Winning the America's Cup gave John Bertrand entry to any boardroom in the world, he says.
And he's used it to not only benefit sport, but society at large.
Bertrand, who in 1983 was skipper of the famed Australia II which ended 132 years of US domination of the America's Cup, is among notable sporting identities in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Bertrand has been appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), as have long-time national hockey player and coach Ric Charlesworth and AFL coach and player Neale Daniher.
Olympic champion walker Jared Tallent and netballer Mo'onia Gerrard have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
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Bertrand is chairman of Swimming Australia, Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Prime Minister's Alannah and Madeline Foundation, a world leader in cybersafety, and has forged a successful business career beyond his sport achievements.
"To be recognised for work that I have done beyond the America's Cup era is a huge accolade," he said.
"The America's Cup win has allowed me to go into any boardroom in the world, to be honest.
"The prestige of it, to be the first team to beat the Americans in 132 years of competition - it changed the course of history of sport in that world."
Bertrand, some 33 years after the event, still gets a daily buzz from the victory.
"People literally still come up to me every day in the street to tell me not what I was doing, but what they were doing when we crossed the line," he said.
Other sporting figures honoured include renowned cricket journalist and author Mike Coward and sports commentator Debbie Spillane, both appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia.
