Our Board

James is a sports professional that is passionate about growing sports participation and hopes to assist Softball in continuing to build a sustainable organisation that administers softball as a sport of choice for South Australians at both grassroots and elite levels. 

James describes himself as an enthusiastic, and passionate sports professional, driven by results and improvement and obsessed by pushing barriers and going beyond expectations. He chooses to work in the sports industry because he is passionate about increasing participation to provide opportunities for people to feel connected, empowered and remain healthy through sport. 

James completed tertiary education from two universities: 

• Torrens University Australia, Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Sports Management. 

• Swinburne University of Technology, Bachelor of Business in Sports Management 

James is currently working with the Mildura Rural City Council as the Sport & Recreation Gender Equity Officer in a role aimed at utilising the platform of sporting clubs to reduce instances of domestic violence in the region through building clubs based on inclusion, respect and safety. James is actively involved in clubs by supporting them to become more inclusive & welcoming of people from all backgrounds, as well as developing club processes and facilities to ensure more people are given the chance to participate in their chosen sport.

James’ most recent role was Participation and Programs Manager (SA) at Bowls Australia, from  2019-2022, assisting bowls clubs with participation programs, grants, business planning, strategic planning, policies, constitutions, member complaints and board compositions. He was also on national all abilities & competition development working parties with Bowls Australia, as well as overseeing the development of all abilities bowls programs in SA. 

James has been working and volunteering in sport since 2012. His other roles in sport have been quite diverse including: 

• BLK Sport; SA Account Manager 

• South Australian Cricket Association; In2Cricket Officer 

• Meadows Football Club; President 

• Honey Badger Cricket; Sales Manager/Director, 

• Bowls SA; Appointed Member - Coaching & Junior Development Committee, 

• Langhorne Creek Bowling Club; President, 

• Australian Football League (AFL); Multicultural Ambassador, 

• South Adelaide Football Club; Coach, Team Manager, Fan Engagement, 

• Stingrays Netball Club; Umpire Coordinator, Events Supports, General Committee Member, Social Support, and Overseeing formation of constitution and business registration 

• Swimming Australia; Event Operations 

• Woodville District Cricket Club; Committee Member 

• Southern District Cricket Club; Junior Cricket Committee Member & Junior Coach. 

Growing up in Broken Hill, Nicole was involved in softball for many years, and fondly remembers many trips to Adelaide to play in the SA country champs. Rekindling her love for, and involvement in the sport more than a decade ago when her daughter started playing, Nicole is especially keen to support the financial sustainability of softball in South Australia through sponsorship, and support in the brand growth and recognition, as a key driver for increased participation. 

Nicole has been involved as a volunteer at club and state level and has experienced the great satisfaction that comes from the friendships and networks naturally arising from involvement in the sport that we all love. 

As a senior executive with more than 25 years’ experience in marketing, public and corporate affairs, sponsorship and brand activation, Nicole is currently the Executive Manager Public and Corporate Affairs with Hostplus. Nicole has managed significant sponsorship portfolios, including a significant focus on women’s sports and is an experienced crisis communicator. 

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) a Graduate Diploma in Communications (PR) and a Master’s in Communications Management.  

Nicole is a Chartered Accountant and Partner at PKF Adelaide, with financial, regulatory and compliance experience. 

As a player herself and a mother and wife of players, she was encouraged to get involved in softball. She is very passionate about keeping girls in sport, including her two daughters who are heavily involved in softball. Nicole enjoys the opportunity to bring her valued skill set to contribute to the direction and leadership of Softball SA. 

Nicole is also the treasurer at her home association of the Hills Softball Association.  Softball has become the family sport after her eldest child started Tball in the Hills.  Nicole and her family have been involved in playing and coaching state teams and the Hills, NAMSA and Adelaide Competition. 

Professionally outside of softball Nicole specialist areas are taxation, primary production and succession planning. As a member of the Executive Leadership Group of PKF Australian and PKF Adelaide, Nicole is responsible for setting the future direction of the firm and Network. 
 
Delivering taxation services and associated advice to add value and go beyond compliance is Nicole’s priority. She has developed a diverse technical expertise including income tax advice, financial reporting, Capital Gains Tax, business structuring, restructuring and succession planning.  Nicole also supports several not for profits and charities professionally and on a volunteer basis. Nicole also sits on the Tax Institute State Council, St Frances de Sales College finance committee and the PKF Adelaide Foundation Board. 

Nicole is a co-manager for the firm’s Protected Estate clients and is responsible for the financial compliance needs.   She began working for PKF Adelaide in 2000 as an undergraduate accountant and became a partner in 2010.  

Nicole’s interests outside of softball include jewelry making, spending time with family and walking the dogs. 

Having been involved in softball at many different levels over twenty-five plus years his softball background started as an A grade player men’s player, before transitioning into junior coaching which saw him eventually rise to the position of A Grade Women’s coach, starting at Walkerville, then back to West Torrens where he led the club to five premierships in a row before finishing his coaching career at Sturt. In his time, he also coached the SA State open men’s team and u19 teams, along with success coaching both men and women’s teams for Adelaide in the State Championships. 

Anthony’s background other than coaching is business analytics, technical support, customer service, staff trainer, and team management. Using this experience, he would hope to help continue to grow the participation and experience within our sport for the state and assist in its future endeavours. 

Anthony has served as the Chairperson for a major volunteer program over four years, which raised funds and awareness for various charities like Foodbank, RSPCA, Conservation Volunteers, Women & Children’s Hospital, Australian Red Cross, Make-a-Wish and others. Anthony served as Men’s president for Softball in SA in the late 90’s and was a volunteer for Westpac at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney working primarily in Athletics. 

He is married to a previous state pitcher Kylie Weatherstone and has two children Ryan and Lucy. 

Pete has been in and around softball in South Australia since he was a little kid. He played as a junior at State Championships, before turning to other sports like cricket and football. 

His mother is a life member in South Australia and has been a player, coach, scorer, umpire and board member, keeping her in and around the sport for around 60 years plus. Both sisters played through juniors to A grade in the Adelaide competition as well. 

Recently he has taken on the role of convenor at both men’s and women’s state championships and have also volunteered his time to help out as a scoreboard attendant, gate attendant and ground maintenance during National Championships. More recently you may have found him behind the bar, or you heard him on the commentary team of the best coverage of Softball in Australia. 

Away from softball, he has worked for 18 years in the South Australian Police. He travelled country regions for 8 years, learning the importance of community sports and also the importance of community participation in sports to keep towns alive. 

He returned to the Adelaide Metropolitan area and a couple of years ago was promoted to Sergeant in the Media Unit. His role includes providing a strong communication line to our staff and the public, building internal and external stakeholder networks, planning and producing media content, and producing media releases and responses to journalists. He is also responsible for ensuring communication plans and strategies are created and implemented on all issues that may affect SA Police. His area also works closely with the marketing and campaigns areas of SA Police. 

Pete’s aim on the SA Softball board is to see an increase in participation and ensure that our members have the best development opportunities, so we can continue to see our players performing overseas and in international teams. 

He also wants to make sure we have the best pathways available for people to develop umpiring and scoring skills to see them also have the opportunity to be a part of an international team. 

Pete wants to work closely with the members and have an open line of communication with our members on decisions the board makes. He aims to help in developing strategies and policies, to ensure we are inclusive of all people wanting to be involved in this great sport. He also wants to make sure that the staff in the Softball SA office have our full support, so that things that matter the most to our members can be handled efficiently and to the benefit of this great sport.