Catherine Harris to be appointed to rugby league's independent commission
THE NRL has secured one of Australia's most respected businesswomen to sit on the independent commission.
Fruit and vegetables queen Catherine Harris, of Harris Farm Markets fame, will be the first woman appointed to the game's new ruling body.
She is understood to be a close friend and associate of Harvey Norman boss Katie Page, who currently sits on the NRL board but has been ruled out of sitting on the commission because of a conflict of interests.
Ms Harris is chairwoman of the family-run company and has built up an impressive portfolio of business achievements, including a senior role on the Australian institute of company directors.
She is a UNSW councillor, a Sydney Cricket and Sports Board trustee, a director of the Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Gallery of Australia Foundation Board, and an Order of Australia recipient.
Ms Harris' position on the SCG Trust has established her sports credentials.
She will join former Tigers legend Wayne Pearce, Queenslander John Grant, businessman Gary Pemberton and Peter Gregg, the CEO of Leighton Holdings on the commission.
Meanwhile, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is challenging a move by the NRL clubs to demand a guarantee from News Limited it will not set up a rival Super League-type competition in the future.
An ACCC director has written to David Gallop to express the commission's concerns about a non-compete clause.
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