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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.
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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:
- 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.
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Name: Kim Leong
Club: Pickleball Manningham
Involvement with pickleball:
- Coach
- Referee (in training)
- Club Volunteer
- Player
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:
- The Royal Australian Navy for 20+ years,
- Two School Councils for 9 years in total,
- Two Parent-Teacher Committees for 9 years in total,
- Secretary for Croydon Tennis Club for 5 years, and
- Assistant Secretary for Ferntree Gully & Districts Ladies Tennis Association for 2 years (totaling 60+ sessions).
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:
- More affiliated pickleball clubs being established throughout Victoria,
- Cultivating pickleball at the grassroots levels with kids in primary and high school
- Assist age care facilities, schools, clubs, and councils to establish pickleball in their area,
- Supporting more state tournaments, particularly regional ones, as well as establishing regional and metropolitan leagues between clubs.
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