Board
The South West Academy of Sport is an incorporated body with an independent board of management.The board is made up of a team of outstanding regional leaders committed to providing the best training and opportunities for our athletes.
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L-R: Rolf Stene, Phillip Di Candilo, Jennifer Coote, Dawn Testrow, Troy Jones, Megan Pollard, Rodney Jones, Bernice Butlion, Wayne Vitali and Don Punch. Absent: Steve Lawrence, Toni Moore.
Don Punch
ChairmanDon is the Chief Executive of the South West Development Commission and has been a career public servant in Western Australia for 25 years. He has worked throughout regional Western Australia on many infrastructure projects and has special expertise in both community and economic planning. Don facilitates the planning and coordination of Government services and funded infrastructure throughout the South West. He regularly briefs Commonwealth and State Ministers as well as investors, trade delegations and representatives of overseas governments. He holds a Masters of Business and primary qualifications in Psychology and Community Planning.
Rolf Stene AM
Deputy ChairmanRolf has been extensively involved in the development and enhancement of business, employment, community and sport in the South West for the past 30 years. As initiator and past president of the South West Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Rolf initiated the idea of creating the South West Academy of Sport, working with the late Wally Foreman to conduct the first feasibility plan. Rolf’s strong connections with South West sport include the establishment of the West Coast Athletic League, support of the Australian Rowing Championships at Wellington Dam and leadership of the Bunbury Golden Classic Committee.
Troy Jones
Troy has a long and distinguished career in sport and recreation, having served as a recreation officer and subsequent manager in Port Hedland, then as inaugural recreation services manager in Katanning, overseeing construction of the town’s leisure centre. He has also worked as manager of leisure and community development for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. In 2004 he joined the Department of Sport and Recreation as regional manager for the South West, where he is still today, enjoying the challenges of servicing a region that has huge demands resulting from the population growth being experienced.
Wayne Vitali
Wayne has worked in South West newspapers for 20 years. As Group Editor of West Australian Newspapers’ South West Regional Newspaper Group, he has responsibility for newspapers in Bunbury, Manjimup, Harvey and Rockingham. Wayne has worked in Mandurah, Busselton and Manjimup, and is now based at the South Western Times in Bunbury.
Steve Lawrence
Steven Lawrence is the executive director of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) where he provides leadership and direction to over 50 full-time staff servicing in excess of 350 athletes across 29 sports. He has spent more than 25 years in a variety of roles within Australia’s elite sports system. His past duties include being a physiologist and trainer to the national men’s and women’s hockey teams between 1987 and 2000 and the Australian swimming team physiologist from 1988 to 1991. In 1992 he attended the Olympic Games as a team physiologist.
Toni Moore
Currently a community relations advisor at BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina, Toni has a proud history of involvement in elite-level swimming, earning an impressive 15 national swimming medals between 1992 and 2001. Her talent in the pool led to a swimming scholarship with Rice University in the United States of America where she graduated with a degree in Sport Management and Exercise Science in 2004. Toni was named Bunbury Junior Sports Star in 1992 and Bunbury Junior Citizen of the Year in 1995.
Jennifer Coote
In addition to being a partner in the family business that manages the Australind suburb of Treendale, Jennifer is actively involved in sport. She is a member of the Bunbury Rowing Club and recently participated in the Australian Masters Rowing Championships at Champion Lakes in Perth. Jennifer was involved in netball and basketball during the 1970s and 80s, playing in five premierships.
Phillip Di Candilo
Born in Corrigin to a farming family, Phillip later moved to Newdegate, attending Narrogin Senior High and later, Edith Cowan University. He worked in Bridgetown as a graduate accountant, before becoming a chartered accountant at RSM Bird Cameron in 1996. During him time with RSM Bird Cameron, he has worked in Bunbury, Merredin and Manjimup. Phillip is now principal of the firm and based in Bunbury. Phil loves regional Western Australia and is very aware of community needs and the resources required to bring up young families.
Rodney Jones
Rodney has been involved in sport through various roles in Western Australia. Over the years, he has filled the position of regional development officer with the Western Australian Football Development Trust, regional manager with the Department of Sport and Recreation, and manager of community services at the Shire of Roebourne. He is currently an environment and indigenous relations manager for a resource company. Rodney is an active member of the Dalyellup Cricket Club and the Dalyellup Beach Sport and Recreation Group.
Dawn Testrow
Dawn’s involvement with the South West Netball Region can be traced back to 1989 when the SouWest Jets first started. Over the years, she has held various positions such as SouWest Jets head coach, South West Netball Region development officer and South West Netball Region president. Her role as assistant coach of the Western Australian Open Netball Team saw the team win at the Australian National Titles in Melbourne in 2003. She also served on the board of WA Netball for 18 months. Her current role is as a board member and coordinator of the South West Netball League. She has been employed by Progress Physiotherapy Services in Bunbury since 1998 as the practice manager.
