Neil Harwood OAM Dies After Five-Decade Service to Table Tennis

Neil Harwood's death on January 7, 2026, removes one of the sport's most consistent builders and advocates. Beginning as a 17-year-old player in Tasmania, Harwood moved into administration by 18 and soon became a fixture in state and national governance. His national career began in 1976 as Chairman of the National Coaching Committee and expanded into roles that included Chairman of National Selectors, manager of junior and senior national teams, and representative at three Olympic Games, seven World Championships and numerous international events.

Harwood's influence reached well beyond Australia through extensive service with the International Table Tennis Federation. He served as the TTA Delegate from 1985 to 1995, as Continental Vice President from 1996 to 2005, Chairman of Umpires and Referees from 2001 to 2003, Executive Vice President for Finance from 2005 to 2012, and Deputy President from 2012 to 2013. The ITTF awarded him Life Membership in 2014 in recognition of his long contribution to the sport's governance and technical integrity.

Major events marked by Harwood's stewardship include his role as Competition Manager for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic table tennis events and his appointment as International Technical Delegate at Athens 2004. He also held senior technical roles at Commonwealth Games and other world events, and he served on the Board of Commonwealth Games Australia from 2001 to 2004. On the domestic front, Harwood was President of Table Tennis Australia from 1996 to 1999 and President of ITTF-Oceania from 1996 to 2005, positions from which he championed growth and development in the region.

Recognition of Harwood's contribution came through multiple life memberships across organizations and national honours, including the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2007. The European Table Tennis Union and the wider table tennis community remember him as a pioneer whose vision supported coaching pathways, officiating standards and event professionalism that benefit clubs and players today.

For clubs, coaches and administrators, Harwood's passing underscores the value of structured coaching programs, robust officiating training and clear succession planning. His career provides a practical template for developing talent and managing competition at all levels. He is survived by his wife Sandra and his family, and his legacy will continue through the programs and people he helped build.