SportWest is pleased to announce the appointment of David Williams and Mariah Williams as the newest members of the Cultural Navigation Advisory Group, bringing with them extensive experience in high‑performance sport and community engagement.
David currently serves as Performance Development Lead at Football West, where he supports coaches and emerging athletes across the state. Prior to transitioning into this role, David enjoyed an accomplished professional football career, representing Australia with the Socceroos and playing in the Isuzu UTE A‑League across numerous clubs.
Over his playing career, David made 228 A‑League appearances, scoring 51 goals across stints with Perth Glory, Wellington Phoenix, Melbourne City (formerly Melbourne Heart), Brisbane Roar, and North Queensland Fury. He also contributed to a number of international and domestic competitions and built a reputation as a respected and community‑minded athlete on and off the field. David recently retired from professional football and now lends his experience to developing the next generation of players in Western Australia.
Three-time Olympian, current Hockeyroo, and proud Wiradjuri woman, Mariah Williams, has recently joined the team at WAIS as the Our Connection to Country Officer, with the role marking a significant step in WAIS's commitment to building an environment where First Nations culture is embedded meaningfully and respectfully.
Mariah received her first international cap with the Hockeyroos at the age of 17 during a Test series against Korea in Perth. Since her debut, Mariah has represented Australia with the Hockeyroos at the Rio, Tokyo, and Paris Olympic Games as well as earning other international caps at the Commonwealth Games, FIH Hockey Pro League, FIH Hockey World Cups and various Test series.
SportWest is delighted to welcome David and Mariah’s leadership and lived experience to the Cultural Navigation Advisory Group. Their deep understanding of the sporting landscape, strong relationships across their various sporting communities, and commitment to culturally respectful and inclusive practice will be invaluable as the group continues its work guiding SportWest’s Cultural Education initiatives.
Thank You Abid Imam
SportWest would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Abid Imam for his contributions as an outgoing member of the Cultural Navigation Advisory Group. Abid has been a thoughtful and engaged voice within the group, providing valuable insight, leadership, and support throughout the development of the Cultural Education Initiative.
We are grateful for Abid’s time, commitment, and expertise, and wish him all the best as he continues his important work within the community.
Looking Ahead
The Cultural Navigation Advisory Group plays a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening SportWest’s efforts to support culturally informed, respectful, and inclusive environments across all levels of sport in Western Australia. We look forward to the perspective and expertise David and Mariah will bring to the group as this work continues.
