Our Management and Staff
Our dedicated leaders and team members are passionate about growing football in northern NSW and developing players and the communities we live in.
Follow us on LinkedIn.
Chief Executive Officer
Peter has worked at NNSWF since 2008 and was appointed CEO on the 1st of May 2023 following a five-month period as interim CEO.
Previously Peter served as NNSWF’s Head of Football Development for four years following a 10-year stint as NNSWF’s Community Football Manager.
Peter also holds an education degree and earned a Diploma of Football Management through the Asian Football Confederations ACE program in 2023.
Peter has played football all his life spending time playing at the Newcastle Jets in 2008 and 2009 and in NNSWF’s top tier men’s competition with Broadmeadow Magic. In addition, Peter holds a Football Australia B-Licence and has recently enjoyed a season as a match official with NNSWF Premier Competition Referees.
Member Services
Contact the team: community@northernnswfootball.com.au
General Manager Member Services
Ross Hicks
Ross has worked at NNSWF since 2014 and manages the Member Services business unit.
The focus of his role is to oversee, mentor and assist the member services team to provide services in club development, government relations, funding opportunities, facility upgrades, futsal partnerships and digital support. He develops and implements annual operational plans and budgets in line with NNSWF’s Strategic Plan.
Ross has played for the same club for over 50 years, previously holding the role of president for 11 years. Within this time, he has also coached & managed teams with the club.
Being around like-minded people and socialising is what Ross truly loves about football.
Club Support & Development Officer
Brett Hodgekiss
Brett is responsible for the Club Changer Club Development Program as well as Summer Football, Mental Health Awareness Programs and Safeguarding.
He has been involved with football for more than 40 years as a player, coach, volunteer and now employee. Brett supports the Melbourne Victory and Liverpool.
His favourite football moments include coaching his eldest daughter’s team at Coffs City United to multiple league titles and grand final wins. Brett now enjoys watching both his daughters play football, refereeing and volunteering.
Government Relations Manager
Gary is responsible for developing and maintain relationships with elected Federal and State MPS to advocate for football facility developments and upgrades in conjunction with each Member Zones priority projects list. He also provides grant writing data and assistance to clubs with applications.
He has held many roles in the football community first playing and then moving to both coaching and being team manager. He is a passionate Liverpool FC supporter along with the Newcastle Jets.
Gary loves the friendships football has brought him throughout his involvement as a coach, volunteer, player and administrator.
Futsal Coordinator
Damon is responsible for the development of futsal in northern NSW, providing a pathway for futsal players from grassroots to elite as well as supporting futsal competitions and providing coach and match official education.
He has coached futsal since he was 21 years old and has been head coach, technical director and development manager in top leagues in England, Malta, Malaysia, Sweden and most recently Solomon Islands national team.
Damon’s favourite futsal moment was winning the British University title for the third time in 2012, while his favourite football moment was Manchester United winning the 1999 Champions League with two goals in injury time.
Talent Development
Contact the team: development@northernnswfootball.com.au
Technical Director
Ryan Doidge
Ryan has worked at NNSWF since 2022 and the focus of his role is player and coach development.
Ryan’s favourite football memory is playing alongside and sharing the field with his dad when he was 16-years-old.
Ryan is accredited by Asian Football Confederation and Football Australia to deliver B and C advance coach accreditation courses and has earned an AFC A coaching licence.
He has also completed a Bachelor of Science in Sport, Health, Exercise Science and Coaching.
Ryan has held previous roles with New York Red Bulls, Western Sydney Wanderers, North Shore Mariners, Northbridge Bulls and Dee Why FC.
Talent Development Officer
Brett Angell
Brett is responsible for organising and supporting regional and metropolitan coach education for Talent Support Program coaches and community coaches in the NNSWF Federation. He also supports player development via the Talent Support Program across NNSWF regions.
Brett played in the Premier League with Everton and Sunderland before helping to roll out coach education in the Manchester and Liverpool region. Prior to moving to Australia, Brett was involved with the Central Football Federation as their Football Development Manager and Technical Director of Napier Marist Football Club in New Zealand.
Being able to be in a position to help support players and coaches on their lifelong football journeys is what Brett loves about football.
Talent Development Coordinator
Harrison’s main responsibilities include coordinating NNSWF’s Talent Support programs, coach education and club development. Ensuring that the development of football in northern NSW is held to the highest standards.
He has played in both the HIT106.9 Northern League One competition and the Zone League Two competition. His favourite football moment was winning the minor premiership and remaining undefeated in the finals series with New Lambton FC.
