Nick Pappas

Nick Pappas
AM
Born
Nicholas George Pappas

(1961-03-01) 1 March 1961 (age 63)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Other names
  • The Godfather
  • Uncle Nick
EducationSydney Grammar School
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Occupation(s)Businessman, solicitor
Years active1982–present
Board member of

Nicholas George Pappas (Greek: Νικόλαος Γεώργιος Παπαναστασιου) (born 1 March 1961) is a solicitor from Sydney, Australia, and also the current chairman of the South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby league club. He was also chairman of the club from April 2003 to June 2006. During that time Pappas had led a board borne of an uneasy compromise following a bitter campaign in the lead up to the 2003 AGM.[1] Pappas was replaced in mid-2006 after the privatisation bid, supported by Pappas, of Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court which was decided by a very narrow vote by members in March 2006. Pappas was restored to the chairman's position after the sudden departure of Holmes a Court in early 2008.[2][3][4][5][6]

Pappas' most significant involvement with the Rabbitohs prior to being chairman was his part in the legal battle with News Limited to reinstate the club to the National Rugby League (NRL), following the Rabbitohs exclusion at the end of the 1999 season. While the Rabbitohs were successful in gaining reinstatement to the NRL, through the leadership of George Piggins and the #14 Group of supporters, the actual court case was eventually decided on appeal in the High Court of Australia in favour of News Ltd.[7]

Pappas is also chairman of Souths Cares and the South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Member Company, the instrument which represents the interests of the club members who hold a 25% share of ownership.

Pappas is also principal, Nicholas G Pappas & Company Lawyers;[8] Member, Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia; chairman, Bank of Sydney; former president and board member, Powerhouse Museum Australia; member, Council of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens and board member of the Steve Waugh Foundation.

Pappas has a PhD in economic history and has written several books about the history of his parents' homeland, Castellorizo in Greece.

  1. ^ Masters, Roy (9 April 2003). "Piggins out but not down". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  2. ^ Phil Rothfield and Rebecca Wilson (18 May 2008). "Holmes a Court to quit Souths". The Daily Telegraph (news.com.au). Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  3. ^ Josh Massoud (27 May 2008). "How Souths drowned in latte and largesse". The Daily Telegraph (news.com.au). Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  4. ^ Patrick Smith (28 May 2008). "A Court in the crossfire: the syndrome threatening to derail Souths". The Australian. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  5. ^ Josh Massoud (27 May 2008). "Crisis as bunnies boil over". Courier Mail (news.com.au). Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  6. ^ Ray Chesterton (27 May 2008). "Crowe's company ruined Souths". The Daily Telegraph (news.com.au). Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  7. ^ Davies, Chris (2003), "NEWS LTD V SOUTH SYDNEY DISTRICT RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED: THE HIGH COURT DECISION", AustLII, retrieved 18 February 2011
  8. ^ [1] Sydney solicitors