General Members
Nominations are presented in the order that they were received.
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Name: Jonathan Lee Club: Pickleball Manningham Involvement with pickleball:
Open to these positions: General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Ambassador for Engage Pickleball Skills, knowledge, and experience: Helping others thrive is core to who I am. It shapes everything I do - including my career, my PV Committee work, and even how I play pickleball. I don't settle for the status quo, instead advocating for changes that uplift others. While confident in my abilities, I believe that true success lies in collaboration and the power of diverse perspectives. My Committee Achievements in 2023-24 • Moderated the PV Facebook Group and developed guidelines aligned with PV's affiliation strategy. • Streamlined PV's website, reducing redundancies by over 75%, and enhancing the user experience. • Led the Vic Open Coordinator recruitment process. • Coordinated the PV Committee 2025 nomination process. • (in progress) Developing / implementing guidelines to reduce sandbagging, promoting more enjoyable competitions. • (in progress) Hosting a PV stall at MidSumma's Carnival, expecting 120,000+ attendees. Prior experience • Head of Innovation for the Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Network at S&P100 company. • Committee Member for Pickleball Victoria. • Toastmasters Club President & Vice-President of Education. • Employee Benefits and Corporate Communications. • Chairperson of Owner's Corporation valued at $7+ million. Skills and Knowledge • Human-centred design: considers end-users to ensure fit-for-purpose products and services. • Systems thinking: enables quality decision-making and problem-solving by considering factors holistically. • Change management: ensures ideas are implemented well. • Data analysis: identifies meaningful improvement opportunities and ensures efforts yield the intended return on investment. • Collaboration: ensures effective teamwork and reduces conflict. • Resourceful: draws upon others' strengths and insights to improve outcomes. Goals for 2024-2025: • Facilitating dialogue between clubs to share best practices and insights and collectively solve common problems, fostering more positive experiences across the community. • Exploring opportunities to engage and empower PV community members passionate about advancing PV's mission. • Developing a Committee onboarding pack to orientate members, increase effectiveness and efficiency, and ultimately benefit the community. • Regular committee surveys to uncover hidden challenges and barriers, allowing more energy to be spent on impactful work. • Periodic community surveys to understand members' needs/wants, guiding PV's future initiatives. • Supporting the development of a new strategic plan. • Enhancing the PV Committee selection process, enabling the community to make more informed and confident decisions. |
Name: Raymond Langenberg Club: Southern Peninsula Pickleball Club Involvement with pickleball:
Open to these positions: General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Club President for Southern Peninsula Pickleball Club; Pickleball Coach Skills, knowledge, and experience:
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. |
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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:
Open to these positions: General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: May start coaching in the near future Skills, knowledge, and experience: With experience playing pickleball in Melbourne and regional areas like Warrnambool, Wangaratta and Port Fairy, I have gained insights into the diverse needs of local pickleball communities. Having helped launch the Port Fairy Pickleball Club, I understand the steps needed to build community involvement from the ground up, which I can leverage to support broader engagement strategies across Victoria. Coming from a health science background, I can also help promote the sport from a health perspective - highlighting the community, physical, and mental benefits of playing this great accessible sport. Additionally, I have extensive knowledge of analytics and statistics, which I can use to help the board approach challenges from a more objective perspective. This will help the committee make data-informed decisions to increase engagement and participation, select dates/venues, and more. Stemming from my statistics (I love a spreadsheet or two) background, I can also assist in budgeting and finance to help manage resources. Goals for 2024-2025: I am committed to supporting the growth of pickleball participation across all age groups, with a particular focus on promoting its benefits for older generations. By highlighting pickleball as a highly accessible, low-impact social activity, I believe we can increase community engagement, including different council's Social Inclusion & Wellbeing Programs. Additionally, there is also a huge potential for growth in pickleball for juniors, as I see it as a great alternative to Hot Shots tennis. This could create the potential for more pickleball courts that tennis clubs can utilise for their younger membefers - for tennis clubs, think of pickleball as an easier sport to pick up that also develops crucial fine and gross motor skills for tennis later on. Paddles are easier to swing, and there is no need for different low-bounce tennis balls. I would also advocate for developing high-level weekly tournaments and games, which could serve as a platform for Victoria's top players to hone their skills and compete regularly. Creating more streamlined pathways for up-and-coming players is critical to the sport continuing to grow and increasing sponsorship deals and revenues at tournaments. This two-sided approach - expanding social community involvement and fostering better pathways for competitive players - will be instrumental in growing the sport's profile across Victoria. |
