The extension will see QBE become the club's first-ever “Whole of Club” principal partner, taking one of Australia's longest sporting sponsorships beyond 40 years.
The partnership between QBE and Sydney Swans saw the establishment of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in 2010, recognising and fostering high-level skills and talent among aspiring young football players. Over the years, the academy has seen players such as Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills, and Ruby Sargent-Wilson progress into the elite teams, while its Youth Girls Program offers an elite training program for female football players in New South Wales (NSW).
The insurance giant and the club have also conducted community initiatives over the years, most recently Goals for Good, where the QBE Foundation recently donated $50,000 to be shared between the Sydney Swans Foundation, R U OK?, the Australian Red Cross, Foodbank Australia, Save the Children, Orange Sky, and the Stars Foundation.
Sue Houghton, CEO of QBE Australia-Pacific, said the club's shared drive to encourage diversity, inclusivity, and equality is one of the reasons for decades of partnership.
“QBE's relationship with the Swans is reflective of our shared core values of teamwork, courage, resilience, and inclusion, and we're thrilled to be taking our long-term partnership into four decades,” Houghton said. “In both of our industries – sport and insurance – we are challenging stereotypes by empowering female talent and leadership and proving the benefits of greater diversity. We're proud to be creating more pathways to success through initiatives that are inspiring young people on and off the field.”
Tom Harley, CEO of Sydney Swans, said the club is grateful for the insurer's long-term commitment.
“We're really proud of our partnership with QBE – they've been with us over an incredible journey and are part of the fabric of our Sydney Swans family,” Harley said. “Over the past 36 years, our club has seen two premierships, created pathways for young talent through the establishment of our academy, and the journey of our women's team is just beginning. QBE has been with us every step of the way, and their unwavering support has helped us get to where we are today.
“We're really excited about where our club is heading in the next five years, and we're thrilled to be doing it with QBE by our side at all levels of the game.”
