General Members

Name: Jonathan Lee

Club: Pickleball Manningham

Involvement with pickleball: 

• Pickleball Victoria Committee Member (Member Experience)
• Ambassador for Engage Pickleball
• Player

Open to these positions: General Committee Member

Conflicts of interest: Ambassador for Engage Pickleball

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

One of my core values is helping others thrive, individually and collectively.  This influences everything I do including my career, volunteering on the Pickleball Victoria Committee, and the way I play pickleball.  I also have the experience, skills, and knowledge to do impactful work.

Prior experience 

• Head of Innovation for the Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Network at Cummins South Pacific

• General Committee Member (Member Experience) for Pickleball Victoria

• Toastmasters Club President

• Toastmasters Club Vice-President of Education

• Employee Benefits and Corporate Communications

Skills and Knowledge

• Human-centred design, which considers end-users to ensure fit-for-purpose products and services.

• Systems thinking, which enables quality decision-making and problem-solving by considering factors holistically.

• Change management, to ensure ideas are implemented well.

• Data analysis, to identify meaningful improvement opportunities and ensure efforts yield the intended return on investment.

• Collaboration, to ensure effective teamwork and reduce conflict.

• Resourceful, draws upon others' strengths and to generate superior outcomes.

Goals for 2024-2025:

• (in progress) Exploring opportunities to enhance the value that members and clubs receive. 

• (in progress) Revising and implementing Fair Play Guidelines to promote fairer self-rankings in tournaments.  

• (in progress) Hosting a Pickleball Victoria stall at MidSumma's Carnival, expected to attract 120,000+ attendees. 

• Facilitating dialogue between clubs to share best practices and insights, resulting in more positive experiences for all.

• Explore opportunities to empower Pickleball Victoria community members interested in supporting Pickeball Victoria's mission.

• Refining the Pickleball Victoria website. 

• Development of a Committee onboarding pack to orientate members, leading to increased effectiveness and efficiency, and better outcomes for the community.

• Regular committee surveys to identify and address implicit challenges and barriers to progress.

• Periodic community surveys to understand members' needs/wants and how Pickleball Victoria might support. 

• Support the development of a new strategic plan.

• Refining the Pickleball Victoria Committee selection process to help the community make more informed decisions.

Name: Raymond Langenberg

Club: Southern Peninsula Pickleball Club

Involvement with pickleball:

• Pickleball Victoria Committee Member (Club Liaison)
• Club President of Southern Peninsula Pickleball Club
• Coach (Level 2)
• Player

Open to these positions: General Committee Member

Conflicts of interest: Club President for Southern Peninsula Pickleball Club; Pickleball Coach

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

• 35 years business background in medical device industry including salesperson, sales director, manager director.
• 3 years experience as a corporate culture shaping facilitator.
• Sports club and community organisation committees including: Vice-President of East Ringwood Football Club; President of Southern Peninsula Pickleball Club; and Board Member of Sorrento Community Centre.

Goals for 2024-2025:

• I would like to continue in the Club Liaison role, implementing this aspect of the Growth Pillar of the strategic plan.

Name: Joshua Goldstat

Club: Bayside Pickleball Club

Involvement with pickleball: Player

Open to these positions: General Committee Member

Conflicts of interest: None

Skills, knowledge, experience, and goals:

Joining the Pickleball Victoria committee offers numerous benefits that align with my personal growth and community engagement. I'd cherish the opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share a passion for pickleball, fostering friendships and a sense of belonging. Engaging in this sport promotes physical fitness, enhancing agility, strength, and coordination while providing a fun way to stay active. 

Moreover, being on the committee would allow me to contribute to the development and organisation of pickleball events, clinics, and tournaments, helping to grow the sport in our community. I believe my voice can influence decisions that enhance player experiences, from creating a welcoming environment for newcomers to implementing programs that cater to various skill levels.

Additionally, serving on the committee, will enhance my leadership and organisational skills, which I believe to be valuable assets in both personal and professional spheres. It’s a chance to take initiative, collaborate with others, and make a tangible impact on the sport I have fallen in love with. Ultimately, being part of the Pickleball Victoria committee is not just about playing pickleball; it's about building a vibrant community, promoting wellness, and leaving a positive legacy in the pickleball community

Name: Joshua de Lange

Club: Warrnambool Pickleball Club

Involvement with pickleball:

• Pursuing coaching qualifications
• Player (including NPL Season 2)

Open to these positions: General Committee Member

Conflicts of interest: May start coaching in the near future

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

I have experience with pickleball around Melbourne and in regional areas like Warrnambool and Wangaratta. I possess a broad range of skills and knowledge in analytics, HR, psychology, and health sciences, as well as increasing community involvement (e.g., the start of the Port Fairy Pickleball Club). Additionally, I can also assist with budgeting/finances and finding more efficient ways to conduct administrative procedures.

Goals for 2024-2025:

Helping to achieve growth in community participation of all ages - particularly creating a broader awareness of the benefits of pickleball in older generations, which councils could utilise as part of their Social Inclusion & Wellbeing Programs. Additionally, I'd love to see more high-level weekly tournaments/games to grow the top end of the sport in Victoria. 

