Board of Directors

Lucy Coggan

President since 2021

Board Director since September 2016

Key areas of focus:

Strategy & Governance

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

Brand, Marketing, and Sponsorship

About:

Lucy has broad experience across professional marketing and communications leadership roles across agency and in-house environments in private and not-for-profit sectors.

Lucy's experience managing major sponsorships with some of Australia’s premier sporting organisations brings valuable insights to VNSW as the sport experiences rapid growth and change.

Lucy’s love of volleyball started in High School when she finally attended a training session following a year of daily persistence from one of her teachers; "You're tall. You should play volleyball."

Since then, the sport has been a continuous source of pure joy and friendship. Lucy's driven to 'give back' to the sport that has given her so much, and to help others discover the very special magic of Volleyball.

Lucy is a proud member of Hunter Volleyball and previously served as a Board Director for Sydney North Volleyball Club between 2013-2020.

Lucy has two awesome kids who are passionate balloon volleyballers! When she's not on court, you can find her hanging out at one of the Hunter’s beautiful beaches.

 

Stuart Mackay

Board Director since June 2015

Key areas of focus:

Human Resource Management

Staff Training

Stakeholder Management

Coach and Devil’s advocate.

About:

Stuart has been playing volleyball for 11 years, since moving to Australia from his native United Kingdom.

An avid member of the sport, Stuart has participated in local, state, interstate, and even international competitions. He’s a passionate Referee, sitting his state-level indoor as well as participating in the National Level outdoor course.

Stuart served previously as Vice President of the Freezone Volleyball Club and as President of Team Sydney, the NSW Association for all sporting clubs that play under the LGBTIQ banner, roughly 40 sporting clubs, and 4000+ athletes.

Stuart brings over 20 years of experience and dedication to his role as head coach in both our U15 and U17 women’s youth championship programs.

If you can’t find Stuart on the volleyball court, then try the nearest pool with his kids or on the water sailing the harbour. He hates sitting still and his ideal holiday is skiing down a new slope in some remote mountain or jet skiing in the sun.

 

 

Keith Suckling

Board Director since June 2012

Key areas of focus:

Strategic Planning & Future Scoping

Understanding Performance

Data & Systems

Constitution

About:

When Keith isn't playing coaching or refereeing volleyball, he works in a Market Insights and Analysis role for Cochlear, as well as his consulting business.

Keith continues to try to keep retirement at bay, holding onto his playing career with UTS Volleyball Club. He has also played in the National League for many years.

Keith's partner Jo is also heavily involved with UTS volleyball club. He is yet to get his daughter Emma to take up volleyball but continues to try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julien Prosser

Board Director since June 2021

Key areas of focus:

Strategy & Planning

Leadership & Sales

Elite Team & People Performance

About:

Julien currently owns and runs his own business performance consulting assisting organisations with their leader, people and sales performance.

Julien started playing volleyball at the age of 13 at Rossmoyne SHS in W.A. Through a bit of luck, family support and hard work, he managed to turn the sport he loved into a 15 year professional career representing Australia at three consecutive Olympics (1996 – 9th, 2000 – 9th and 2004 -4th) and winning 12 Australian National Titles.

He is married with two teenage boys who he forces to play volleyball in between their basketball commitments.

His commitment to sport in NSW is to help volleyball (indoor and beach) to become more widely known, played, and respected as a truly global, diverse, equitable and athletic sport.

 

Matthew O'Connor

Board Director since June 2021

Key areas of focus:

Community

Participation

Facility planning

About:

Matt is driven to provide more opportunities for the community to participate in volleyball.

Delivering sport and recreation outcomes with the community for nearly 20 years, Matt currently has the privilege of serving the community on Darug Country as Blacktown City Council’s Manager of Recreation Planning and Design.

Matt is humbled and excited to work with the volleyball community across NSW to increase opportunities for all to play and participate in this beautiful game more often.

Believing in the power of sports, community, and government collaborating to improve public life, Matt welcomes the opportunity to bring to the Volleyball NSW Board his knowledge of navigating into, through, and with local councils to maximise outcomes for all.

