Jane Wrightson, chief executive of NZ On Air, has been appointed as the second independent director on the board of Swimming New Zealand (SNZ).

Her arrival in swimming follows the first independent appointment, that of businessman Ross Butler, as the federation seeks directors who can bring in specific business skills to cope with the demands of professional sport.

Wrightson was New Zealand's chief film censor, chief executive of the Screen Production and Development Association and the Broadcasting Standards Authority before joining NZ On Air in 2007. A member of the NZ Institute of Directors, she was also a board member for Netball New Zealand for eight years until taking up her role at NZ On Air.

Wrightson is based in Wellington, while Butler hails from Nelson. Bound to be some fighting spirit in there somewhere.

No idea what the specific skills of Butler and Wrightson are, nor whether they can tell one end of a pool to the other, but there can be no question that they represent the future governance of swimming, not only at national level.

So far, the presence of such people is largely contained in the realms of advice and consultancy. A day is coming when the businessman (or woman) will sit in the high chair without believing that they also know how to run affairs at deck level. Their role will be to harness financial forces previously thought beyond the world of swimming. There are vast benefits to be had from the commercial opportunities, ventures and partnerships that beckon with a building voice. Dangers too.

The USA and Australia have, in accordance with events in the pool, led the way. As pioneers, they have not been immune to error. They are, however, a league or two ahead of the vast majority of other swimming nations as far as running their affairs as a business is concerned and the day has arrived when those who run sport are as answerable for results on dry land as the coaches and swimmers are for delivering in the water.

Over the coming decade, the widening gap in the fortunes of federations - not only in the tank but in the bank - will raise difficult issues for those who govern at continental, global and Olympic levels in the midst of powerful forces wielding financial sticks and carrots. Athletes will also want to organise themselves in preparation for the new world. The IOC/NBC debacle springs to mind when it comes to determining the health of commercial relationships. Did that deal serve the best interests of athletes and pay respect to tradition and science? No. There will be much more of that in the years ahead.