Glenn Robert Tasker (10 November 1951 – 15 August 2019) was an Australian sports administrator best known for his long involvement with swimming, tennis and the Paralympic movement. He served as President of the Australian Paralympic Committee from 2013 until 2018, and over several decades played senior roles in state and national sporting organisations focused on athlete support, event delivery and governance.
Career and roles
Tasker worked across multiple codes, bringing administrative experience to both able-bodied and disability sport. His responsibilities included board and executive responsibilities, program oversight and work on high-performance pathways for athletes. He was involved with swimming and tennis at organisational levels where he contributed to strategic planning, stakeholder relations and the commercial development of sporting programs.
Contributions to the Paralympic movement
As President of the Australian Paralympic Committee, Tasker led the organisation through a period of preparation for major international events and helped strengthen relationships between athletes, coaches and partners. He advocated for improved services and visibility for Paralympic athletes and worked to increase public and corporate support for disability sport. His tenure emphasized governance, athlete welfare and the promotion of competitive opportunities.
Colleagues and sporting bodies remembered Tasker for his practical approach to administration and for steadying organisations through change. He was regarded as someone who combined operational experience with an interest in improving how sport served participants, whether at community, state or elite levels.
Death and legacy
Tasker died while in a coma on 15 August 2019 in Sydney due to cardiac arrest-related problems. He was 67. After his passing, tributes from sports administrators, athletes and organisations reflected on his contributions to Australian sport and the development of the Paralympic community.
- Key position: President, Australian Paralympic Committee (2013–2018)
- Associated sports: swimming, tennis and disability sport administration
- Remembered for: governance, athlete advocacy and organisational leadership
For more background on the organisations and movements with which he worked, consult official bodies and archival reports from national sporting organisations and Paralympic governance sources. Further contemporary reporting and tributes were published following his death and outline his role in Australian sport.