The past few years have seen an explosion in athletes using their platforms to spread messages of social, economic and climate justice -- the David Pocock led “The Cool Down” initiative surrounding climate change a recent example. 

This increase in athlete activism is taking place a backdrop where the traditional ethos of sports are colliding with the profitability and power that can be sourced from it -- the business of sport, the huge sums of money at stake and the reputational laundering on offer increasingly precedence over more antiquated notions. 

Furthermore, the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to find a new normal and the race to vaccinate is further complicating the lives of athletes, members of the sporting industry and fans. 

Deep in the reeds on these issues, amongst others, is Brendan Schwab, the current Executive Director of the World Players Association and a long-time figure in athlete labour movements.

Prior to landing with the World Players Association, Schwab has had involvement with the global football players union FIFPro, the Australian Athletes’ Alliance and, back in 1993, co-founded the Australian Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) with former Socceroo Kimon Taliadoros. The World Players Association, for their part, represent over 80,000 players across professional sport through more than 100 player associations in over 60 countries -- working with the likes of FIFPro, the MLBPA, the NBPA, and the NFLPA.

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