The following providers offer a range of dispute resolution services to support the WA sporting sector in managing complaints, conflicts and other matters that may arise.
Each provider has undergone a vetting process involving SportWest, CITS, a State Sporting Association (SSA) representative and a legal representative.
While providers have been endorsed for inclusion on the Preferred Provider List, SportWest does not have any involvement in the services they provide, the manner in which they conduct their work or the outcomes of individual matters.
Sporting organisations wishing to engage a provider should contact them directly to discuss their specific needs, the scope of services available and any associated costs.
Brendan Kays
Brendan Kays has over 30 years’ experience across policing, investigations, sporting governance and integrity. He provides independent investigations, mediation and dispute resolution services to sporting organisations. As National Integrity Manager for Ice Skating Australia and Boxing Australia, and Managing Director of CCS Investigations, Brendan specialises in National Integrity Framework matters, safeguarding, misconduct, disciplinary disputes and governance. He is a licensed WA investigator and has represented sports before tribunals and courts.
Contact:
brendankays@outlook.com
0401 466 830
Keith Wood
Keith Wood is an experienced governance and disciplinary specialist with over 10 years’ senior leadership experience in sport administration and independent tribunal work. He has served on the Football West Disciplinary and Grievance Tribunal since 2021 and has extensive experience in disciplinary matters, grievance resolution, governance, regulations and process improvement. Keith holds degrees in Law and Science and a Certificate of Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia.
Contact:
keith.jc.wood@outlook.com
0400 717 110
Kelly Loakes
Kelly is an experienced investigator specialising in workplace and sporting integrity matters, with extensive experience across the Australian sporting sector. She has worked with state and national sporting organisations, investigating complex integrity matters including policy, safeguarding, National Integrity Framework and Code of Conduct breaches. Kelly takes an independent, impartial and trauma-informed approach, with expertise in evidence gathering, interviews, procedural fairness and clear, defensible reporting.
Contact:
Kelly.Loakes@Worksport.com.au
0412 254 488
Laura Johnston
Laura is a lawyer by training who transitioned to people & culture, facilitation and sport integrity roles, before starting her own consulting business. With 12 years’ experience in child safeguarding and misconduct in sport, Laura is a trusted complaint handler, investigator of sensitive issues, review lead for cultural concerns, policy expert, as well as a facilitator of integrity workshops (child safe, MPP & complaint handling) and strategy and team workshops for sporting clients.
Contact:
laura@laurajohnston.net.au
Neha Dubey
Neha is a barrister with a broad range of experience in acting for both athletes and sporting organisations, particularly in relation to selection, safeguarding and commercial or governance disputes. She has appeared in the National Sports Tribunal and Sports Resolution (UK) Tribunal, has drafted integrity codes to align with national standards and sits as a tribunal member for various sporting bodies. She also conducts fact-finding investigations for disciplinary proceedings.
Contact:
ndubey@francisburt.com.au
0427 029 202
Peter Mathie
Peter Mathie has a long history of involvement with the not-for-profit and human service sectors. This has involved him working in leadership roles within services, representing government funding agencies, as a management consultant and mediator. He has served in the role of mediator with sporting, arts, housing and community service organisations. In 2025 Peter was granted Leading Mediator Accreditation under the AMDRAS, he is a Resolution Institute Fellow and holds tertiary qualifications in business and dispute resolution.
Contact:
info@perthmediation.com.au
08 9227 8511
Rachel Burrows
Rachel Burrows is an experienced governance, integrity and risk professional with extensive experience in the sporting sector. She specialises in complaints management, investigations, dispute resolution, procedural fairness and governance matters. Rachel brings an independent, practical and balanced approach to resolving complex and sensitive issues, with a strong understanding of the challenges and operating environment of community and high-performance sport.
Contact:
R.A.Burrows01@gmail.com
Venetia Bennett
Venetia Bennett is a commercial barrister, and is recognised as a leading legal practitioner in sports integrity, governance and disputes. She acts as counsel, investigator, mediator or arbitrator, has chaired disciplinary, grievance and appeals tribunals for state, national and international sports bodies, and is a Member of the National Sports Tribunal.
Venetia is an independent member of the WADA Executive Committee and is on the WA Advisory Board for Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Contact:
vbennett@francisburt.com.au
08 9220 0345
Yvette Strawbridge
Yvette is an experienced mediator with 18 years’ experience in family and workplace mediation, alongside 34 years as a psychotherapist and extensive workplace experience, including management roles. She supports organisations with complaints and conflict resolution, using a transformative mediation approach focused on confidentiality, fairness and constructive outcomes. Yvette can also provide gender-balanced mediation with a male colleague where appropriate and agreed by all parties.
Contact:
info@perthmediationandcounsellingservices.com