Blind Sports Australia is a national sporting organisation. It is set up as an ‘umbrella’ organisation with it’s members are both state sporting organisations and single sport organisations.
While a sporting organisation Blind Sports Australia is also a registered charity with full donor gift recipient and tax concession status.
Sam is a Senior Audit and Risk professional having worked in financial services, professional services and major corporates.
Sam has been involved in Blind Sports since 1989 in various capacities, having started as state coach for Goalball and later becoming Australian Paralympic Committee Head Coach, attending 3 Paralympic games, Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney. In later years Sam has focused on administration and appointed on the Boards of Goalball Australia and Blind Sports Australia.
Sam has completed a Masters of Accounting and a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Banking and Finance.
Sam values the engagement of the blind and vision impaired community participating in sport at a recreational level and elite level.
Email: chair @blindsportsaustralia.com.au
Phone: 0414 563 203
Voula is a senior logistics supply chain and procurement professional. She has a demonstrated broad range of experience in industry, consulting and volunteer organisations. She also has strong leadership and stakeholder management skills fostering team-orientated environment and coaching team and individuals to be highly effective. Voula is highly motivated to improve business models, lead teams and make a difference through consistently high team engagement and productivity.
Voula says “I was delighted to have been appointed to the Blind Sports Australia board as it allows me to bring my passion to make a difference and my professional experience to a worthy cause.”
Melissa brings a strong background in human resources, recruitment, outplacement and career coaching. She has worked across a range of industries including financial services, professional services and recruitment. She also brings significant experience consulting to industries such as education, child care, energy, and market research.
As a specialist in Human Resource Management and Career Coaching, Melissa provides individuals and business leaders with the support they need to ensure on-going success and satisfaction be that on a professional or business level.
Melissa has completed a Masters of Organisational Psychology, and a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in psychology. She is a certified Career Coach and a qualified Trainer and Assessor. Melissa is also a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and the Career Development Association of Australia.
Melissa is keen to utilise her experience to assist BSA to achieve its mission of promoting blind sports to all members of the community, increasing participation in blind sports and advocating on behalf of its members.
Claire is Chartered Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor with experience in both External and Internal Audit environments. Claire is currently the Senior Manager Internal Audit at Tabcorp Holdings Limited, and previously spent 6+ years working at Grant Thornton in the External Audit and Assurance Team.
Outside of work, Claire enjoys yoga and spending time renovating her home.
Gary is a proud life member of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association and also the Bentleigh Cricket Club.
He has had over 40 years of involvement in cricket administration in Victoria. Throughout that time Gary managed to chair or be involved in many tribunals relating to players, clubs, officials or spectators breaching Codes of Behaviour or other key policies. He also managed advocacy, discrimination and mediation matters throughout that course.
In 2014, Gary was approached by Blind Sports Australia to become an accredited Member Protection Information Officer. He undertook the necessary training and became accredited. Gary feels confident he can couple his sports experience and my life skills to serve the needs of Blind Sports Australia and its members.
Gary McInnes
Email: garymci @vtca.asn.au
Phone: 0417 055 731
Kent’s personal passion for sport & helping others achieve their sporting goals lead him to the role of Sports Development Officer at Blind Sports SA in 2010. This role at Blind Sports SA involves the promotion and development of sporting opportunities for the blind or vision impaired, whilst also overseeing the governance of the organisation in a role which reports directly to the board.
Kent has therefore undertaken the necessary ‘play by the rules’ & ‘member protection information officer’ training to assist the various clubs and individuals in maintaining a safe and enjoyable participation environment.
With a degree in human movement and national coaching accreditation, throughout his life he has been involved in a number of sports as a player, coach, committee member and official & therefore draws on this expertise from these various levels to assist with queries.
Kent Dredge
Email: kent.dredge @blindsportssa.org.au
Phone: 0402 564 991
Matthew comes to Blind Sports Australia with a wealth of experience in the Not For Profit Sector.
Most recently Matthew spent 4 and a half years at the Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation, where his role as Deputy Director had him involved in a range of different fundraising activities, engaging with a range of different stakeholders across the hospital and managing the operational aspects of the Foundation.
Prior to this Matthew worked with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in the areas of charitable fund management and operational activities. Matthew has completed a Graduate Diploma of Community Sector Management, Advanced Diploma of Management and Diploma of Business and is also a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia.
Matthew has a great passion for sport having played and been involved in a number of sports at various levels and he still plays and coaches cricket at a local club level.
Matthew’s interest in blind sports has grown over a number of years, particularly through his involvement as a state committee member with the Lord’s Taverners Victoria over the past 8 years, and he is looking forward stepping up his involvement from that of just a spectator and supporter.
