Paul McNamee
Australian Tennis Hero Ranked Number One
Paul provides his audience with an intimate insight into his life as an elite sportsman and world-class sports administrator. Known to present in a relaxed conversational manner, Paul speaks on his keys to success that he developed during his 11 years touring the world as a top ranked tennis player, which carried him through 21 years creating and developing some of Australia's biggest sporting events and organisations. From corporate days and conventions to intimate executive lunches, Paul's passionate presentations leave audiences motivated by his remarkable stories both on and off the court.
Professor Paul McNamee AM (BSc 1976) is a sports administrator and former Australian tennis player. Playing a vital role in the establishment of the Hopman Cup international tennis tournament in 1988, Paul also served as director of the cup and CEO of the Australian Open until 2006.
Following this from 2006 to 2008 Paul was named tournament director of the Australian Golf Open, where he helped raise the profile of national golf championships, notably the Women’s Australian Open. Shortly later in 2008, his career continued with the position CEO of the Melbourne Football Club for a brief period of time.
Playing tennis from an early age, Paul displayed promise throughout his teen years. Going on to win a full blue for tennis while he completes his Bachelor of Science with majors in Statistics and Law at Monash. Soon after, Paul was declared Australia’s number one ranked player for 1985 and became a champion tennis player.
He became a renowned Davis Cup performer and a notable doubles champion winning the 1980 and 1982 Wimbledon crowns, along with his doubles partner Peter McNamara. In 1986 Paul McNamee was made Member of the Order of Australia, and in 1987 was the recipient of the Warren Kennedy Memorial Award for Sportsmanship. Later in 1996, Monash presented Professor McNamee with a Distinguished Alumni Award.
Recently Paul has been named a Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow. He assists Monash’s development as an enhanced destination for elite Australian and Asia-Pacific athletes and for sport-related study.