Vice-President

Name: David Lurie

Club: Bayside Pickleball Club

Involvement with pickleball: 

• Pickleball Victoria Committee Vice-President
• Tournament Organiser
• Business Owner
• Coach
• Player

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.

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: 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: 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.

Name: Aaron Bryer

Club: Pickleball Victoria

Involvement with pickleball: 

• Business Owner
• Business Ambassador
• Volunteer
• Player

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:

• Sustainability council member
• Strategic planning and execution
• Data-driven decision-making
• Strong negotiation and partnership-building abilities
• Proven track record in international commerce
• Expertise in strategy development

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. 

 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.