Harry loves the data and statistics of football that informs people about any match, season, team or individual player.
Technical Advisors - Boys
2 x part-time
Technical Advisor - Girls
1 x part-time
Program Coaches
Part-time
Coach Education Tutors
(Casual)
Football Operations
Contact the team: competitions@northernnswfootball.com.au
General Manager Football Operations
Liam has worked at NNSWF since 2018 and manages the football operations team.
His priority is the management of all of NNSWF’s Premier Competitions as well as overseeing all refereeing and implementation of rules, regulations and disciplinary systems across northern NSW.
Liam has been involved in football his entire life playing, coaching, refereeing and volunteering while also working in football for 16 years.
His heart lies with Celtic F.C. in the Scottish Premiership, with his favourite football memory being when they beat Barcelona and joining a Celtic huddle of singing and dancing in Melbourne’s CBD.
Premier Competitions Coordinator
Thom Kane
Thom is responsible for coordinating the senior and youth premier competitions. He liases with clubs and other relevant stakeholders as well as overseeing promotion and relegation, club licensing and fixturing.
He has been involved with football his whole life as a player, coach, committee member and volunteer. Thom is a big supporter of Arsenal and the Newcastle Jets.
Thom’s favourite football moment was being a member of the Squadron when the Newcastle Jets defeated the Central Coast Mariners in the 2008 grand final.
One of the things that he loves the most about football are the connections and friendships gained from being involved in a club and the barriers that football can break down.
Football Operations Administrator
Jason Avery
Jason is our Football Operations Administrator. His focus is competition results and match data.
His role also includes managing all disciplinary matters that arise, rescheduled fixtures and all adjustments made to match fixtures.
Jason has played football all his life, attending Australian football camps as a junior with Rale Rasic and Raul Blanco.
His favourite football memory was seeing 95,000 people singing You’ll Never Walk Alone live at Melbourne Cricket Ground watching Liverpool.
Football Operations & Compliance Coordinator
Mitchell O’Keefe
Mitchell is responsible for coordinating and administering Northern NSW Football’s special competitions, which include various tournaments across northern NSW at different age groups and levels.
He is also responsible for compliance within premier competitions, specifically the Junior Development League, ensuring clubs meet the required standards and supporting their growth toward higher performance and accreditation.
Mitchell has played football for more than 20 years and grew up supporting Manchester United but now follows Crystal Palace.
His favourite football memory is John Aloisi scoring the penalty kick to send the Socceroos to the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2006 for the first time since 1974.
Football Operations Officer
Ruby is responsible for maintaining and updating the competition management system for NNSWF premier football competitions Squadi and monitoring duty officers, support officers, and JDL activities to ensure competitions run smoothly.
She grew up playing football and gained further perspective as a player by refereeing, which allowed her to gain a deeper appreciation for the sport. Following a break from football due to injury, Ruby is playing again in an All-Age Women's competition.
Ruby loves how football brings everyone together. Whether they're playing, watching or supporting, the 90 minutes are about the game and nothing else.
Regional Football Officer - NNSWF Northern Inland
Jess Kellaway
Jess oversees football operations across the Northern Inland region managing all aspects of football competitions to ensure competitions run smoothly and in line with NNSWF regulations. She also assists with regional development initiatives such as coach education, referee recruitment and participation growth.
She grew up playing hockey but became a football fan when the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was hosted on home soil. While she enjoys watching professional matches, her passion lies in community football and seeing the game thrive across Northern Inland.
Jess’ favourite football moment was seeing the entire nation rally behind the Matildas in their inspiring run during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Participation & Women's Football
General Manager Participation & Women's Football
Allana Neeve
Participation & Women's Football Officer - Regional
Jamie Bressan
Jamie supports NNSWF’s four regional Member Zones and their clubs to grow participation, build capacity to support women on and off the field and delivers inclusive football opportunities for women, girls and under-represented groups.
She has over 10 years of experience in football administration and has previously worked with Liverpool FC International Academy NSW, Marconi Stallions and Northern Rivers Football.
Jamie loves football for its power to connect people and create belonging.
Participation & Women's Football Officer
Serena Carter
Serena plans and implements programs and activities that promote female participation in all roles throughout northern NSW, as well as activities that promote the participation of underrepresented groups. She also assists Football Australia in delivering relevant national programs to NNSWF communities.
She has played football for over 20 years, currently playing for Maitland FC in the NPL Women’s NNSW competition. Serena is also a qualified coach and has been coaching for over 10 years.
One of the things Serena loves most about football is that it’s for everyone and brings people together from all around the world.