Geraldine Magarey

Board Director since February 2023

Key areas of focus:

Accounting & Audit

ESG & Risk

Strategy & Governance

About

Geraldine is an experienced finance professional, having held roles in Big 4 accounting firms, major corporates, and government.

Geraldine has experience across a number of sports and has held a number of volunteer roles for over 15 years, including finance.

She is very passionate about the power of sport to build communities and the benefits of participation no matter what your ability.

While Geraldine has not played volleyball for a long time, she spends a lot of time courtside cheering on her son or as a volleyball taxi.

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Brantz

Board Director since February 2024

Key areas of focus:

Strategic Planning & Governance

Media & Communications

Diversity & Inclusion

Legacy

About:

Stephanie Brantz is a sport and events presenter, producer, and commentator with over 20 years of experience across a wide range of sports.

As well as her role with Volleyball NSW, Stephanie is Deputy Chair of the Football NSW board, a director of Venues NSW, sits on the committee of the Primary Club of Australia and the Pacific Sports Diplomacy Network and is part of the UNSW Sport Advisory Council.

She began her media career at SBS before stints with Channel 9, Fox Sports and ABC.

Stephanie is a contributor for ESPN, host of ‘Trailblazers’ on SEN 1170 and World Feed Host for Tennis Australia, as well as football commentator and producer for FIFA TV.

A Membership Ambassador for the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground, she is also an Ambassador for both the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and The Chappell Foundation.

 

Balraj Oudra

Board Director since February 2024

Key areas of focus:

Strategic & Future Planning

Volunteering

Diversity & Inclusion

Community Engagement

About:

A qualified Chiropractor Balraj joins the VNSW Board committed to fostering community, inclusion, diversity, and exemplary leadership.

Balraj has worked in a professional capacity with VNSW, Volleyball Australia, the Australian Volleyball League, and the FIVB World Beach Volleyball Tours.

As a Sikh, Balraj is passionate about volunteering.  He has held advisory roles for Cricket NSW and Sydney Thunder.  He is a Cricket Australia Ambassador, a Commonwealth Games Ambassador and a Hilld Youth Ambassador.  He has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Balraj has been a finalist in the NSW Premier Awards and is a longstanding contributor in the Multicultural space.  He has championed initiatives like the Western Sydney Sports Festival, Culture Care, Mosaic Cricket Association and the Sydney Thunder Council.

 

Jovy Gill

Board Director since February 2024

Key areas of focus:

Strategy and Planning

 

Marketing and Stakeholder Communication

 

Community Engagement

 

About:

In the dynamic intersection of technology, travel, and sustainable energy, Jovy Gill emerges as a modest yet influential figure, embodying innovation, leadership, and a profound commitment to sustainability. Her journey through diverse global landscapes—from Silicon Valley's tech hubs to the Philippines' luxury resorts—epitomizes a relentless pursuit of excellence, a discerning eye for opportunities, and a sincere dedication to unifying cultures and communities.

 

With over 25 years of experience in the technology industry, Jovy's tenure includes remarkable stints with renowned Fortune 500 companies, where she gained recognition for her visionary strategies and results-driven approach. Notably, her role as a Managing Director for Essence Global ANZ, a WPP digital media agency, yielded significant accomplishments in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

 

Born in the Philippines and later relocating to the U.S. at age 15, Jovy Gill's story reflects resilience, vision, and adaptability. She graduated with a double major in Marketing and Finance from the University of Oregon and further honed her business acumen with an Executive MBA from George Fox University, laying the foundation for her future entrepreneurial endeavours.

 

Jovy's career trajectory took an intriguing turn during her assignments in the Asia-Pacific region, igniting a deep-seated passion for travel. This led to the establishment of Tribu Collective, focusing on curating luxury travel experiences rooted in culture and sustainability. Her influence in the luxury travel sector further expanded with the founding of the Barefoot Luxury Group, where she holds the position of Chairman/CEO, orchestrating unparalleled luxury resort experiences in the Philippines.

 

Jovy's profound love for volleyball traces back to her early days playing the sport in primary and high school in the Philippines. Today, she finds immense joy in witnessing her children embrace and share her passion for volleyball, as she enthusiastically cheers for them from the sidelines, whether on the stands or the sand.