[2] After the World Masters Games, she was appointed CEO of the 2000 Sydney Paralympics Organising Committee.
[2] The Official Report of the 2000 Sydney Olympics reported that The Sydney Paralympic Games were an outstanding success in every aspect and in many areas, such as athlete attendance, ticket sales, broadcast rights and merchandise sales.
Her expertise led to Appleby being appointed to a number of boards including Victorian Major Events Company, 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand; Basketball Australia;[6] and the World Masters Games in Melbourne 2002.
[7] In January 2001, she was named as Sport Industry Australia's 2000 Executive of the Year, recognising her leadership of the Sydney Paralympic Games.
[8] Her son Chris Appleby was an Australian Institute of Sport basketball scholarship holder from 1983 to 1984.