Established in August 2023, the True Sport Advisory Group (TSAG) plays a pivotal role in shaping the ongoing development and evolution of the True Sport program. Its purpose is to ensure the provision of contemporary support and resources that meet the needs of the sector.
The group comprises individuals selected for their diverse expertise, experience, and insights, reflecting a broad cross-section of the industry. This approach ensures that the initiative is informed and driven by those within the sector, for the benefit of the sector. This is to ensure True Sport remains for the industry, by the industry.
Aalia Merchant
Aalia Merchant is the Team Leader - Sport and Recreation at the City of Joondalup. Aalia oversees management of the City’s sporting venues and provides club development support and programming for the 110 sporting clubs based within the City, that reflect the needs of the local community.
Brent Hedley
Brent Hedley is an accomplished sports administrator dedicated to leveraging football to strengthen and support communities across Western Australia. As the Executive Manager Country Football, Facilities & Affiliates at the West Australian Football Commission, Brent manages the development, administration, and strategic planning for community football and facilities throughout WA.
Brent holds expertise and postgraduate qualifications in program and service design, delivery, and evaluation, with a strong focus on education, health, and social impact. Prior to his current role, Brent served as the inaugural Executive Officer at the Football Futures Foundation and Head of Mental Health & Wellbeing at the AFL Players Association.
Conor Mahady
Conor has over 18 years of experience in the disabled sports and recreation sector and is the CEO of the WA Disabled Sports Association. Conor holds qualifications in education, science, and governance and is passionate about the positive outcomes sport and recreation can provide for all members of the community.
Jo Davies
Jo Davies has over 30 years experience working and volunteering in the sport and recreation industry at local, state, national and international levels in both Government and the not-for profit sector. Jo is currently General Manager, Community Cricket at the WA Cricket Association and in her voluntary capacity a Director at the East Perth Football Club and Perth Racing.
Jo Smith
Jo Smith is Netball WA’s Stakeholder and Operations Manager and has over 30 years of service to netball in WA both as a volunteer and employee. She has been involved in many areas of the sport, including administration, coaching and development.
In her 15 years as an administrator at Netball WA she has held various positions. As the Stakeholder & Operations Manager Jo also manages the community team governance and compliance area, sitting on various working groups including the Netball Australia Integrity Working Group.
Jo is passionate about the role sport plays in providing safe, inclusive and fair environments for all communities.
Rachel Burrows
Rachel is a highly accomplished senior executive with a proven track record in sporting sector leadership, governance, and strategic growth. With over 20 years’ experience in both high-performance (involved in x3 Olympic cycles with GBR) and participation sporting associations, Rachel utilises her passion for sport development, to ensure a positive, inclusive, and safe environment for all participants of sport. As the Football West Integrity & Governance Manager and a trusted advisor, Rachel is committed to safeguarding the values of sport.
Rob Kennedy
Rob has 20+ years of experience in the sporting industry across Tennis, Badminton, Cricket, and AFL. As Executive Officer at Badminton WA, he focuses on the strategic growth and development of the sport across Western Australia, working with key stakeholders to drive participation, engagement, child safety, and long-term financial sustainability for both clubs and the organisation. Committed to making badminton accessible to all, he champions inclusivity and ensures it remains a Sport for All.
Robyn Kuhl
Former CEO of Volleyball WA, Robyn has volunteered and professionally worked in the sporting industry since she was very young. Robyn believes Sport and Recreation are fundamental to our daily lives, providing safe environments to not only keep us physically healthy, but just as importantly supporting our wellbeing personally and collectively, socially, mentally and indeed spiritually too.
Shayley McGurk Davy
Shayley began her career in 2001 at the Australian Institute of Sport, Hockey Program, administering two high performance programs, and two successful Olympic cycles. After nine years of high-performance administration and athlete support, Shayley shifted her focus to community sport, and commenced her role at Hockey WA. Having learnt the rudiments of sports administration, she moved into leading the Game, Community Development, Pathways and Performance program for HWA. Shayley is passionate about balancing the exciting challenges and opportunities of sport participation and athlete development.