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Name: Aaron Blitz Club: Pickleball Victoria Involvement with pickleball:
Open to these positions: General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Signed Joola player; Contracted PPA and MLP player Skills, knowledge, and experience:
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:
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. |
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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:
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:
Goals for 2024-2025:
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Name: Rohan Carroll Club: Pickleball Palace Involvement with pickleball: Venue Owner; Coach; Player Open to these positions: General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Venue Owner; Coach Skills, knowledge, and experience: With over 40 years experience in construction management, I would bring a strong foundation in organisation and problem-solving to the committee. I've been actively involved in pickleball since 2019, organising sessions, coaching, and running intra-club competitions in Queensland. In 2023, I returned to Melbourne and established Pickleball Palace, a dedicated pickleball venue. I also helped set up Albert Park and The Jar with Sharon, my wife. My experience in playing and managing pickleball operations makes me well-suited to contribute to the committee. I'm confident in my ability to work effectively with people, manage logistics, and foster a positive and inclusive pickleball community. Goals for 2024-2025: If elected to the Pickleball Victoria Committee, I envision a year marked by significant growth and development of our sport. My key objectives would be to:
By working collaboratively with the other committee members and the broader pickleball community, I am confident we can achieve these goals and position Victoria as a leading pickleball state. |
Name: Vivienne Daniels Club: Drysdale Clifton Springs Pickleball Club Involvement with pickleball: Club President; Club Advocate with councils; Coach; Player Open to these positions: General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Club President; Ambassador for Engage Pickleball; incidental support of other brands during 'Come & Try' sessions Skills, knowledge, and experience: I am the President of Drysdale Clifton Springs Pickleball Club, which has 200+ members. I have led the committee in the creation of policies that relate to all aspects of running a sporting club. I have provided advice to other clubs relating to club setup and gaining PV affiliation. We have also run successful mini tournaments for both local and regional participants and I work with other clubs to lobby the City of Greater Geelong to progress PB on the Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong. I have been involved in workshops that Pickleball Australia has run so I have some understanding of what is occurring at a national level. I have played in various tournaments across Victoria and Australia. I am a qualified Level 1 coach. I am a personable and friendly person who is happy to meet and work with anyone to progress Pickleball across our state. In my working live, I've worked in senior executive roles managing large numbers of people and projects at both a strategic and operational level and so I have a sense of what is required and the challenges in getting disparate groups moving in the same direction. I believe I have a lot to offer PV as far as implementing the strategies and goals of the Strategic Plan and I would be very happy to be part of the next year's committee to further pickleball in Victoria. Goals for 2024-2025: With the experience I have had so far with setting up our local club and working with the other clubs to interact with our local government bodies I can provide leadership more broadly in this area. Working in large organisations I can bring my governance and compliance experience to the PV Committee. Whilst the speed of the growth of pickleball has been unexpected there is still the need to ensure we continue to promote the game across all ages particularly children and young people. I can use the experience and lessons learnt to assist to introduce and grow Pickleball across the State. |
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Name: David Lurie Club: Bayside Pickleball Club Involvement with pickleball:
Open to these positions: Vice-President; General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Pickleball business owner Skills, knowledge, and experience: I am excited to apply to continue in my role as Vice President on the Pickleball Victoria Committee - alternatively to support as a General Member. Over the past year, I have greatly enjoyed being part of the team, working collaboratively to shape the future of pickleball in Victoria. My involvement has allowed me to contribute to the growth and development of the sport, and I am keen to continue this work. With 20 years of business experience, I bring strong skills in strategic planning, management, and organizational growth, all of which have been valuable in supporting Pickleball Victoria's initiatives. I am also deeply invested in the sport as an active player, coach, and tournament organizer, providing me with a well-rounded perspective on the needs of the pickleball community. My passion for grassroots development, combined with my action-oriented approach, ensures that I can effectively contribute to the committee’s goals. I look forward to continuing to help guide the future of pickleball in Victoria.
