FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Executive Office and Strategy
- Head of Chief Executive Office and Strategy
Alex Davani joined Football Australia in January 2021, as Head of Executive Office and Strategy, after contracting to the organization in 2020, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, to develop Football Australia's XI Principles for the Future of Australian Football.
A qualified Lawyer by trade, with a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, Alex has worked at ExxonMobil Papua New Guinea in both a Government Relations capacity and as In-House Legal Counsel.
A former Papua New Guinea Men's Football International, Captaining at U20 and U23 levels, Alex has also enjoyed various roles with the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (‘PNGOC') including Director and Board Member, Chair of its Athletes' Commission and Commercial Manager. Alex has also been on the Athletes' Commission of the Oceania National Olympic Committees.
After founding his sports consultancy service in Papua New Guinea, advising clients including the PNGOC, FIFPro Asia and Oceania, Professional Football clubs throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and FIFA's Development Department, he relocated to Australia and currently works closely with Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, providing strategic advice across all areas of Football Australia.
Job Titles:
- Northern NSW - MiniRoos & Schools
Alexia Apostolakis is one half of a solid CommBank Young Matildas centre-back partnership that has appeared in every game at the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ so far.To do the role well requires organisation, communication, and hours upon hours of training drills, bu
Clare Polkinghorne - Clare Polkinghorne is a current CommBank Matilda who has played 123 times for Australia since 2006. Polkinghorne was an Assistant Coach with Brisbane Roar in the Westfield W-League in 2019-20 and has played professionally in Australia, Japan, and the United States of America.
Connie Selby - Connie Selby (nee Byrnes) is a pioneer of women's football representing Australia in a 14-year playing career. She was selected for the All-Star team at the 1978 Women's World Tournament in Taiwan. After retiring, Selby served as an Assistant Coach for the National Team, as well as becoming a FIFA Instructor and receiving appointments on FIFA Technical Study Groups.
Ernie Merrick is an esteemed figure in the world of football, known for his vast experience and expertise in the sport. He currently serves as the Chief Football Officer of Football Australia, a position he assumed in 2022.
Merrick was born on January 15, 1953, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and began his football career as a player for Shettleston Juniors (now known as Glasgow United) semi-professional team in Glasgow. He moved to Australia in 1975 to play for Frankston City. In 1979 he transferred to Doveton City as a player initially before turning his focus to coaching and quickly established himself as a successful manager.
Frank Farina - Frank Farina is a former Socceroo and Head Coach. Farina scored ten goals in 37 games for the National Team between 1984 and 1995. He coached Australia between 1999 and 2005, earning 34 wins from 58 games. His playing career took him to Belgium, Italy, England, and France.
Job Titles:
- Subway Socceroos' Head Coach
Subway Socceroos' Head Coach, Graham Arnold has named an extended 25-man squad for Australia's upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualifiers against Lebanon.The Subway Socceroos are set to face Lebanon at Sydney's CommBank Stadium on Thursday, 21 March before travelling to GIO Stadium
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Member of the Football Development Committee
- Sports Administrator
James Johnson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia in January 2020.
A qualified lawyer and retired footballer, James is a sports administrator who has previously held senior executive positions with FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and City Football Group.
Following his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia, James worked with his team and the Australian football community to release a vision for Australia's largest participant, most diverse and globally connected sport. The XI Principles for the future of Australian Football (XI Principles For The Future of Australian Football | Football Australia), Australian football's 15-year Vision is bold, progressive, and designed to unite and guide the sport's decision making.
Since its release in 2020, James has been focused on bringing this vision to life and has already overseen a meaningful change in Australian football, including:
Successfully bidding to host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup together with New Zealand. This will be the most significant event in Australian sport since the 2000 Sydney Olympics with some 1.5 Billion people expected to tune in from around the world.
Transforming the governance of Australian football with the creation of a new model for its professional leagues (men and women) in December 2020, when he oversaw the completion of the ‘unbundling' of the professional leagues from Football Australia. Now a separate entity, operated by Australia's professional football clubs, has been created and managed under the umbrella of Football Australia to run the daily operations of the professional leagues.
