Our Board
Our Board
Our Executive Team at the Australian Sports Foundation is supported by a highly reputable and experienced Board of Directors chaired by Professor Sarah Kelly OAM.
The board is responsible for the overall governance, management and strategic direction of the organisation and for delivering accountable corporate performance in accordance with the organisation’s goals and objectives.
Professor Sarah Kelly, OAM
Chair - Appointed 27 February 2025
Professor Sarah Kelly OAM brings a wealth of expertise in sports administration, governance, and strategic leadership.
She is Head of the QUT Graduate School of Business, a Board Member with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, Deputy Chair of the Brisbane Lions AFL Football Club and is a Non-Executive Director of Events Management Queensland. She serves as the Queensland Co-Leader of The Minerva Network, supporting professional sportswomen through pro bono mentoring across Australia.
Recognised globally for her work in sports integrity, sponsorship and women’s sports commercialisation, Professor Kelly was Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2021 for her contributions to sports administration and tertiary education.
Lisa Cotton
Appointed 13 November 2023
Lisa’s career as CEO, Chair, NED, and at management level in trade and commerce, sport, tourism, and social enterprise spans more than 30 years including 17 years governance board practice. For the past 20 years, she’s worked at the forefront of philanthropy and social innovation.
From 2004 to 2011, she was Director Social Investment with Social Ventures Australia, and co-founded The Funding Network in 2013. Prior to that, Lisa held executive positions in the private and public sectors including Director at DDB advertising, Co-Manager for Gold Corporation’s Sydney Olympic Games and Deputy Commissioner for World Expo for the WA Government.
Lisa is the CEO of Ideology Group and works in the areas of impact investment, social enterprise, mentoring and organisational strategy. She is Chairperson for the Kennards Hire Foundation, Leadership Council member of Documentary Australia and a member of the Social Impact Hub Professional Impact Network and Sydney Mentor Walks.
Samantha Pearce, BCI
Appointed 13 December 2016
Sam is a digital leader and innovator. For nearly 20 years, she has guided and transformed organisations by developing marketing and behaviour change strategies that bridge the digital divide.
As Head of Marketing at Liquid Interactive, a strategic design consultancy, she leads a world-class team committed to creating social change in government, health and education. Her industry achievements include Australian and international awards for digital strategy, purchase behaviour and customer experience.
Sam has extensive knowledge in building sustainable businesses and understands the value of giving to sport. Steeped in a family history of business success and philanthropy, she brings a wealth of experience to the ASF Board.
David Lemphers
Appointed 13 November 2023
Dave Lemphers is a distinguished technologist and entrepreneur with a global career that has spanned Australia and the United States. Co-founding and successfully exiting four startups, he has held executive engineering roles at Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.
An author of four U.S. patents in machine learning and AI, Dave currently serves as CTO in Residence with Techstars. As an experienced board advisor, he has contributed to both public and private boards, focusing on technology strategy and digital transformation.
With degrees in Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Law, his expertise offers a comprehensive perspective.
Jason Titman
Appointed 13 November 2023
Jason has over 25 years experience in executive and board roles across several Countries. These roles include CEO, COO and CFO in several eCommerce and fintech companies, that have scaled from startup, taken on significant investment from Tier One US, Australian and Indian VC’s, listed Companies and a range of Family Offices, each of which has subsequently had successful exits.
His Board commitments include, Chair of Reshop, a New York based eCommerce company and Non-Executive Director of Findi Limited, an ASX Company, which owns an Indian financial services and eCommerce company. In addition to this, he is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Swyftx, one of Australia’s largest digital asset exchanges.
Previously, Jason was on the Mater Hospital Foundation Board from 2011 to 2021, Chaired the Maters’ Endowment Fund, Cycling Queensland Board from 2006 to 2008, the Moreton Bay Colleges Board of Governors, Chair of The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Foundation from 2015 to 2024.
Kate Thiele
Appointed 22 October 2024
Kate Thiele is an accomplished leader with extensive experience across the not-for-profit and commercial sectors, including health, aged care, disability (NDIS), higher education, conservation, and technology. She serves as a non-executive director, Chair, CEO, and principal of Klarity, a national strategic advisory and executive mentorship service.
Through her work with Klarity, Kate provides expertise in governance, strategic planning, and ESG, guiding organisations to enhance impact and resilience. She currently chairs the Adelaide Crows Foundation and Skylight Mental Health and serves on the UniSA MBA Advisory Committee, among other roles.
In addition to her board portfolio, Kate is a C-Suite coach and mentor. An award-winning business leader, she has a proven track record in stakeholder engagement, business development, and innovation.
Tony Hallam
Appointed 27 February 2025
Tony Hallam is an experienced board director, executive, and business owner with more than three decades of leadership across sport, business, and the not-for-profit sector.
He began his career as a partner at PwC, later holding leadership roles with Football Australia, Melbourne Stadiums Limited, and the Melbourne Boomers WNBL Club and Brotherhood of St Laurence. He is currently Deputy Chair of Zoos Victoria.
Tony brings a deep understanding of commercial and philanthropic fundraising, and is an outstanding asset to the ASF in driving investment in grassroots and elite sports development across the country.
With a passion for purpose-driven organisations, Tony plays a key role in strengthening the Australian sports sector through innovation and community impact.