Volleyball NSW is excited to announce the recent hiring of Jo Fernandes for the role of General Manager – Pathways.

As an accomplished and experienced sports management professional, Jo joins Volleyball NSW at a critical time of our growth and development. With an impressive background in the sports industry, Jo brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role.

Jo has had an extensive career, including her most recent role as the Head of Competition Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, where she led the implementation of various projects and successfully managed a talented team to ensure the highest standards of competition and match operations. Her vast experience also includes roles such as Strategic Projects Manager at Football NSW, General Manager of the A-League Women, and long-term Matildas Team Manager.

‘I'm really excited to be joining the wonderful team at Volleyball NSW, and I thank Baz, Bec, and the board for this opportunity. Volleyball is such a huge sport internationally and is rapidly growing across NSW, so I hope I can bring my experience from another round ball game during this time of opportunity for the sport.’ – Jo Fernandes

VNSW CEO Baz Wedmaier is looking forward to the changes of 2024, ‘We are excited to have Jo joining our team; her significant experience and understanding of the pathway from state to national and international engagement will bring an exciting lens and opportunity to our growing organisation.’

Jo joins our new look pathways team, with the Head of Pathways, Martin Reader, heading back to Canada in early 2024. Martin has been at the helm of the pathway/performance of Volleyball NSW for over 4 years, with one of his most notable achievements leading the creation of the Phoenix Program. His passion and pride in performance, both on and off the court, is unparalleled, and he leaves a legacy and culture of passion and hard work through the Phoenix program.

‘The most important part of any role is working with people, and I'm very much looking forward to collaborating with the volleyball family and all stakeholders to build on the excellent work already done in the pathways space.’ - Jo Fernandes

Jo will officially commence the role in January 2024 alongside Head Coach Chris Todd and newly appointed Pathways Coordinator Renato Garcia, who transitions into the role from the VNSW Participation Team.

Jo’s appointment as the General Manager - Pathways at Volleyball NSW marks a significant addition to the organisation. Her extensive experience, leadership abilities, and passion for promoting women in sports make her a valuable asset to the team. With Jo at the helm, Volleyball NSW is well-positioned to achieve new heights in the development of pathways for the sport.