Successfully led a commercial turnaround for the sport through its most difficult period. James has guided Football Australia to landmark record broadcast deals with CBSViacom Paramount+ and Network 10; record sponsorship deals with Commonwealth Bank Australia, Cadbury and Priceline. In the past 12 months, Football Australia has doubled its budgeted revenues with the sport now in a healthy position for future growth.
The launch of our FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Legacy program ("Legacy 23") which is aimed at increasing Australian football's participation base (particularly women and girls); improving facilities across the country; maximizing opportunities to boost tourism and trade with our governments' partners and empowering a new generation of women to lead on and off the pitch. Since its launch, Football Australia has secured $18 million in funding from the Federal Government in support of Legacy ‘23.
Revamping Australian football's national knock out competition by allocating a qualification slot into Asian football competitions, shifting the latter stage of the competition's calendar from weekdays to weekends, and negotiating the final to be played on free to air TV.
Successfully led the negotiation of a six-part docu-series with the Walt Disney Company for a Disney+ Original which will tell the story of the Australian women's national football team, the Commonwealth Bank Matildas, as they prepare for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ on home soil alongside co-host New Zealand.
James is now leading key initiatives for Australian football including the digital transformation of community football in Australian football; creating new national-level competitions (men and women) and reimagining Australian football products as the game adapts to the evolving habits of football participants; introducing a new player transfer system; continuing to grow the commercial revenues for the sport, and building Australian football's men's and women's national team (Socceroos and Matildas) into global iconic sports brands.
James is a regularly featured speaker at sports conferences domestically and across the globe.
Joey Peters - Joanne Peters is the fifth-most capped CommBank Matilda of all time, having represented the national Team 110 times between 1996 and 2009, scoring 28 goals. Peters played in Australia, USA, Brazil, and Sweden throughout her career. She is currently involved in grassroots sports.
Josip Skoko - Josip Skoko is a former Socceroos captain (#48) who made 51 appearances for the National Team between 1997 and 2007, scoring nine goals. Skoko played professionally in Australia, Croatia, Belgium, Turkey, and England throughout his extensive career.
Mark Bosnich - Mark Bosnich is a former Socceroos goalkeeper who made 17 appearances for the National Team between 1990 and 2000. Bosnich played in the English Premier League for Manchester United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Mark Falvo was appointed to Football Australia in 2008 where he was responsible for finance, strategic planning and international football development as part of Football Australia's FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup bids.
In 2010, Mark was appointed Executive Manager. He oversaw the development of Football Australia's 2010-2015 Strategic Plan and other key projects including the FFA Cup and National Competition Review which led to the establishment of the National Premier Leagues framework.
In 2012, Mark was appointed Chief Operating Officer at the Local Organising Committee for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.
In 2013, Mark was appointed to the role of General Manager, International Affairs at Football Australia which he continues to fulfil in addition to his responsibilities to the AFC Asian Cup.
In 2015, having successfully delivered the AFC Asian Cup, Mark returned to Football Australia as Head of Corporate Strategy, International Affairs & Government Relations, and was later promoted to the position of Football Australia Chief Operating Officer and Deputy General Secretary. Mark is a member of the AFC and AFF Competitions Committees.
Mel Mallam - Chief Legal Officer
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Mel joined Football Australia in October 2022 as General Counsel leading the Legal, Regulatory, Integrity and Compliance functions for Football Australia. Mel joins Football Australia after almost 16 years in Switzerland. She is a highly accomplished and dynamic legal professional with over 20 years of experience in the sports, media, and technology sectors. With a strong background in providing strategic commercial business advice, Mel has established herself as a trusted expert in the field.
