2026 AWARDS JUDGING PANEL

Darron Shields brings a unique combination of para-sport experience, sport science, research, lived experience and community leadership to the Sunshine Coast Sports Awards judging panel.

A graduate in Sport Science from the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), Darron has a strong interest in human performance, physiology and the role sport can play in creating healthier, more connected communities.

Following a cycling accident in 2002 that resulted in a permanent spinal cord injury and paraplegia, Darron returned to sport and went on to compete in World Para-Triathlon events in 2010 and 2012. He later became the first para-triathlete to complete the Sunshine Coast 70.3 Triathlon, an achievement that holds particular significance given his connection to the Sunshine Coast and its sporting community.

Darron's interest in sport has also extended into research. His work has included research into the aerobic performance of trained and untrained athletes living with spinal cord injury, combining his academic understanding of sport science and physiology with his own experience as an athlete.

Professionally, Darron is the Eastern States Growth and Relationships Manager with PBF Australia, where he has worked for more than 17 years across injury prevention, community engagement, partnerships and lived-experience education. He is also an experienced keynote speaker and storyteller, using his journey to encourage conversations around resilience, safety, choices and opportunity.

For Darron, sport is about far more than results. It is about participation, belonging, resilience and the people behind every performance, including families, coaches, volunteers, clubs and communities.

As a Sunshine Coast Sports Awards judge, Darron brings an appreciation for sporting excellence while also recognising perseverance, inclusion, personal growth and contribution to the wider sporting community.

Grantley Switzer is an experienced Local Government practitioner, with over 20 years in the sector. Up until 2014, he was the General Manager Recreation, Culture and Community Infrastructure with Latrobe City Council in Eastern Victoria. In 2014, he was appointed Manager Community, Facilities and Planning with Sunshine Coast Council. In this role, he was an integral part of the Sunshine Coast and wider delivery partner team that responded to the International Olympic Committee candidature process that resulted in Brisbane being awarded the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In April 2022, he moved full time into the role as Head of 2032 Games Coordination at Sunshine Coast Council.

Brad Chalmers is a highly experienced sport and recreation leader with a career spanning local government, private sector, elite sport, and community development. With over 30 years’ involvement in professional and semi-professional basketball, and junior state representation in cricket and AFL, Brad has competed at state, national, and international levels, achieving multiple championship titles.

Over the past 15 years, Brad has built a distinguished coaching career at professional and semi-professional levels. He has guided teams to professional championships, developed and mentored athletes who progressed into state and national squads, U.S. collegiate programs, and international professional contracts. His expertise has also supported Queensland and New South Wales high-performance pathways, while locally he continues to coach and mentor young athletes through the Sunshine Coast Phoenix junior representative program. In 2019, he also led an Australian NBL1 All-Star team to victory at the World Invitational Challenge in Thailand.

Currently, Brad is Sport and Active Lifestyles Manager at Noosa Council, overseeing community facilities, major infrastructure projects, Olympic legacy planning, and programs that enhance community wellbeing and sporting pathways.

Brad combines strategic leadership in sport and recreation with championship-winning coaching experience, offering the judging panel respected insight across both community and elite sporting environments.

Brett Cruse brings over three decades of experience in basketball as both a player and coach, with a strong track record of developing disciplined, team-oriented athletes. A Level 2 association-accredited coach with Basketball Queensland, Brett has guided junior teams at school, club, and representative levels to success. He currently coaches with Sunshine Coast Phoenix and Immanuel Lutheran College.

Originally from Tasmania, Brett represented the state at the national Under-20 Championships. He also competed in the SEABL(NBL1) as a development player with the Launceston Tigers and represented Launceston in the Tasmanian State League.

Passionate about grassroots sport, Brett volunteers in junior basketball, has held the position of treasurer for a junior basketball club and chaired the Sunshine Coast Sports Advisory Committee in 2024. In addition to basketball, Brett maintains a strong personal interest in a variety of sports, including surfing, skateboarding, golf, mountain biking, and athletics. His broad sporting passion reflects a lifelong commitment to active living and a deep appreciation for the dedication and discipline required across all athletic pursuits.

Mark is a lifelong resident of the Sunshine Coast and has been heavily involved in sport as a representative player, coach and administrator. He has held various roles in schools including Head of Sport and his current role as Dean of Co-Curricular programs at Sunshine Coast Grammar School. Mark is a passionate supporter of grassroots sport and has been fortunate to work with numerous aspiring athletes. He is particularly excited for the opportunities that the upcoming 2032 Olympics and Paralympics present for Sunshine Coast athletes.

Tania has 10 years experience working in high performance sport supporting elite athletes, coaches, teams and managers to achieve their goals. She has degrees in psychology, education and high performance sport and is currently undertaking research on athlete performance pathways and coach wellbeing in partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport.