Board Members

Netball Queensland Board 

Appointed Director February 2023

Leanne is an accomplished and well-respected chief executive and non-executive director, strategist and communicator held in high esteem by government and industry. She is acknowledged for deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, and delivering long-term partnerships aligned to commercial outcomes.

A former senior executive at Tourism and Events Queensland for the past 26 years, including being CEO from 2013-2022, Coddington brings enormous experience and capability to the board. As well as her experience with TEQ, Leanne is a non-executive director of the Museum of Brisbane and Helloworld, an adjunct professor of the UQ Business School and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.


BBus Comms, Sport Governance Q-Sport;  
Elected Director: March 2020 
Appointed Casual Vacancy Director: July 2019  
Board Sub-Committees: (Chair) Technology and Digital Leadership Committee  

Simone has over 20 years’ experience as a strategist creating strong brands from the inside out and is the Managing Director of Publicis Worldwide in Australia. A strong believer in uncovering brand purpose and then leading teams to create experiences spanning across digital, activations, PR, advertising and internal channels. Simone’s leadership has shaped many of Australia’s iconic brands in tourism, health, sport, finance, education with recent specialist behaviour change projects with youth. Simone has strategically led programs to build confidence in girls and young women, believing sport has a strong role to play in building better lives and communities. She has a true love of sport with it being integral in her life from childhood, and now has three children who have participated at various levels in a multitude of sports including netball, hockey, tennis, touch football, rugby union, AFL, soccer, and athletics. She brings on the ground, in community experience through to elite pathway insight right through to leadership of how to engage more people in a sport. 

B. Arts and B. Planning. 

Appointed Director: February 2026

Mr Damien Walker was appointed the Director-General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in late 2024.

Most recently Damien was the former Chief Executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in South Australia, a role held since early 2022.

His distinguished public sector career spans more than two decades of senior leadership roles across multiple jurisdictions with a focus on strategy, industry and public policy.

He was formerly Director-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, in the Queensland Government. In his various Director-General roles, he drove economic growth and job creation and successfully led Queensland's delivery of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

His background also includes senior executive roles in the South Australian Government in infrastructure planning and delivery, investment facilitation, contract management and reform implementation.

Damien has also served on a number of boards in the areas of economic development, trade and investment. Above all, Damien is passionate about gender equity in the workplace and the prevention of domestic and family violence. He is also driven to deliver initiatives to create opportunities for First Nations people.

Elected Director: April 2022 
Board Sub-Committees: Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, Nominations Committee. 

Cara has a wealth of Netball knowledge as a player, parent and A-Badge Umpire, having been involved in Commonwealth Games training matches, Australian Institute of Sport Development Camp and pre-season Suncorp Super Netball matches. Cara also brings an impressive professional resume from a successful career as a chartered accountant and Chief Financial Officer. Cara’s long involvement in netball from grass roots level through to Netball Queensland has provided her with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities for umpires, coaches and players. Cara’s focuses are around strategic direction and longevity of the sport for generations. 

Elected Director: April 2024

Clare Ferguson (nee McMeniman) was a part of the three Queensland Firebirds' premierships during her illustrious playing career, claiming titles in 2011, 2015 and 2016 as the club's vice-captain and playing for the club from 2007 to her retirement in 2016. She also made 15 appearances for Australia, captaining the Diamonds to gold in the 2016 Quad Series and Constellation Cup.

Since retiring Clare has worked in coaching roles with the Firebirds and Diamonds, established the Fuel2Fly program with former teammates Laura Geitz and has practiced as a speech pathologist.

Appointed Director: June 2024

After more than 30 years working in the television and radio industry, Kylie Blucher has gained extensive knowledge of the Australian media landscape.

Working with both Southern Cross Austereo Radio Network and the Nine Entertainment Company, Kylie has held various sales, marketing, promotions and publicly positions to become a knowledgeable, highly respected and sought-after authority within the media industry. She currently holds the position of Managing Director with nine Queensland and Nine Northern NSW.

Kylie has held several board positions over the past 10 years, including Major Brisbane Festival (Deputy Chair), Surf Lifesaving Queensland Foundation, the Queensland Eye Institute Foundation, Youngcare, the Queensland Performing Arts Trust, President Committee For Brisbane

Kylie currently sits on Tourism & Events Queensland Board, is an Advisory Council member for the Committee For Brisbane and is a board member for Future Women.

B. Engineering (Civil), B. Laws, G.Dip Practical Legal Training

Elected Director: April 2025

Board Sub-Committees – TBC


Jane is a barrister with a civil and commercial practice and has a technical background as a civil engineer.  Jane has been a lifelong netball participant and played in Australia’s National Netball League for five seasons with the Queensland Firebirds and the Hunter Jaegers from 2000 to 2004.  Jane has sat as a member of the NQ Conduct and Integrity Tribunal Panel since 2023 and recently contributed to the review of NQ’s Constitution. 


