#SEASummit host: Tiffany Cherry

Head of Female Engagement, Golf Australia and SEA Ambassador

Tiffany was recently appointed Head of Female Engagement for Golf Australia after a 25+ year career in media, and previously working as a sports physiotherapist and small business owner.

Upon graduating with her dregree, she was awarded a scholarship at Olympic Park Sport Medicine Centre, working with numerous sporting teams, including Richmond Football Club, before opening her own clinic.

Her passion for storytelling led to a career change in 1997, becoming the first female AFL boundary rider and a leading sports presenter, journalist and producer for 25 years. Her career spanned multiple platforms across Australia, US and the UK including ESPN and CNN, and included co-hosting the Winter and Summer Olympics for Foxtel.

Tiffany’s experiences within media and inherent drive for equality, social inclusion and sustainability led to a transition into sports administration, communication and marketing. She completed her MBA in Innovation and Leadership (Canberra University) and AICD course, before appointed an inaugural NED of SEA – Sports Environment Alliance and ambassador for Our Watch and Royal Flying Doctors.

As Multimedia Executive of Richmond Football Club (2017-20), Tiffany was responsible for establishing the club’s Environmental journey, signing Richmond to the United Nation’s UNFCCC and Chairing its Environmental Action Committee. She successfully managed a half million dollar partnership with VicHealth’s This Girl Can Victoria program, significantly increasing female activity participation across the State, as well as established the Jolson/Houli Unity Cup and co-hosted the club’s diversity podcast, Our Stripes.

Tiffany has created and helped strategically imbed high profile events and programs fostering equality, understanding and sustainability, from concept to delivery. She have established a masters women’s football team, coached children and school age sport and have vast experience across numerous bodies and organisations in the fields of health, diversity, equality, sustainability, media and philanthropy as an ambassador, committee member and Chair.

A sports fan, she has played for numerous teams and competed for Australia in both amateur athletics and triathlon. Her proudest achievement is being mum to seven year old Vivienne.

Adam Luscombe

General Manager, YMCA Victoria / SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Non-Executive Director, Sports Environment Alliance

Adam has vast experience in many sporting arenas running significant events and High Performance / Pathway sport. He does his best work at the critical intersection of strategy and operations. This unique leadership trait allows him to develop teams and organisations capable of translating transformational change plans and intentions into tangible frontline business improvement.

The COVID-19 period has, in fact, given him a rare opportunity to leverage and showcase South Australia’s full potential and his repertoire of leadership skills. Through a carefully constructed crisis management program, the $120 million South Australian Aquatic & Leisure Centre was the first Aquatic Centre in the world open. This effort then led to a YMCA lead recovery for sport and recent Swimming Australia Olympic trials. This event was proclaimed by many as the best National Championships ever run for sport.

Creating, navigating, and solving problems comes from Adam’s 30 years’ experience of High-Performance Coaching, Board experience (including SLSSA, SEA) running two States major pieces of sporting infrastructure, numerous Major International and National level Events, Team Manager of Swimming for Athens 2004 Paralympics, National Scholarship Coach Swimming, 1996 and academic learnings with University of New England, Harvard and lecturing at the University of South Australia.

Celeste Young

Consultant and Collaborative Research Fellow, Institute of Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities / College of Business - Victoria University

Celeste is a specialist in codesigned, collaborative research and research communication. Her research and practice for the last 20 years has focused on systemic risks such as climate change and natural hazards and the decision making and systems that support actions. She has extensive experience in working with stakeholders across the public, private and community sector to build the understanding and effective communication needed to effectively address these issues.

Her work is used by practitioners and policy makers here and overseas and has been featured in state and federal policy. Celeste has also received awards for her research communications, programs and stakeholder engagement and advised the government on climate change communication and practice, and end user led research.  

Prior to joining Victoria University she worked as an Executive Officer (Western Alliance of Greenhouse Action), a Quality Assurance Officer (BAE Systems) a business consultant and arts practitioner. She has also been a member of the Research Advisory Committee for the Australian Institute of Financial Studies and served on the Board of Platform Youth Theatre.

Claire Wardley

Venue Manager, Australian Grand Prix Corporation

Claire is an event management professional with over a decade of experience within the industry. As the Venue Manager for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) her role includes overseeing all venue safety, logistics and access for both the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. She has a passion for Sustainability and has worked within AGPC to deliver the Green Prix Sustainability Strategy which outlines the strategic goals, actions and KPI's to deliver over the next four year and ensures there is a sustainability lens across everything that is delivered by AGPC.

John Clarke

Research Team Leader – Regional Projections, Climate Extremes and Projections Group - CSIRO

John leads the Regional Projections Team within the CSIRO Climate Science Centre where has worked since 2009. He brings a range of experience from previous roles in the Australian media and biodiversity conservation sectors and has over 30 years’ experience undertaking, interpreting, applying and communicating science nationally and internationally. His expertise lies in developing applicable, fit-for-purpose, scientifically robust climate projections and assisting users understand, and make appropriate use of them.

John is currently leading development of the 2022 State of the Climate Report.

Matthew Nicholas

Director of Sustainability, Tennis Australia

Matt has been with Tennis Australia for over 7 years, first as Senior Legal Counsel and then as Head of Major Projects – which included responsibility as biosecurity lead for the 2021 Australian Open quarantine and major events program.

In this current role since October 2021, Matt now has responsibility for measuring and minimising the ecological impact of TA’s activities. This includes development and ongoing management of Tennis Australia’s environmental sustainability vision: “Maximum Play, Minimum Footprint” and compliance with TA’s commitment to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.