Throughout her career, Mel has developed a significant understanding of the intricacies of the sports industry, particularly football, at all levels. She is well-versed in the intricacies of conducting the business of football and tackling the daily challenges faced by the sport having previously been a commercial legal counsel at FIFA and sat on the board of Capital Football in addition to her roles as Head of Legal for Swiss luxury watchmaker, Breitling, and General Counsel for global technology companies Parallels and Beekeeper. Her experience spans various aspects, including broadcast and media rights, sponsorship and marketing rights, event hosting, technology and software product services, and the use, development, and distribution of applications, data, and digital content.
Mel's hands-on approach, coupled with her ability to simplify complex matters, has garnered her a reputation for making the complex simple. She possesses a keen sense of commercial business acumen and approaches legal matters with a positive, collaborative, and solution-oriented mindset. Her ability to manage legal departments in high-growth and high-pressure environments, coupled with her "think outside the box" approach, has contributed to her success.
Mel Mallam is admitted to practice law in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory. As a native English speaker, Mel also possesses business proficiency in German (B2 level) and in addition to her LLB, holds a LLM in International Law.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Football Australia Board
Anter has been involved in Australian football for 27 years, starting as an Assistant Accountant with the national governing body in 1996 and where he worked for 12 years until 2007. During his time at the national governing body, Anter held the roles of Head of Finance, Company Secretary, NSL and A-League Finance Manager, and various roles in National Teams Management.
In 2007, Anter established a sports strategy consulting firm, Kleinmann Wang, which has since consulted to and supported projects to improve governance and leadership systems in federations, develop professional leagues and clubs, and design and deliver strategy in more than 120 countries with FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation, the Oceania Football Confederation, FIBA, and the International Cricket Council.
Most recently, Anter was the President of Football NSW, where he was also a director between 2013 and 2021. He has been a director of the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL and continues to serve on the board of the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Football Australia Board
Mr Joseph Carrozzi AM was elected to the Football Australia Board in November 2018 and is the chair of Finance, Risk and Audit Committee, the Football Congress Finance and Risk Committee and the Football Australia Congress Nominations Committee.
Joseph is a business advisor and board member on a number of public and private sector boards. He is Chair of listed healthcare REIT, HealthCo (ASX:HCW), Chair of Angus Knight Group, an employment services business and Chair of the Centenary Institute for Medical Research. He is also a board member of National Intermodal Corporation and Western Sydney University. Joseph is admitted as a barrister in the Supreme Court of NSW, he has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (UNSW). He has worked in the professional services sector for 30 years, including 15 years as a Managing Partner. Joseph has had an involvement in sports governance for over 20 years with roles on the boards of NSWIS, Athletics Australia, the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and the GWS Giants AFL club.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Football Australia Board
- Member of the Football Development Committee
- Board Member and Former Socceroo
Mr Mark Bresciano was appointed to the Football Australia Board on 1 October 2019. Born in Melbourne, Mark played youth football for Bulleen Lions, before moving into the National Soccer League with Carlton. In 1999, he moved to Italian Serie B side Empoli, beginning a twelve-year stay in the country. In 2002, he moved to the Serie A with Parma, later playing for Palermo and S.S. Lazio. From 2011, he spent the final four years of his career in the Middle East, first with UAE Pro-League side Al Nasr and then Qatar Stars League club Al-Gharafa. Mr Bresciano made 84 appearances for Australia, scoring 13 goals. He played in three FIFA World Cups, two AFC Asian Cups and the 2004 OFC Nations Cup winning team.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Football Australia Board
Sam Ciccarello was elected to the Football Australia Board on 22 November 2023. Sam has been involved in football for 35 years commencing as junior coach.
His football journey includes roles as Event Director and COO for the Sydney Olympic Games Organising Committee SA's Olympic Football Tournament operations, in the professional club setting as founding GM, then later, CEO of Adelaide United FC, and in grassroots and community football as director, Chair and President of Member Federation, Football South Australia. Sam was a member of FA's Congress Review Working Group, and of the FA's New Leagues Working Group (unbundling of the professional football leagues from FA).