Participation Officer - Schools and First Nations Football
Micheal Hugo
Micheal is a proud Kamilaroi man living on Awabakal Land who plans and executes First Nations football programs in northern NSW as well as the National Schools Programs.
Micheal has been involved in football in Newcastle for over 30 years and has focused on Indigenous football since 2006. He has been involved with Australian Indigenous teams, coaching at various events and leading the Newcastle Indiegnous team at the 2023 First Nations Football Festival.
Having the opportunity to be a part of the first-ever Football Australia Indigenous team at the 2023 Girls National Youth Championships is Micheal's proudest football achievement.
Marketing and Communications
Contact the team: marketing@northernnswfootball.com.au
General Manager - Communications, Media & Marketing
Andrew has worked at NNSWF since 2020 and manages the communications and marketing team.
The focus of his role is to create the strategy around internal and external communications, liaise with media and oversee NNSWF’s marketing approach.
Andrew has loved football his entire life and played for eight years with Weston Workers FC in the former NNSW State League competition.
His favourite football memory was seeing his beloved Tottenham Hotspur miraculously reach the UEFA Champions League final in 2019.
Marketing & Sponsorship Manager
Michael has been a member of the NNSWF team since 2019 and his responsibilities include graphic design, branding and sponsorship account management as well as marketing strategy.
Michael has played football all his life and now plays All-Age and Football FIVE5. He is a Central Coast Mariners supporter.
Some of Michael’s favourite football memories are the F3 Derbies between the Mariners and the Newcastle Jets but his biggest highlight is the Central Coast Mariners winning the A-League 2023 and 2024 Championship.
Communications Officer
Hannah assists in delivering premier competition communications and creating and curating written communications and content for Northern NSW Football’s digital channels.
Her love for football stems from the community the sport creates, bringing people together.
Hannah's favourite football memory was Riley McGree’s scorpion kick that cemented the Newcastle Jets into the 2017-18 A-League grand final.
Partnerships Manager
Ethan Wilson
Ethan is responsible for strategically managing and developing Northern NSW Football’s commercial partnerships with a focus on strengthening relationships, improving partner retention and aligning agreements with NNSWF’s programs, events and teams.
Ethan has played football for 15 years, currently playing for Toronto Awaba Stags in the Hit106.9 Northern League One competition. Ethan's favourite football moment was winning the Hit106.9 Northern League One Premiership in 2023.
The friendships made within the football community, whether it be your teammates or your opposition, is what Ethan enjoys most about football.
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Lucy is responsible for the planning and implementation of digital campaigns, email marketing and community engagement through NNSWF social media channels.
She has previously played with Manly Warringah FA, as well as in summer football competitions in Sydney.
Lucy’s favourite football moment was being in France for the 2018 FIFA World Cup final when France was victorious.
Graphic Designer
Grant's main responsibilities include creating and developing design concepts, graphics and layouts for various print, digital media and sponsorship proposals.
He also produces promotional material as well as designing and implementing visual branding elements
Grant has always been a football fan, playing up until he was a teenager before he began photographing the A-League and NPL NNSW competitions which he continues to do more than 10 years later.
One of his favourite football moments was celebrating after the 2008 Newcastle Jets Grand Final win over the Central Coast Mariners.
Streaming & Video Content Coordinator
Jessica Pickering
Jessica assists with live stream coordination for the NPL NNSW competition, UNE Regional Super League, HIT106.9 Northern League One, Men’s State Cup and Women’s State Cup. She also creates video packages for the NNSWF YouTube channel.
She has watched many games of football with family and friends playing in local competitions and now supports the Newcastle Jets and Matildas.
Jessica’s favourite football moment was watching the Matildas penalty shootout against France in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter final.
Finance & Commercial
Contact the team: accounts@northernnswfootball.com.au
Chief Financial Officer
John oversees our finance team as well as NNSWF’s financial position.
The focus of his role is the financial planning and analysis of NNSWF, financial reporting, risk management, compliance and capital management.
John played Futsal for 15 years and six-a-side for two seasons but, while he no longer plays, he remains a massive football supporter.
He supports Portsmouth but has split loyalties in the A-League, supporting the Jets, Mariners and Wanderers.
Financial Services Accountant
Amie Richardson
Amie is responsible for financial reporting and governance for the organization. She provides financial assistance to the business units of the organisation to achieve their operational goals.
Her favourite part about sport is when athletes showcase sportsmanship at the sacrifice of personal achievement. She is a big believer in that ‘it’s not how you win or lose, but how you play the game.’
Amie loves that sport has the ability to create and bring a community together.
