BOARD
AMERICAN FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA BOARD
The Board of American Football Australia serves as the strategic backbone of American Football's governing body in Australia.
Comprising a diverse group of seasoned professionals, enthusiasts, and leaders with a shared passion for the sport, the Board plays a pivotal role in steering the direction and growth of American Football across the nation.
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Drawing upon their expertise from various domains, Board members collaboratively shape policies, establish key partnerships, and make informed decisions to ensure the continued development, sustainability, and success of American Football in Australia.
As custodians of the sport's values and aspirations, the Board of American Football Australia is dedicated to fostering an environment of excellence, inclusivity, and innovation that empowers athletes, fans, and stakeholders alike.
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The Board is currently made up of 7 members.
Chairman - Brad French
Brad was appointed to the board in June 2024.
Brad has an extensive background in insurance, specifically within the sports, leisure and entertainment industries, having owned and run the largest insurer for these sectors over a 25-year period. Brad has proven success in risk management and technology development for data collection and analysis of injury data within sport, specifically with Rugby League, Rugby Union, Motorsports, and amusement parks. Brad is currently an industry specialist for insurance brokers and IT engineering companies.
As a sport enthusiast Brad has an impressive playing history in Rugby Union in NSW and previously serving as a Player’s Representative on the Eastwood Districts RUFC board and as a Board committee member of the Carbine Club of NSW. An avid supporter of youth sports Brad has a history of sponsorship for both Rugby League and Netball.
Brad’s passion for sport extends to American Football as a current season ticket holder for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Deputy Chairperson - Pamela Tuft
Pamela was appointed to the board in 2022, before being elected in 2023 for a 3 year term.
Pamela is a current Official, first working on field in 2017. Pam has officiated at a state, national and international level. Representing IFAF as an Australian delegate at the 2022 Women’s Tackle World Cup and the 2024 Flag Football World Championships both held in Finland.
Pamela is a former director of the Australian Gridiron Officials Association. Having served from 2019 and appointed Chairperson in 2021, until she joined the AFA board.
Pamela has a background in accounts, marketing and project management.
Director - Cameron Baranski
Cameron was appointed to the board in 2022 and became an Elected Director at the 2024 AGM.
Cameron’s background has seen him work in senior roles for Adidas, Oakley and Redbull over a 20+ year career in all facets of Marketing.
More recently, Cameron was currently the CEO of sporting goods start-up Chargeball.
Cameron previously lived in the United States, in particular Texas where he had involvement and exposure to American and Flag Football.
Director - Paul Devlin
Paul was elected to the board in 2023.
Paul Devlin leads sport for AWS in Australia and has over 20 years of experience at almost every layer of the sports industry. Paul spent 10 years as a professional rugby player in Europe, then moved into high performance management with a specific focus around sports technology and data driven decision making. He has consulted to many sports’ technology companies across the last 10 years and also has extensive executive coaching experience.
Paul has BSc Business Information Systems, MSc Strength and Conditioning Science, M.B.A. from AGSM in Sydney, and is currently studying LLM International Sports Law in Practice.
Director - Matt Croasdaile
Matt was appointed to the board in March 2024.
Matt has an extensive executive history, holding senior roles at Macquarie, R.M. Williams and Aje and is currently a Partner at Longevity Partners; a boutique firm assisting companies in health, wellness, fitness, and sports deliver on strategic and operational initiatives.
As a player, Matt had a long and successful career as a running back for his home club the Sydney Uni Lions, before representing the NSW Wolfpack, and the Australian Outback Team during its tour of the UK in 2009 and at the 2011 World Cup in Austria.
With a deep-seated love of the game starting in the late 1990’s and a playing career extending back to the year 2000, Matt uses his complementary experience and passion for the sport to help drive the game forward.
Director - Renée Quirk
Renée was elected to the board in May 2024.
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Renée is a senior executive in the media industry and was formerly a corporate lawyer at one of Australia’s leading law firms. Renée has particular expertise in sports rights, having led sports acquisitions for the Seven Network and been part of multi-billion sports rights deals for over 20 years.
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Renée holds a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment, and is a Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors and admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW.
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In 2018 Renée had the honour of being nominated for the B&T Women in Media Awards in the leadership category, and in 2023 Renée was inducted into the prestigious Top 50 Women Gamechangers in TV, a global award, which champions leadership, disruption, vision and innovation.
Director - DR JOAN NORTON
Joan was appointed to the board in August 2024.
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Joan is a professional in the sports innovation sector, her career includes roles in sports technology, data analytics, and veterinary medicine. She previously held a key position at Cricket Australia, where she specialised in data analytics and media rights. Joan also led the HYPE Sportstech Accelerator, where she guided the development of cutting-edge sports technologies.
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Before transitioning into sports innovation, Joan worked as a veterinarian in the racing industry, gaining valuable insights into high-performance sports and athlete care. Joan holds a Bachelor of Biotechnology, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (VMD), and an MBA. She is currently the Head of Commercial Programs at the Swinburne Innovation Studio.
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In 2023, Joan was named to the ASTN's Power 100 List for Women in Sports Innovation.
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As an accomplished rugby player at the international level and a board member of Rugby Victoria, Joan’s deep passion for sports informs her approach to advancing the intersection of athletics and technology.
Should you want to get in contact with the board, you can do so by emailing board@americanfootball.org.au
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team."
— Phil Jackson