Sam has extensive leadership and senior executive and board experience across the corporate and business sectors in banking and finance, media, sports administration and governance, and in major events. Positions include General Manager of broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo (SA), CEO of Australian Major Events; and Marketing Director then CEO with the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
Sam was a long term Panel judge with the Telstra National Business Women's Awards and judge on the Telstra National Business Awards; director on the SA Government's Motor Sport Board, Special Olympics SA Board Member, Whitelion Leadership Advisory Group, Chairman of the St. George Historical and Cultural Committee and association with the Arts, as a past Board Director of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Foundation.
Sam is committed to putting back into the community in a substantive and diverse way, particularly with an emphasis on giving voluntary service in a strategic and determinative manner.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Football Australia Board
- Executive Leadership Team / Executive Leader
- Senior Executive With over 30 Years
Mr Spiro Pappas is a senior executive with over 30 years of international business experience. He is currently Chairman of Atlas Iron, and Open Learning (ASX listed). He is also non-executive director of DataMesh, and Cognian Technologies. Prior to his current board roles, Mr Pappas had a long career in banking. He served at NAB in a number of senior leadership roles, including CEO of Asia (based in Singapore) and was responsible for all of NAB's International Operations and their Global Institutional Bank.
Prior to NAB, Mr Pappas worked for Deutsche Bank in London and New York, and then with ABN AMRO Bank in London. Mr Pappas has participated in a number of G20 forums as a member of the Australian B20 Taskforce. He was a corporate board member of the Australia Japan Business Cooperation Committee and the European Australian Business Council. Mr Pappas also served as part of an Australian Federal Government Digital Taskforce.
Job Titles:
- Company Secretary
- Member of the Football Australia Board
- Vice - President of Triathlon Australia
Stuart Corbishley was appointed as Company Secretary in May 2022.
Stuart is an experienced sports and major events lawyer, company director and company secretary who advises high profile national and international governing bodies, major events, domestic leagues, clubs, athletes and sponsors on a range of legal, commercial, governance and integrity matters. Stuart's in-house experience across a wide range of sports and major events has given him a deep understanding of the sports industry and, having advised clients at every level of sport, he brings a unique perspective to his advice.
Stuart was General Counsel & Company Secretary for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 and for FA's successful bid for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, and has also acted as General Counsel & Company Secretary for Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and the 2022 UCI Road World Championships. Stuart has also advised Cricket Australia on the establishment of the Men's and Women's Big Bash League, Netball Australia on the establishment of the Super Netball League, Hockey Australia on the establishment of Hockey League One and Athletics Australia on the establishment of Nitro Athletics.
Currently, Stuart is the Vice-President of Triathlon Australia and also acts as the Company Secretary for Invictus Australia and Netball NSW.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Football Australia Board
- Member of the Football Development Committee
- Board Member and Former Matilda
Mrs Amy Duggan was appointed to the Football Australia Board on 1 October 2019. She is a member of the Football Development Committee. Mrs Duggan has 25 years' experience in various roles in football and is a former Matilda. A communications professional, Mrs Duggan is a Journalist and Presenter for Win Television and has worked in the media industry for 20 years.
She is especially fond of the time she spent covering the Matilda's, Socceroos, the W-league and the 2019 Women's World Cup. Mrs Duggan holds a Commerce degree from the University of Wollongong and serves on several committees and sports' boards.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Football Australia Board
- Member of the Football Development Committee
- Board Member and Former Matilda
Mrs Heather Garriock was appointed to the Football Australia Board on 3 September 2021. She has spent over 25 years in football with various roles across all levels of the game, and is a member of the Starting XI advisory panel. Mrs Garriock is one of the most decorated Commonwealth Bank Matildas in history with appearances at three (3) FIFA Women's World Cups, three (3) AFC Women's Asian Cups, two (2) Olympic Games and a national championship in the W-League.