Payroll & Accounts Assistant
Alix Anderson
Payroll & Accounts Assistant (Maternity Cover Role)
Julie Rae
Executive Assistant & Corporate Events Manager
Natasha is responsible for providing high-level support to the CEO and executive team, while also overseeing the planning and execution of corporate events.
Although she has never played football herself, she’s surrounded by a football-loving family. Her English husband sparked her interest in the sport, and her two sons now play in the PYL Boys competition.
Natasha loves how football brings people together. The energy, the teamwork and the exciting moments is what draws her to the game.
Administration and Digital Systems Officer
Hayley Catania
Venue - Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Contact the team: fives@northernnswfootball.com.au
Venue Manager LMRFF
Kean Marshall
Kean has worked at NNSWF since 2014 and is the venue manager of the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
His main responsibilities in the role include Football FIVE5, Sidelines Café and maintenance of the facility.
Kean’s favourite football moments is seeing people experience football for the first time by getting out there and having a kick.
Café Manager Sidelines Café
Sue Bloom
Sue has worked at NNSWF since 2015 and manages Sidelines Café.
The focus of her role is to ensure a smooth-running and efficient café while mentoring and supervising a young workforce.
Coming from England, Sue has spent many years standing on the sideline of a frozen pitch watching her family play but that hasn’t hindered her love for football.
Football FIVE5 Administrator
Connor Markovich
Connor has worked at NNSWF since 2022, with the focus of his role involving Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility and Football Five5.
He has been involved with football his entire life, playing since he was five-years-old and refereeing since he was 14, starting on community football and now officiating on NPL Men’s NNSW first grade.
His favourite football moment was Sergio Aguero scoring the winning goal against QPR to win the English Premier League title for Manchester City in 2012.
LMRFF General Assistant
Jack Radford
Referees
Contact the team: referees@northernnswfootball.com.au
General Manager Referee Growth & Development
Brad Carlin
Brad has worked at NNSWF since 2015 and is responsible for overseeing the recruitment, appointment, administration and development of northern NSW referees who officiate on matches in the Premier Competitions and the local Zone Football League Competitions.
He also works closely with the Member Zones to ensure consistent and quality coaching is delivered to referees.
Brad has actively refereed since 1997 and still loves it the same today as when he began.
Brad’s favourite football memory is Manchester United scoring twice in the 1999 Champions League final to win the treble. He also has many great memories watching the big victories of the Socceroos and Matildas.
Referee Wellbeing & Support Officer
Jessica Hjort
Jess provides wellbeing support to referees when they face a difficult situation and assists them in building confidence to officiate games. Jess is also responsible for updating appointments across the weekend if circumstances change for referees.
Jess played football as a child and now supports Chelsea in the Women’s Super League and Angel City in the National Women’s Soccer League. Her favourite football moment was watching the Matildas penalty shootout against France in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The way football brings people together and acts as its own language, no matter the barrier, is what Jess loves most about football.
Metro Referee Education and Development Coordinator
Riley Kirkaldy
Riley has worked at NNSWF since 2020 as part of the referees team, focusing on coordinating and presenting Level 4 referee courses in all regions of northern NSW.
His role also focuses on designing and implementing training sessions for community referees and providing regular coaching sessions to community and premier referees.
Riley played football for 15 years but has now stopped to focus on refereeing, which he has done for 10 years, progressing from community football to the NPL first grade panel.
His favourite football memory was his first appointment to a grand final as a referee and his under-12s grand final win in a penalty shootout where he scored the winning goal.
Regional Referee Education and Development Coordinator
Mark Carter
Mark assists in preparing and delivering both in-person and online education sessions to referees and assessors across the four regional Member Zones. He is also responsible for on the ground coaching assessments within the four regional Member Zones on a rotating basis.
He has played football since he was five years old and begun his refereeing career at the age of 15. He recently completed his 20th successive season, with majority of appointments on the NPL Men’s NNSW competition.
Mark’s favourite football moments were being in the stands for the Milan Derby at the San Siro, Bayern Munich v Manchester United at Allianz Arena and Liverpool v Manchester United Derby at Anfield.
Regional Administration Assistant
Callum Hewitt
NNSWF Executive Team
Chief Executive Officer
Peter Haynes
Chief Financial Officer
John Byrne
General Manager Member Services
Ross Hicks
General Manager Women & Girls, Participation
Allana Neeve
General Manager Communications, Media and Marketing
Andrew Parkinson
General Manager Football Operations
Liam Bentley
General Manager Referee Growth & Development
Brad Carlin
Technical Director
Ryan Doidge