Goals for 2024-2025: Over the coming year on the Pickleball Victoria Committee, I envision achieving several key goals to enhance the member experience and contribute to the sport’s growth. My focus will be on improving member benefits to ensure greater value for our community, expanding the number of local tournaments to give players more opportunities to compete, and driving initiatives that connect players of all ages, increasing overall participation. From a committee perspective, I hope we can create a clearer vision for our strategic plan and operate more like a business, with well-defined action plans and measurable outcomes. By establishing a structured approach, we can ensure that our initiatives are effective and make the best use of our resources to support the continued development of pickleball in Victoria. This focus will help us meet the immediate needs of our members while creating a sustainable future for the sport.
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Name: Aaron Bryer Club: Pickleball Victoria Involvement with pickleball:
Open to these positions: Vice-President; General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Business Owner; Business Ambassador Skills, knowledge, and experience: I bring a unique blend of skills, experience, and passion that align with the growth of Pickleball Victoria. With over 20 years as a business professional and leadership, I offer the expertise to support the committee's growth and direction. My skills extend to sales, marketing, eCommerce with a strong global network, an executive business coach, enabling me to contribute to initiatives that drive both community engagement and membership expansion. I am passionate about seeing pickleball continue its growth through grassroots efforts, building a strong inclusive community from the ground up. With a coaching mindset, I am ready to provide mentorship, encourage innovation, and inspire the Pickleball Victoria community to engage and thrive. Other relevant skills:
Goals for 2024-2025: On the Pickleball Victoria Committee, I envision making a meaningful impact by focusing on growth, community engagement, and accessibility. Over the coming year, I would aim to: Expand Membership and Participation: leverage strategic marketing and community outreach to grow pickleball's presence across Victoria, emphasising inclusivity and accessibility, particularly in grassroots communities. Develop Sustainable Partnerships: seek collaborations with local businesses, councils, and schools to increase visibility and support for the sport. These partnerships could lead to shared resources, event sponsorships, and enhanced community programmes. Engage Local Government and Regulatory Bodies: By working closely with local government and understanding relevant regulations, to secure the support needed to grow pickleball across the region. This includes advocating for dedicated facilities, grant opportunities, and infrastructure that aligns with the sport's growth. Connect with Similar Models for Best Practices: work to integrate Pickleball Victoria within a network of similar organisations across Australia and internationally, learning from their best practices to ensure continuous success for the sport and our members. Enhance Member Experience: By applying an online model with an inclusive experience. The aim to streamline communication, resources, and membership benefits, ensuring that members feel connected, informed, and valued. Support Coaching and Skill Development: I believe that cultivating local talent and encouraging skill-building at all levels is key to the sport's growth. I would support initiatives that provide coaching clinics, training resources, and development opportunities for all ages. |
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Name: Kim Leong Club: Pickleball Manningham Involvement with pickleball:
Open to these positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary, General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Coach Skills, knowledge, and experience: I am a very passionate, community and service-oriented person, totaling more than 30 years of service to others. This includes:
Nowadays, I am happily retired and am dedicating my time and energy to all aspects of pickleball - from playing, coaching and soon referring. With my experience as the Officer-in-Charge of the Australian Defence Force Dental School, Senior Dental Officer in charge of a Dental Department, and my role as Secretary at Croydon Tennis Club, I can bring leadership, teamwork, and growth to Pickleball Victoria through my skills in governance, accountability, and vision. I am also a key promoter of community and inclusion. Previously, I have advocated for disability inclusion with Pickleball Victoria. More recently, I proactively organised a way for a cohort of 70+ Victorians to stay connected while competing at the Australian Pickleball Championships and also took countless photos to contribute share with the community via the Pickleball Victoria Facebook Group. Goals for 2024-2025: Over the coming year(s), I envision:
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Name: Emily Webb Club: Wyndham Eagles Involvement with pickleball:
Open to these positions: General Committee Member Conflicts of interest: Pickleball Social Session Host Skills, knowledge, and experience: Two years ago, I was introduced to the fantastically diverse and welcoming community that is Pickleball Victoria. Working as a pickleball instructor, I've had the privilege of teaching pickleball to new players and then watching them blossom as they master new skills, make new friends, and search for new challenges. I have organised seven pickleball competitions, helped start the Wyndham Eagles pickleball club and volunteered at the inaugural Pride Cup, at the Warrnambool Pickleball Open 2024 and at the Vic Open 2024. I'm the sort of person that gets things done. Goals for 2024-2025: As a member of the Pickleball Victoria Committee, I would focus on Pickleball Victoria's Participation Strategies & Pathways, supporting:
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