With a Masters in Education (Coaching) from Sydney University and an AFC A Licence, she has held coaching positions at National Premier Leagues, W-League and Commonwealth Bank Matildas level, as well as an appointment as the Vice President of Football Coaches Australia. Mrs Garriock is the CEO of Australian Taekwondo, has been a television commentator and analyst for several broadcasters and held other sports management positions.
Heather Garriock - Heather Garriock is the third-most capped CommBank Matilda of all time, having represented the National Team 130 times between 1999 and 2011. Garriock scored 20 times for Australia throughout that period and was most recently Head Coach of Canberra United in the Liberty A-League Women.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Football Australia Board
- Executive General Manager Retail at Australia Post
Ms Catriona Noble was appointed to the Football Australia Board on 3 September 2021. Ms Noble is the Executive General Manager Retail at Australia Post and her career has seen her lead significant growth and major restructures at some of Australia's largest organisations including ANZ Bank and McDonald's. During her time with ANZ Catriona was responsible for key Retail Distribution channels to customers including the Australian Branch Network.
While her 20-year career with McDonald's saw her play an integral role in the transformation of the McDonald's brand in Australia, holding various positions including CEO and Managing Director for McDonald's Australia and Chair of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Ms Noble has completed the AMP (Advanced Management Programme) at INSEAD business school, Fontainebleau, MGSM (Macquarie Graduate School of Management) Strategy & Business, MIT Boston Digital Business Transformation Programme and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chair
- Deputy Chair of the Football Australia Board
- Joe ( Deputy Chair )
Jackie has over 20 years of marketing, digital disruption and transformation experience across media, tech, communications and financial services. She has enjoyed working in a myriad of global and regional roles around the world with some truly impactful brands BBC, Netflix, Skype, Virgin and Afterpay.
As Global Director of Audience Marketing, Entertainment Partnerships and Broadcast Media - she was responsible for Skype's campaign platforms, growing the entertainment partnership program and building Skype's capability and presence in the broadcast space.
At BBC Studios, Jackie had oversight of more than 300 brands globally, fostering franchise brands such as Doctor Who, the Planet Series, Top Gear and growing new brands such as Bluey. Jackie was instrumental in helping to create new digital ways for communities to engage with BBC content globally.
At Netflix as Global Chief Marketing Officer, she brought her experience in media and entertainment together with her understanding of product and tech - building reach and fan engagement for a growing international content slate across an expanding range of genres, deepening partnerships, leading popular culture by fostering conversations around the world, and developing Netflix's brand.
Job Titles:
- Head of Professional
- Head of Professional Football & Competitions
Natalie was appointed Head of Professional Football and Competitions in February 2023. In her role as Football Australia's General Manager of Professional Football, Natalie has overseen the development, launch and implementation of the domestic Club Licensing framework for the A-Leagues and the NPL. She has supported executive leadership on a variety of strategic professional football initiatives, such as the implementation of domestic transfer system reforms.
Natalie previously served as Associate Director of Sports Administration/Championships at the Big Ten Conference, which generates over $1 billion USD annually and currently has 14 prominent member institutions. Natalie oversaw the planning and execution for Olympic sports championships, managed the scheduling and broadcast selection process for more than 400 events each year, and collaborated with conference and university leadership on policy and governance decisions.
At Concacaf, Natalie led the first Women's Football Day and created the Let's Develop Women's Football conference. She also co-designed the Club Licensing system for the confederation and its 41 MAs, developing all supporting documentation and tools, as well as organising the first FIFA/Concacaf Club Licensing Seminar. Natalie has also worked in match operations for the Concacaf Gold Cup, Concacaf Champions League and Concacaf Women's Football Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Originally from Charlotte, USA, Natalie has Sport Management/Administration degrees from the University of Florida (UF) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and is a FIFA Master graduate.
Job Titles:
- Head of Referees
- Sports Administrator
Nathan was appointed to his current role in November 2021, taking responsibility for refereeing across the entire football ecosystem. His remit covers Community Football to the A-Leagues and extends to international Match Officials in FIFA & AFC. As the Head of Referees for Football Australia, Nathan has led initiatives, including developing, launching, and implementing the redesign of the national pathway and performance improvement & management.
