JackJumpers' appoints Keryn Nylander, NBL's first chairwoman

The appointment marks the first time a woman will hold the position for any NBL franchise.

Ms Nylander said she was absolutely thrilled to take on such an important role in the Tasmanian and Australian sporting landscape, and looked forward to building an organisation Tasmanians could be proud of.

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"We have a rare opportunity to create something special for Tasmanians and for the community from the ground up and I'm looking forward to being a part of it," she said.

As the first woman to hold the position Ms Nylander acknowledged the significance of her appointment. However, she said she looks forward to a time when women being appointed to high profile positions was not an issue.

"It's important and I'm grateful that our owner Larry Kestelman offered it to me and I think it is important that as a woman I say yes and take that on," she said.

"These firsts are important and I think it's important that women take them, not just think no we can't do that, or someone else can do that.

"We have to take them, that shows leadership and it shows young women that they too can take on these roles.

"Do I want that still to be talked about in a few years time? Probably not. I just hope that it's talked about that I did a good job and it's irrelevant that I'm a female."

She said the support she received was more than she expected.

"Oh it's been overwhelmingly positive, like, more than I expected from everybody," she said.

"They're just really happy that we're going to be on the national stage, the JackJumpers, and happy with all the things they can see in terms of what's being created from the ground up."

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Ms Nylander explained the support and encouragement she received from her family, friends and the organisation convinced her accepting the position was the right course of action and hopes to build a team Tasmanians are proud of.

"So, yeah, overwhelmingly positive, and lots of encouragement, and yes, definitely makes me feel that it's definitely the right decision to run to accept," she said.

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