Board & Management
Water Polo Australia Board
The Water Polo Australia Board comprises the President and eight Directors. All members bring extensive sports experience from grassroots to high performance, and decades of executive achievements across diverse sectors. The Board assists the WPA Leadership Team in achieving the sport’s strategic objectives.
Location: Canberra, ACT
Qualifications: Bachelor of Commerce (Australian National University) I Bachelor of Economics (Australian National University) I Chartered Accountant Australia and New Zealand I Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Experience:
- Trent has been involved in water polo for40 years as a player, manager, coach and director.
- He played over 300 national league games and represented Australia at the junior, university and senior levels.
- He is employed as the Chief Operating Officer at the National Gallery
of Australia and has led teams responsible for finance, human resources, governance, legal, ICT and facilities. - He brings experience as a non-executive director, former Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, former Chair of the Nominations Committee and Board Chair.
Location: Perth, WA
Qualifications: Bachelor of Physical and Health Education from the University of Western Australia I Member of the Australian Institute of Management I Board Member Royal Life Saving WA since 2021.
Experience:
- 20 years’ experience in sport leadership, management and advocacy across grassroots, high performance and elite environments.
- Currently employed as GM Binar Aboriginal Corporation following nine years at the Australian Olympic Committee as Relationship Manager.
- Lisa is passionate about the role sport plays in fostering strong, connected communities and sees it as a powerful driver of improved mental health, wellbeing and inspiration for future generations.
- Extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector and background in stakeholder engagement and corporate relations, broad and influential network spanning both sport and corporate sectors.
- A long-standing member of the water polo community, Lisa has been involved as a player, parent and team manager since 2009. She is committed to the continued growth of Water Polo in Australia and is excited by the opportunities leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Location: Canberra, ACT
Qualifications: Master of Business Administration – Marketing and Finance I Graduate Diploma – Management Sciences I Graduate Diploma – Governance, Australian Institute of Company Directors I Bachelor of Secondary Education I Diploma Physical Education
Experience:
- Head Coach 2000 Sydney Olympic Men’s team, Assistant Coach Sharks 1989-1997. Olympian Water Polo 1988. Head Coach and Assistant Coach AIS Water Polo Program. National men’s squad player for 10 years. Vice Chair World Aquatics Technical Water Polo Committee (TWPC) 2025-2029, a member since 2018.
- National Coaching Director for Water Polo, assisting in establishing the AWL, national coach and referee education and national training centres in all states and the ACT.
- International FINA water polo referee for 10 years.
- 20 years consulting to, and managing the Australian Sports Commission investment in the top 20 NSOs in high performance, strategic planning, governance, participation, financial and risk management, HR management, member protection and insurance.
- Teacher in the NSW Education Department – 8 years.
- Life member WPA, ACT and Nordek Water Polo Club.
- President of Water Polo ACT for 7 years, board member Water Polo NSW before moving to ACT.
Location: Melbourne, VIC.
Qualifications: Australian College of Physiotherapy Degree I Masters in Physical Education I Sports Medicine Australia Fellow I Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association I GAICD I WPA Board Member from 2010 – 2014 I Chair, Finance and Audit Committee.
Experience:
- Kay has a diverse background in both sports management and elite sports medicine, including 17 years working for the Sports Medicine Australia-Victorian Branch.
- Responsible for the medical program at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
- Kay has international experience working for Tennis Australia and Basketball Australia. She was also the inaugural physiotherapist for the Aussie Stingers between1984-1991 including their historic 1986 World Championship win in Madrid.
- Kay has been involved in water polo for over 40 years having started playing for Footscray Swimming and Water Polo Club and been involved at all levels of water polo – player, coach, manager, physiotherapist, Victorian Board member and inaugural Chair Victorian ITC program.
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Qualifications: INSEAD Business School | GAICD
Experience:
- Representative on club committees, AWL clubs and WPA Board Member since 2024.
Represented junior, state and national teams as a junior water polo player, competed at World Juniors and World University Games player. - Business director/owner of a number of private companies and key executive of several public companies.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Qualifications: Bachelor of Business (Accounting) I Chartered Accountant I Executive Program Course in Leadership and Negotiation at Harvard Business School.
Experience:
- Stuart has over 25 years’ experience in sport and entertainment leadership.
- Chief Operating Officer of global live action sports brand Crusty Demons Ent.
- Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Renegades in Cricket Australia’s Big Bash League, winning the Men’s Championship in 2019.
- Chief Operating Officer of Basketball Australia.
- GM Finance & Strategy at Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
- Currently, Group Manager Corporate Services at Opendoor Ltd, where he oversees finance, governance, risk and commercial.
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Qualifications: LLB (Hons) | GradDipLP | BBiomedSci | GradDipPH (Emergency and Disaster Management) | GACID
Experience:
- Player, coach, and administrator in Water Polo; WPA member since 2000.
- Experience in national sport governance, contributing to strategy, risk oversight, and organisational performance.
- Legally trained professional with expertise in governance, integrity frameworks, and policy development.
- Public health background with a focus on welfare, safety, and risk-informed decision making
Location: Melbourne, VIC.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Exercise Science and human Movement I Governance training and certifications supporting board and executive responsibilities I Internal auditing training, with experience applying ISO-aligned systems in safety, risk, quality and environment.
Experience:
- Highly experienced and accomplished leader in the Aquatic, Leisure and community sport sectors, with a background as a former national-level cheerleader and gymnast.
- Senior executive at Aligned Leisure, overseeing new business opportunities and supporting operations across multiple locations in New South Wales and Victoria and driving strategic initiatives that enhance community engagement and operational performance.
- Strategic Projects lead responsible for delivering Aligned Leisure’s Strategic Plan, managing risk and compliance frameworks aligned to ISO standards, and measuring and reporting on community impact outcomes.
- Strong advocate for integrating sustainability, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation outcomes across Aligned Leisure and the Richmond Football Club, creating positive, inclusive and impactful environments for staff, athletes and communities.
Location: Adelaide, SA.
Qualifications: Board Director, South Australian Cricket Association I Board Director, Future Energy Exports CRC I GAICD.
Experience:
- As a highly regarded CEO, Susie leads a network of some of Australia’s largest businesses, in national and international climate change and energy policy. Her leadership and strategic insights have shaped policy, navigating complex environments and driving impactful change.
Extensive executive and board experience in strategic planning, government relations, and project approvals. - Ministerially appointed member of the Federal Government’s Climate Change Authority and the South Australian Premier’s Climate Change Council.
- Susie is a dual Australian representative in water polo (1989-90) and swimming (1991-93) and has represented South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory as a player, captain and coach.
Executive Leadership Team
Tim Welsford
Chief Executive Officer
Nathan Godfrey
Chief Operating Officer
Dannette Taylor
General Manager, Competitions & Participation
Andrew Pratley
General Manager, High Performance
Cheryl Ritchie
Company Secretary / Executive Assistant
Learn More About Water Polo Australia
Our Board and Executive Leadership Team are guided by the Strategic Plan, and WPA Annual Reports update on our initiatives to the community and stakeholders.