In his previous roles, Nathan is an experienced Sports Administrator, having served sporting organisations over the last 13 years at a State and National level in multiple sporting organisations. His work there was multifaceted, involving the management of competitions, the development of high-performance frameworks, and officiating. He was instrumental in managing change management processes and collaborated with leadership on policy and governance decisions.
At Football Australia, Nathan was an integral member of the Football Australia Referees Committee between 2017 till 2021, where he played a crucial role in developing the high-performance model for officiating. Additionally, he represented Football Australia at several FIFA Futuro Referee Technical Instructors courses from 2013 till 2020, contributing to his extensive technical knowledge and experience in Football refereeing.
Hailing from Adelaide, Nathan holds a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from Torrens University. As the Head of Referees, he leads the strategic initiatives to improve the standards of refereeing and officiating and drive the experience for community match officials across the Australian Football Ecosystem.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Head of People and Culture
Nina McDonnell was appointed as Head of People & Culture in 2019 primarily to lead Organisational Change with a new CEO. Her expertise in change management has been instrumental in coaching the Executive Leadership team through a transformational change journey ensuring business practices and structures support the new strategic direction of Football Australia and the XI Principles.
With an extensive background in best practice Human Resources and Workforce planning, across various industries including sports, major events, consulting, IT and banking industries, Nina's expertise aligns around programs that drive culture and engagement, focused on ensuring Football Australia offers its people the best experiences in delivering World Class football and embedding the Football Australia values as an anchor to all that we do on and off the pitch.
With a passion for driving high-performing teams, she is committed to promoting employee well-being, and embedding a supportive, inclusive and diverse workforce while coaching and collaborating with the Executive Leadership team.
Paul Okon - Paul Okon is a former Socceroos captain (#38) who made 28 appearances for the National Team between 1990 and 2003. Okon played in nations including Belgium, Italy, and England throughout his career, representing clubs such as Club Brugge, Lazio, Fiorentina, and Leeds United.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Head of Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs
- Head of Marketing, Communications, Corporate Affairs
Peter Filopoulos is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of rich experience in transforming sports and entertainment brands into powerhouses of excellence. His leadership, innovation, and strategic acumen have left indelible marks across an array of professional clubs, national and state sporting associations, major stadiums, advocacy organisations, and major events.
Known for his fearless approach to challenges and his relentless commitment to success, Peter has transformed some of Australia's most iconic brands, unlocking significant value and creating lasting impacts. His tenure as CEO, C-Suite Leader, and Board Member has seen organisations such as Perth Glory (2015 -2018), Football Victoria (2018 - 2020) and Football Australia (2020 - ) reach their peak potential.
One of Peter's most notable accomplishments as CEO of Football Victoria is his instrumental role in securing an unprecedented $400M in Government funding for Victorian community grassroots football facilities and infrastructure, including the creation of the $116M "The Home of the Matildas" at La Trobe University, Melbourne - the largest football-specific infrastructure project in Australia's history.
As Chief Commercial Officer at Swimming Australia (2014 - 2015), Peter's forward-thinking leadership steered the Australian "Dolphins" Swim Team's rebranding and as Head of Sales, Marketing and Communications at Marvel Stadium (2007 - 2014), was the drive behind the innovative $20M connected stadium strategy. He has also successfully negotiated multimillion-dollar commercial and sponsorship arrangements across various roles, reflecting his acumen and the breadth of his professional network.
His influence and expertise extend beyond the sporting field. He has served as a board member at Vicsport, and as an ambassador as a Change Our Game Champion with the Office of Women and Sport & Active Recreation. Additionally, he was invited to join Cisco's prestigious Sports, Media, and Entertainment Global Customer Advisory Board and was selected for the elite FIFA Executive Program in 2022.