Aside from representative level involvement, netball has been a constant in Jane’s life since childhood. Jane continues to play the sport at a social level (recently competing for the Firebirds Masters) and is now further enriched by participating in netball as a proud mother and coach of an eager young netball at Western Districts NA.

SUBCOMMITTEES 

Finance, Audit & Risk Management Sub-Committee

The Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee is a sub-committee of the NQ Board that supports the Board by providing oversight and advice regarding Netball Queensland’s financial reporting and controls, financial strategy, external audit arrangements, compliance and risk management.  

 

Technology & Digital Sub-Committee

The Technology & Digital Board Sub-Committee (TDBSC) provides advice and support to NQ as it implements a system wide digital strategy which supports our organisational requirements presently, and for the future. TDBSC aims to encourage a greater capability to adopt emerging technology; assist NQ to understand it’s current cyber risks and advise specifically on operational and strategic priorities in an ever-changing landscape.  

 

Diversity & Inclusion Board Sub-Committee 

The Diversity & Inclusion Board Sub-committee supports NQ to meet its strategic diversity and inclusion goals by providing feedback and recommendations on policy development and program delivery. The Sub-Committee comprises community advocates dedicated to removing barriers to participation and ensuring netball is the most played and supported sport in Queensland.   

 

Queensland State Netball Centre Board Sub-Committee  

Chaired by the NQ Company Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, the Queensland State Netball Centre Board Sub-Committee has been established to ensure the objectives and operation of the centre are in alignment with NQ’s objectives. The Sub-Committee oversees, manages, and makes recommendations which aim to promote and maximise netball and non-netball usage of the venue, and broader precinct in which it is situated, deemed to be in the best interests of NQ. 

 

Nominations & People Committee  

The role of the Nominations & People Committee is to advise and assist the NQ Board on matters relating to board recruitment, retention and performance and examines the skills and characteristics required of board candidates through the application of a skills matrix including advising on competency gaps and reviewing Board composition in relation to strategic direction. 

 

First Nations Board Sub-Committee.

The First Nations Board Sub-Committee (FNBSC) has been established to guide and support NQ’s strategic priorities as they relate to participation pathways for First Nations players, coaches and umpires and diversity and inclusion initiatives such as our Reconciliation Action Plan.  The aim of the FNBSC is to improve the cultural capabilities across netball and improve equity across all levels of our game.

 

ADVISORY GROUPS 

Boys & Mens Advisory Group 

The Boys & Mens Advisory Group supports NQ in the growth of netball participation for boys and men, including recruitment of new players, management of boys in existing competitions and the male participation pathway. 

 

Competitions Advisory Group 

The Competitions Advisory Group supports NQ in ensuring netball competitions throughout the state are contemporary, fit for purpose, inclusive and rewarding.  

 

History & Traditions Advisory Group 

The History & Traditions Advisory Group advises NQ Board and management on matters of cultural heritage and supports the strategic objectives of NQ providing advice on preserving information and record keeping mechanisms, and guidance on NQ history and tradition policies, initiatives and programs. 

 

Youth Advisory Group

The Youth Advisory Group has been established by the Netball Queensland Board to provide a forum for members to discuss views and ideas and provide feedback to Netball Queensland management on the youth sentiment and experience of participating in netball.

 

PANELS 

Umpire Advisory Panel 

The purpose of this panel is to provide advice to Netball Queensland personnel to bridge gaps in umpire and umpire coach development within Queensland.  The reformation of this panel comes after Netball Queensland Performance Umpires sought assistance from Netball Queensland to define the pathway for Queensland umpires to provide structured development opportunities cohesively both regionally and in metropolitan areas. The UAP will act as an advisory panel to Netball Queensland with respect to umpiring matters.  Without removing Netball Queensland’s responsibility for umpire development, the members of the UAP believe that the outreach, network and knowledge of its panel members will be an effective resource to assist Netball Queensland to target the needs of umpires and umpire coaches across Queensland.   

 

Conduct and Integrity Tribunal Panel 

In accordance with NQ’s Code of Conduct and Integrity Policy and the Disciplinary Procedures Regulations, this Tribunal Panel is established as the independent body which NQ’s conduct and integrity matters are referred to for determination or appeal. The members of the Conduct and Integrity Tribunal Panel bring with them a range of experiences and skills suitable to the function of an integrity body, including legal careers (barristers or solicitors), investigations manager, sports administrator, integrity expertise and a thorough knowledge of netball as well as other sports. 

 

For more information on our Boards, Subcommittees or Advisory Panels please contact us at ceo@netballq.org.au