BOARD
Passionate about our sporting community
Our board is a team of dedicated volunteers who offer their time to champion grass roots sport on the Sunshine Coast to enable athletes to achieve their goals by securing funding, partnerships and other opportunities for Sunshine Coast sport.
Simone Pearce
Chair
Simone is an academic in the School of Law and Society at USC. Having previously practised locally as a Solicitor for just short of 22 years, Simone chose a change of career and has submitted a PhD in the area of Children with disability access to sport, a discrimination issue. Simone has a great interest in discrimination issues, and the equitable treatment of minorities or the underrepresented and excluded. Simone's other passion and interest is sport. Simone has played, coached, and officiated sport on the Sunshine coast for 40 years. Additionally, Simone has a long history of board roles on varying Sporting boards from grassroots, to National. Simone currently coaches children's running, and has two talented sports children, one who is a para athlete. She has particular interest in athletics, cross country, netball, touch, rugby, triathlon and swimming. Simone also currently sits on the Netball Australia Governance Working Group, the Sunshine Coast Rugby Judiciary, is a Co-Chair of the USC Netball Academy and Thunder Advisory Group, and Chairs the Little Athletics Australia Inclusion Committee.
Kaitlyn Akers
Board Member
With 20+ years leadership experience, QFES MRIT Executive Manager, former GM Operations SLSQ, is driven to work that helps organisations align their operations with strategic goals by leading change, promoting sustainable innovation.
Kaitlyn is an advocate for positive impacts volunteers contribute to local economies and community, AICD member, Fellow of Institute of Management and brings her deep knowledge of governance for NFPs to support sustainable grass roots sport for the Sunshine Coast community.
Steve Hirst
Board Member
Energetic, self-motivated leader who drives strong culture and high performance to attract the best talent available to achieve the goals of the team and the business. Thirty years’ experience in Managing media companies in across Australia including, Regional Television, Metro and Regional Radio, Regional Print and Digital.
Kristy Munroe AM
Board Member
Kristy currently works in High Performance Sport at the University of the Sunshine Coast, as the Relationship Officer for teams, partnerships and engagement. Kristy is also the Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement (AW&E) Lead for Sunshine Coast Lightning, AW&E Advisor for Surf Lifesaving Australia, Elite Athlete Wellbeing Mentor for Sport Australia, and a Board Member for the Sunshine Coast Falcons NRL Team. Prior to this Kristy was a professional athlete in the sport of Surf Lifesaving where she was a member of 14 Australian Team, a 6 time world champion across board, ski and ironwoman events and is inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Tania Stevenson
Board Member
BBSc La Trobe., GradDipEd Qld.UT, GradCertHPSLead ACU
Tania has 25 years’ experience managing public and private sector programs, predominantly in the higher education sector. Currently she manages the high performance student athlete program at the University of the Sunshine Coast, supporting developing and elite athletes to reach their potential in both sport and education. She has extensive experience as a volunteer manager and committee member across the sports of athletics, netball, AFK and basketball.
Brenda LaPorte
Board Member
Has extensive experience in the business of sport and major events including the creation of Cricket Australia's Big Bash League. Brenda is a Board member of Tourism Events Queensland, Deputy Chair of the Sunshine Coast Events Board and Co-chair of the Judging Panel for the Australian Event Awards.
Vivienne Partridge
Board Member
Vivienne is a versatile and experienced leader with extensive global experience across a wide range of sectors and high profile brands, including Australia’s two leading sports broadcasters Foxtel and Optus. Energised by achieving great outcomes with winning business strategies, Vivienne is a natural leader in driving successful marketing, commercial and operational results. Vivienne is a long time sports enthusiast and active volunteer in the local sporting community, currently patrolling and competing with Surf Life Saving Queensland as well as competing in triathlon and officiating for Triathlon Australia.
Aaron Flanagan
Board Member
Aaron has enjoyed a 20 plus year career in professional sports, primarily in commercial and marketing roles at club, state and national governing body level. He maintains significant experience across all facets of sports administration from professional leagues to grass roots sports development. As a former participant and father of children who have all enjoyed, developed and benefited from grass roots sports participation, Aaron has volunteered as coach and general club knock about and is a passionate advocate for the role sport plays in creating positive, healthy and inclusive communities.