Renowned for his passion for innovation, business transformation, customer growth, and operational excellence, Peter consistently delivers ground-breaking results. His reputation for bridging the gap between business, government, and sport, coupled with his extensive industry network, has made him an invaluable asset in the sports and entertainment sector.
Today, as a key member of the executive leadership team at Football Australia, in the role of Head of Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Peter continues to inspire teams towards achieving sustainable growth. His unwavering commitment to success and passion for making the impossible possible are testaments to his remarkable leadership.
Peter is more than a successful executive; he is a visionary who is reshaping the future of the sports and entertainment industry.
Ron Smith - Ron Smith is an Australian football coach and technical analyst with a wealth of local and global experience. Smith has worked for the Socceroos, coached Perth Glory in the Hyundai A-League, and was the Head Coach at the Australian Institute of Sport for almost a decade.
Job Titles:
- Head of Women's Football, Women 's World Cup Legacy and Inclusion
In her role as Head of Women's Football, Women's World Cup Legacy & Inclusion at Football Australia, Sarah leads a team that is squarely focused on driving long-lasting social and economic change for football, working with key stakeholders, in football, all levels of government, and the corporate sector to achieve this.
As an athlete for 20 years, and former CommBank Matilda, Sarah represented Australia at football's top tier, including at the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2006 and 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup, and the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007.
Beyond Sarah's professional playing career, she transferred the skills developed as an athlete, into leadership roles in football, accumulating extensive experience in driving gender equity in governance. Sarah is qualified in driving high-performing teams and building frameworks that create more inclusive environments for grassroots and elite-level sports.
As an agent of change, Sarah brings unique and progressive insights, adopting a results-driven approach to business, with people at the centre of all decisions.
Job Titles:
- Head of Commercial and Events
Tom Rischbieth joined Football Australia in March 2020 after spending nearly seven years in London, England, working across sport, music and entertainment with a boutique commercial rights firm, Sports Rights Management (SRM).
As Commercial Director, Tom focused on delivering commercial revenue and growth for SRM's clients and own projects, working across Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East.
While in the UK, Tom co-founded The Mullagh Group, a business network of Australians working in the sports industry in the UK and Europe, facilitating growth in Australia's "off-field" reputation in sport, and working closely with the Australian High Commission to drive sport diplomacy initiatives. Tom was also a member of the Agent General for South Australia's International Markets Advisory Board.
Prior to working with SRM, Tom was a lawyer at Minter Ellison Lawyers, specialising in Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Competition Law and Real Estate. In addition to his legal background, Tom has a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in both Marketing and Management.
Tom has also been a member of the Asian Football Confederation's Marketing Committee since September 2020.
Vicki Linton - Vicki Linton is a former NSW representative player who has become a well-respected coach. She has spent the past three years with the U.S. Soccer Federation's Development Academy and has been a CommBank Matildas Assistant Coach, Head Coach of the CommBank Junior Matildas, and Melbourne Victory in the Westfield W-League. Linton has a Master of Education (Coach Education).
Job Titles:
- Head
- Head of Member Federation Relations and Community
Will Hastie was appointed as Football Australia's Head of Member Federation Relations and Community in January 2022.
Will has fulfilled many roles in Australian football including as an Australian youth representative, professional player, B licensed coach, club technical director, administrator, and volunteer.
In Will's most recent role he was General Manager of Football at Football Victoria with responsibility for the strategy and operations of the State's NPL and Community football competitions. This included fixturing 40,000 matches per year, working with the State's 1200 referees, developing and implementing the State's Girls and Boys competitions strategy, engagement with the State's 365 football clubs and full P & L responsibility for the department.
Previously, Will was Manager, Player Services and Community at Professional Footballers Australia (The PFA) leading the organisation's Player Welfare programs, Marketing and Communications, Commercialisation and Awards and Events programs.
Will has also spent time in Sales and Marketing roles with NAB, Australia Post and Credit Union Australia.
Will's passion is community football and believes that sport's magic is in its ability to provide equal opportunities to communities within which to engage.
Will has a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and sits on the AFC Development Committee.