Our Team

  • Julie McNeil

    Chief Executive Officer

    Oversees business operations and financial management while working closely with Directors to ensure organisational goals are met. Manages staff, compliance, service agreements, and leads stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, fundraising, and promotional activities to support educational and training advancements.

  • Wes Ferns

    Coordinator and Mentor

    Leads the Aspire Deadly 5’s, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports programs across multiple regions, while managing student pathways and representative teams. Also closely engages and supports Oceania Hockey initiatives and plays a fundamental role in mentoring students and coordinating special projects.

  • Sawadu Tabuai

    Program Mentor and Support

    Supports and leads Aspire Mentoring and Community Hub Programs, aligning activities with cultural values. Additionally, handles data collection, reporting, and mentors within the Aspire Pathway Programs, contributing to podcasts, promotions, and special projects like the reconciliation round.

  • Steele Payne

    Cairns Region Project Officer and Mentor

    Coordinates Safer Streets, Hockey Fun Zone, and Hockey in the Park across the Cairns region, while leading the Aspire Schools and Empower Me/Leadership Program. Supports community hub activities, enables school-to-club transitions, and contributes to mentoring, workshops, holiday activities, and special projects like the Aspire Podcasts.

  • Jennifer Muirhead

    Administration Officer and Mentor

    Manages office reception duties and leads social media efforts, while supporting financial acquittals and various Aspire mentoring and community hub programs. Additionally, contributes to community participation initiatives and handles data collection, reporting, and administrative support for the program.

  • David McNeil

    Educator and Mentor

    Drives and delivers Education and Training Programs and provides mentor support to staff, including leading the Oceania Hookin4Health Hockey Leaders Training Program. Also supports team members with Representative and Pathway programs, and assists in delivering podcasts and special projects.

  • Jess Fatnowna

    Aspire Ambassador and Mentor

    Provides essential mentor support and program delivery, and general assistance cross a range of Aspire initiatives to ensure effective guidance and positive outcomes.

  • Lisa Fatnowna

    Aspire Ambassador and Mentor

    Provides essential mentor support and program delivery, and general assistance cross a range of Aspire initiatives to ensure effective guidance and positive outcomes.

  • Carleah Flinders

    Aspire Ambassador and Mentor

    Provides essential mentor support and program delivery, and provides assistance across a range of Aspire initiatives to ensure effective guidance and positive outcomes.

  • "I believe accessing mentoring opportunities is of paramount importance. Mentoring isn’t just about sharing knowledge and experiences, it’s about empowering relationships that nurture growth and learning - tools that enable us when challenged to make decisions that positively impact our future. This is what we aim to deliver through Aspire Community."

    — Julie McNeil

  • "Working with this program over the years has shown me the importance of our program and the role sport plays in providing pathways, opportunities and growth to help our participants to be successful on and off the hockey field and then continue their growth into the future by perusing a new pathway that they have found either in future studies or careers."

    — Wes Ferns

  • "I enjoy working at Aspire because the participation of the kids and engagement with one another is what makes the program good and safe for them to come along every week."

    — Sawadu Tabuai

  • "I appreciate working at Aspire because I enjoy being a part of our participant's success."

    — Jennifer Muirhead

Join our growing team!