Melbourne Storm shareholder and board member Gerry Ryan has been named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List, recognising his significant and long-standing contributions across sport, business and the wider community.
The club has warmly congratulated Ryan on the achievement, describing the honour as a fitting reflection of his service to tourism, hospitality, sports governance and business. His influence has extended well beyond boardrooms, helping shape and strengthen Australian sport at multiple levels over many years.
Ryan’s commitment to Melbourne Storm and the people behind the club has been unmistakable for more than a decade. Known for his hands-on care and genuine passion, his generosity has also left a lasting mark across the broader sporting landscape. In addition to rugby league, his support has been felt in cycling, basketball, horse racing and Australian rules football, where he is a proud and vocal supporter of St Kilda.
His impact on sport administration was formally recognised in 2024 when he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. That honour capped off a remarkable journey defined by leadership, vision and an enduring belief in the power of sport to unite communities.
Key Honours and Milestones
1998: Awarded Life Membership of the St Kilda Football Club
2000: Received the Medal of the Order of Australia
2013: Awarded the Australian Olympic Committee Order of Merit
2015: Inducted into the Cycling Australia (AusCycling) Hall of Fame
2022: Made a Life Member of Melbourne Storm
2024: Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
Gerry Ryan’s Australia Day recognition stands as a powerful acknowledgment of decades of dedication, leadership and influence, cementing his legacy as one of the most respected figures in Australian sport.
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