Name: Aaron Blitz

Club: Pickleball Victoria

Involvement with pickleball:

• Pickleball Victoria Committee
• Club Volunteer
• Captain of Mavericks
• Coach
• Player

Open to these positions: General Committee Member

Conflicts of interest: Signed Joola player; Contracted PPA and MLP player

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

• Five years on the Pickleball Victoria Committee: half the time as Secretary and half the time as a General Member.
• Led the acquisition of numerous Pickleball Victoria sponsors.
• Extensive knowledge of the history and dynamics within Pickleball Victoria, which is instrumental for future progress.
• Bachelor of Business (Banking & Finance)
• Masters in Teaching

Goals for 2024-2025:

Continue helping fulfill the promotion pillar in the strategic plan as well as driving the success of the entire committee.  Also bringing the experience of everything that happens in Pickleball Victoria to any new members of the Committee.

Name: Lea Preece

Club: Drysdale Clifton Springs Pickleball Club

Involvement with pickleball:

• Referee (Level 2)
• Club Volunteer
• Player

Open to these positions: President; Vice-President; General Member

Conflicts of interest: Hustl Ambassador

Skills, knowledge, experience; goals:

As a passionate pickleball player, I am thrilled to bring my extensive skills, knowledge, and experience to Pickleball Victoria.  With a 20-year career as a secondary school principal and a master's degree in educational leadership, I have a robust background in leadership and people management.

As a founding committee member and former Vice-President of the Drysdale Clifton Springs Pickleball Club from 2022-2024, I contributed to policy development, membership growth, and player skill development, while also convening playing sessions for our 227 members.  I co-organised the Bellarine Big Bash Tournament, which successfully attracted players from across the state.

Certified as a Level 2 Referee, I have officiated at various tournaments, including local, state, APC, and NPL levels.  My experience as an accomplished player includes holding state and Australian titles in my division and medalling at an international tournament in Italy.

My background in administration has equipped me with skills in event coordination, team management, and community building, as well as marketing and communications expertive to promote Pickleball Victoria's initiatives.  Additionally, my budgeting and fundraising abilities will contribute to sustainable growth.

I am committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment for players of all skills levels and am eager to contribute fresh ideas and a collaborative approach to support the continued development of Pickleball Victoria.

Name: Wesa Chau

Club: Pickleball Victoria

Involvement with pickleball: Player

Open to these positions: Vice-President; General Committee Member

Conflicts of interest: None

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

I am relatively new to pickleball and am excited to have discovered the sport.  I am also keen to contribute towards and promote the sport to the community.  I am putting my hand up for executive positions within Pickleball Victoria in particular because it is important to have diverse representation, which encourages everybody to get involved.

I have 18+ years of not-for-profit / community / government board experience and am a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  I have strong leadership, financial, legal compliance, governance, and strategic thinking skills to help promote and develop pickleball in Australia.  In addition, I have served in senior roles within the not-for-profit sector with experience in project / events management, managing volunteers, and grant writing / acquittal, having written 100+ grants with a 70% success rate and delivered the projects supported by government grants.

I am currently on a government grant-making body, with my understanding of the processes being an asset to Pickleball Victoria's future grant applications.  I also have strong relationships with the government; strong advocacy and media liaison skills; and am keen to see pickleball gain recognition in Victoria.  I am also IT-savvy, having graduated in software engineering and so can help increase efficiency.

Goals for 2024-2025:

I have a background in diversity and inclusion and am keen to help Pickleball Victoria increase diversity and achieve best practice so that the government target of 40% female representation on the committee is achieved and maintained.  This means there is diversity in the executive roles and more are encouraged to be involved, leading to more diverse member representation in the sport.  Through social and mainstream media, as well as my networks, I believe it is possible to raise pickleball's profile and highlight why it is a sport that everyone can get involved in.  This will help Pickleball Victoria with financial growth and sustainability.  Additionally, as mentioned in my previous response, I am eager to promote the sport, especially to people who have never heard of it, and increase the ways for more people to engage, including finding and supporting more volunteers to run activities and events. 

Name: Niels Wieleman

Club: Pickleball Manningham

Involvement with pickleball:

• Player
• Club Volunteer

Open to these positions: President; Vice-President; General Committee Member

Conflicts of interest: None

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

I love pickleball and I want to give back to the sport and community that brings me so much joy, with passion and advocacy being the first things I'll contribute.

I'll also bring my strong organisation skills which I developed over the last 12 years though my work as a strategy consultant and project manager, first with a large consulting firm and more recently as a self-employed project manager.  This means that, when I'm not on the pickleball court, I'm helping organisations to develop and execute growth plans.  I'd love to use my skills in strategy development, planning, team management and project management to help grow my favourite sport in Victoria.

Regardless of the position, I can confidently lead or support the strategic review of Pickleball Victoria.  I will make sure to foster partnerships with clubs and build a positive culture in the Committee, where everyone feels valued and adds their strengths.

Other skills and experience I will bring include:

• IT,
• Financial management,
• Experience as a treasurer for a non-profit student association,
• Grant-writing,
• Experience with legal compliance.

Goals for 2024-2025:

• Establish more club-to-club competitions as an informal way for players to start engaging competitively.
• Improve Pickleball Victoria's IT and governance as a foundation for organising more tournaments and getting more people to play.
• Develop and deliver a new Pickleball Victoria strategic plan for 2026 and beyond - one that addresses key challenges for players, which might include affordability and court availability.  My strategy consulting experience will be valuable in defining this new plan.