The appointment was made during the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, held in Paris this week.
Mr McCann’s appointment recognises Australia’s longstanding commitment to clean sport and its leadership in promoting integrity across the region.
The UNESCO Fund supports States Parties in developing and implementing anti-doping education, policy and capacity-building initiatives, with a particular focus on youth, sport organisations, and vulnerable regions such as Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
The Approval Committee plays a vital role in:
- overseeing the allocation of funding in line with COP resolutions and the Fund’s operational strategy
- leading advocacy and fundraising efforts to sustain the Fund
- promoting transparency and accountability in Fund management
- supporting regional capacity-building and awareness initiatives.
Mr McCann joins a select group of international representatives tasked with guiding the strategic distribution of resources to strengthen global anti-doping efforts.
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“It is a privilege to represent our region and contribute to the global movement for sport integrity,” he said.
Together, with our Pacific neighbours and global partners, we are building a legacy of trust, fairness, and opportunity for athletes everywhere.
During COP10 – in the 20th anniversary year of the Convention – Mr McCann also delivered Australia’s official intervention outlining Australia’s leadership in the global anti-doping space, in particular, the Oceania region.
Mr McCann highlighted the success of the recent UNESCO Regional Capacity-Building Programme co-hosted by SIA in Brisbane. The programme brought together representatives from 17 Pacific nations, UNESCO and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to build regional anti-doping capability ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Our investment in this programme reflects a deep and enduring commitment to strengthening anti-doping capabilities across the Pacific and globally,” McCann told COP10 delegates in Paris.
“This programme was more than just an educational forum. The workshop was purposefully designed to build capacity and address sport integrity threats now and into the future.
“To achieve this, we must listen to the voices and perspectives of our Pacific partners to help shape priorities and guide action, understand the diverse levels of capability and expertise across Oceania, and identify opportunities for collaboration and support.”
Mr McCann also shared a video of the recent UNESCO programme held in Brisbane sharing feedback from our Pacific partners on the importance of collaborating and understanding the unique challenges faced by Pacific nations in anti-doping compliance to ensure we are on a path of continuous improvement.