoria 1994 in Canada and a three-time Chef de Mission for the Australian team, was also re-appointed to the Board.

The other five members of the CGA Board remain World Bowls President Darryl Clout, Marlene Elliott, Jayne Ferguson, Grant Harrison and David Mandel.

Clout and Harrison's terms are due to expire next year.

Victoria 2026 Chef de Mission and nine-time Commonwealth Games medallist Petria Thomas, second left, was among four life members announced by CGA ©CGA
Victoria 2026 Chef de Mission and nine-time Commonwealth Games medallist Petria Thomas, second left, was among four life members announced by CGA ©CGA

The CGA AGM also named four life members, including eight-time Olympic swimming medallist, nine-time Commonwealth Games champion and Birmingham 2022 and Victoria 2026 Chef de Mission Petria Thomas.

Four-time Commonwealth Games diving medallist Valerie Beddoe, seven-time team physiotherapist Peter Duras and former chief medical officer Peter Harcourt were also inducted, taking the number of life members up to 32.

"Life membership is conferred upon those who have provided significant service and contribution to the Commonwealth Sport movement in Australia, and I congratulate our latest inductees on this honour," Houston said.

"This recognition provides CGA with a chance to celebrate the rich history.

"Each of the 32 members are well deserving and exemplary in their field of service."

Charli Petrov, winner of the women's 10-metre platform synchronised diving gold with Melissa Wu at the age of 14 at Birmingham 2022, was named the CGA's first emerging athlete of the year at the President's dinner.