AWARDS JUDGING PANEL
COMMITTED TO THE PROGRESSION AND RECOGNITION OF OUR SPORTSPEOPLE
Our judges are an independent panel of experienced sports administrators from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions, excited to shine a light on the outstanding achievements of athletes and teams, officials, coaches, volunteers, administrators, and clubs and associations.
Sonia Heath
Chair
Sonia Heath is a dual Australian sport representative, Olympian, world champion rower, and Australian surf boat racing gold medalist.
With a lifelong passion for sport, Sonia grew up on the Sunshine Coast as a successful middle-distance runner before taking up rowing at age 20. She went on to represent Australia at multiple World Championships and the Olympic Games, before switching her focus to surf boat racing where she represented Queensland and Australia and continues to compete today. Sonia also volunteers as a surf lifesaver and Nipper Age Manager.
A mother of three active children, Sonia is a passionate advocate for sport’s role in building strong, connected communities. She serves on the Board of Sunshine Coast 2032 and brings more than 20 years of leadership in strategic communications and stakeholder engagement across government, private and community sectors.
Sonia is currently Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement at SunCentral Maroochydore, helping deliver Australia’s largest greenfield CBD and a future Olympic precinct for Brisbane 2032.
As a judge for the Sunshine Coast Sports Awards, Sonia brings a deep understanding of athletic excellence, grassroots development, and the transformative power of sport.
Tania Stevenson
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.
Mark Henricks
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.
Brett Cruse
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.