Nathan Xavier

Strategic Asset & Environmental Specialist, Melbourne Cricket Club

Nathan is the Strategic Asset & Environmental Specialist at the Melbourne Cricket Club. Nathan is experienced in delivering environmental systems and strategies to ensure best environmental practice and operational performance. Nathan is committed to reducing climate impact at the MCG and is working to ensure the MCC becomes a climate positive organisation.

Neil Dalrymple

CEO, Bowls Australia and Non-Executive Director, Sports Environment Alliance

Neil has held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Bowls Australia (BA) since May 2007. During his tenure at BA, Neil has spearheaded numerous innovative strategic and operational changes in the organisation, which have impacted positively on the sport of Bowls in Australia.  Neil’s focus has been, and continues to be, on ensuring the ongoing sustainability and vitality of the sport of Bowls, both in Australia and internationally.

While at the helm of BA, Neil has overseen the ongoing professionalisation of the organisation.  He has been deeply engaged in strengthening the relationships between BA and each of the State and Territory Associations, as well as relationships with other key partners, such as Sport Australia, Commonwealth Games Australia and World Bowls.

Under Neil’s leadership, BA has expertly managed the continued improvement of Australia’s elite bowler squads, culminating in Australia’s Jackeroos’ most successful performances to date at the World Bowls Championships in 2016 and at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Neil has previously held roles with NT Cricket (CEO) and Softball Australia (CEO), as well as two separate periods working for Cricket Australia.

Simon Matthews

Chief Marketing Officer - Richmond Football Club

Simon is Chief Marketing Officer of the Richmond Football Club where he has worked for the past 10 years. Prior to that he spent 11 years as a member of senior management at the Essendon Football Club. In both roles Simon developed industry-leading community and fan engagement strategies, driving revenue and brand outcomes.

Warwick Waters

National Relationships Manager - Australian Olympic Committee

Warwick is a professional sports administrator with over 30 years of experience gained across all levels of sports from grassroots and club level to the elite. He has a strong belief that sport at any level can provide positive impacts on the health and social wellbeing of participants as well as providing strong connections to community.

Warwick acknowledges that he has benefited from many opportunities that have arisen during his career which has allowed him to expand his skill set within both the sports and commercial environments. These opportunities have seen him rise from his initial role as a Development Officer to positions of Chief Executive Officer at State level, culminating in the National position he now holds with the Australian Olympic Committee.

His experience has been gained in various portfolios including Fundraising, Government and Stakeholder Relations, Business Systems and Sustainability. This experience, coupled with an ability to work with diverse teams on a range of projects, has helped Warwick develop key skills in identifying project or stakeholder needs and maximising the potential within business and personal relationships to ensure mutually shared successes.

Caroline Carlin

Operations and Sustainability Manager, Southampton Football Club

Caroline joined Southampton Football Club in 2018 and in her role as Operations and Sustainability Manager has been instrumental in the development and launch of the club’s sustainability strategy ‘The Halo Effect’, making company-wide improvements across four key pillars - Environmental Responsibility, Corporate Responsibility, Fan Responsibility and Social Responsibility – with the club being recognised for its progress in becoming more environmentally sustainable by rising to 6th place in the 2020 Premier League Sustainability table. Through developing The Halo Effect, Caroline has become an active member in sports sustainability networks in the UK and was recently appointed to the Management Board at The British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS).

Mark Bowater

Head of Parks Services, Auckland Council

Mark oversees the provision of parks services across Auckland Council’s network of 4,000 parks. He leads a unit of over 200 park professionals covering regional parks, community and sports parks, cemeteries, botanic gardens, urban forest and visitor services. Mark is also a non-executive Board Director for Recreation Aotearoa, is an Accredited Recreation Professional (ARPro), a Certified Parks Professional - International, and is a member of several World Urban Parks Committees. Mark is passionate about sustainable parks and the key role they play in liveable cities.

Dr Rebecca Huntley

Independent Consultant and Author of ‘How to talk about climate change in a way that makes a difference’

Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia's foremost researchers on social trends.  She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies.  She has led research at Essential Media and Vox Populi and was a director at Ipsos Australia. She now heads her own research and consultancy firm working closely with climate and environment NGOs, government and business on climate change strategy and communication. She is the author of numerous books including ‘How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference’ (Murdoch Books, 2020).

Rebecca was a broadcaster with the ABC’s RN and presented The History Listen and Drive on a Friday. She is on the board of The Bell Shakespeare Company and on the Executive Board of the NSW branch of the ALP. She is the Chair of the Advisory Board of Australian Parents for Climate Action. She has held board positions on The Whitlam Institute and The Dusseldorp Forum. She was an adjunct senior lecturer at the School of Social Sciences at The University of New South Wales. She is a registered Commonwealth marriage celebrant. She is the mother of three girls and lives in Sydney.

Lee Spivak

Managing Principal, WM Sustainability Services

Lee is a Managing Principal with WM Sustainability Services. He oversees the Sports and Entertainment Division that implements a diverse portfolio of sustainability programs at leagues, stadiums, and events across the country. With over a decade of experience in sustainable business management solutions, Lee helps major sports organisations and Fortune 500 companies develop comprehensive environmental programs and sustainable supply chains.

His recent work experience includes material minimisation and diversion efficiency initiatives, procurement analyses, greenhouse gas inventory management, impact benchmarking, zero waste validations, sustainability certifications, video production, CDP and DJSI reporting, stakeholder engagement campaigns, product recyclability design, sustainable sponsorships, environmental marketing, and corporate reporting.

Prior to working for Waste Management, Lee received an MA in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies with a focus on energy and climate change. Hailing from Boston, he holds a BA in Psychology and Chinese from Bates College. Lee is also a WELL AP, LEED AP, and TRUE Advisor.