John Cowling Director

John has over 30 years senior executive experience across a range of industries in both CFO, CEO roles and board positions for a variety of companies, including ASX listed companies, public organisations, large private companies, community associations and sporting organisations.

John is a Fellow of a number of institutions including Company Directors (FAICD), Chartered Accountants (FCA) and Financial Services (FFIN). Experience specifically relevant to Sport and Squash administration and governance includes being a former director of Colchester United FC (currently in Division 2 of the English Football Association), a long term member of the governing committee of Sydney University Squash Club (recently elected President), and former Director and President of Bondi Waverley Squash Club.

Still playing competitive squash in Sydney’s Eastern Division, John is passionate about increasing the participation of university students in the sport and encouraging casual squash players to join the various competitions on offer.

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Simon Weatherill Director

Simon is a highly accomplished leader, world-renowned for his depth of experience in sports administration, sports sponsorship and event management. Versatile and enthusiastic, Simon likes to create an organizational culture which is underpinned by able leadership driving a team orientated environment which produces outstanding strategic outcomes.

Simon is currently Managing Director of Worldwide Sports Management, which predominantly consults in Australia, New Zealand and Europe on commercial management of major sporting facilities, utilising technology and a digital strategy to drive businesses in the 21st century, leadership development and cultural management.

Prior to this, he held the high-profile role as Chief Executive of the State Sport Centres Trust comprising the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, the State Netball and Hockey Centre, Lakeside Stadium and the Melbourne School of Sport and Recreation Management.

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Greg Blycha Director

Greg Blycha is a former Military Officer in the full-time Army holding a range of command and staff appointments.

Greg deployed to the Middle East in 2002.  After leaving the military, Greg moved into a Head of Programs role as a Director within the WA State Government.

From there, Greg worked in sport as the Chief Operating Officer at Football West before moving into the position of Chief Executive Officer in the WA local Government.  Greg currently works as a Business Advisor to the Defence Industry.  He also sits on the Nominations and Governance Committee for Gymnastics WA.

Greg is a Fellow with the Australian Institute of Management WA and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  He holds a Masters of Business from the University of NSW and is a Chief of the Defence Force Gold Commendation recipient.

Greg brings experience in strategic planning, sports administration and collaboration, and has been an active pennants player since 1990.

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Cindy Flower Director

Governance | Gender Diversity | Organisational Change | Workplace Culture | MBA

2019 Finalist in the Australian Human Resources Institute, Organisational Development Awards

Cindy has over 20 years’ expertise in organisational reform and development to optimise performance improvement, supporting leaders to identify, develop and implement innovative solutions to complex cultural challenges. Highly experienced in gender diversity, governance and workplace culture; she works with corporate organisations and boards encompassing government, state sports bodies, national charitable organisations and peak industry associations.

An engaging public speaker, she enjoys delivering keynotes on gender equity, authentic leadership and cultural change.

Cindy worked for the State Government of South Australia from 1998 to 2019 leading organisational change projects and providing specialist Human Resources consultancy and strategic planning for the Department of Education and Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources amongst other government agencies.

Now a self-employed Organisational Change Consultant, she works with businesses, not-for-profits and government on organisational change and development, implementing creative approaches to change and the deployment of resources to achieve this. She is passionate about shaping an engaged high-performing culture and thrives on building and leveraging an extensive network, facilitating those ‘hard to have’ conversations.

Cindy enjoys giving back to the community and is currently Chair of Diving SA, Director of Squash SA and the Events Director for Women in Innovation. She has previously served on the Make-A-Wish Foundation as the National Director/Deputy Chair and was a founding Member of the Women in Leadership Executive Sub Committee, Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Qualifications include the Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Human Resource Management through the University of South Australia. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

She excels in the following Gallup strengths areas:

  • Communication – finds it easy to put thoughts into words, good conversationalist and presenter
  • Strategic – creates alternative ways to proceed, can quickly spot relevant patterns and issues
  • Individualisation – intrigued with each person’s unique qualities and can figure out how different people can work together productively
  • Woo – loves the challenge of meeting new people, making new connections and winning others over

Activator – make things happen by turning thoughts into action.

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Alex Dore Director

Alex Dore is a Senior Manager in the management consulting team of PwC Australia with functional experience in strategy, process improvement, and project management. Before PwC, he worked as a Policy Advisor to a NSW Government Minister. 

Alex has over a decade of successful governance experience in membership-based, not-for-profit organisations, and has led membership reviews to enhance membership experience and increase retention. He holds a postgraduate law degree and a bachelor qualification in economic theory and public policy from the University of Sydney.

He is passionate about squash, and helping to grow it to be a thriving participant sport in Australia. Last year he played over 90 games, and mostly frequents Warringah Recreation Centre, Bondi Squash Club, and the Castlereagh Fitness Centre. 

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Matt Schmidt President
Matt Schmidt is a successful results-oriented leader with extensive experience in education, event delivery, sports management, business development, marketing and sponsorship. Matt has over 20 years experience with strategic planning and in delivering effective governance leadership. Currently Executive Director of ACHPER SA-(The Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation), Matt is passionate about raising the profile of Squash in Schools and Community settings.  
 
Matt has strengths in Governance, stakeholder management, marketing, project management, and over 10 years of Directorships of various public, private and not-for profit organisations including Squash South Australia, South Australian Cricket Association-Game Development, Uni SA Sport- Chair, Sport SA Awards Committee Chair, Good Shepherd Lutheran School -Chair, Past President Concordia Old Collegians Cricket Club, and recently the Squash Australia Profile Working Team Chair.
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View past Squash Australia Office Holders


Audit, Finance and Risk Committee

Alex Dore Director

Alex Dore is a Senior Manager in the management consulting team of PwC Australia with functional experience in strategy, process improvement, and project management. Before PwC, he worked as a Policy Advisor to a NSW Government Minister. 

Alex has over a decade of successful governance experience in membership-based, not-for-profit organisations, and has led membership reviews to enhance membership experience and increase retention. He holds a postgraduate law degree and a bachelor qualification in economic theory and public policy from the University of Sydney.

He is passionate about squash, and helping to grow it to be a thriving participant sport in Australia. Last year he played over 90 games, and mostly frequents Warringah Recreation Centre, Bondi Squash Club, and the Castlereagh Fitness Centre. 

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John Stevenson Director

John is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in Senior Finance, Corporate Services and leadership roles with a successful track record as a respected CFO and Director in Australia and Asia. John has extensive experience in strategy development, corporate governance and financial management. John was a keen junior squash player and is interested in reconnecting with the sport whilst helping it deliver best practice governance and reporting structures.

John Stevenson (FCA, GAICD, FGIA, BBus.)

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Richard Watson Chairperson

Richard has over 30 years of experience in regulatory and public policy formation, and asset management for institutional and individual investors in Canada and the United States.  He has also provided corporate strategy advisory services to emerging Canadian technology companies.  Richard began playing squash in Canada in his early twenties and continued playing competitively after he arrived in Australia seven years ago.  Richard is a firm believer in strong governance systems in organisations and is proud to contribute to the AFR Committee of Squash Australia.

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Nominations Committee

Cindy Flower Board Representative

Governance | Gender Diversity | Organisational Change | Workplace Culture | MBA

2019 Finalist in the Australian Human Resources Institute, Organisational Development Awards

Cindy has over 20 years’ expertise in organisational reform and development to optimise performance improvement, supporting leaders to identify, develop and implement innovative solutions to complex cultural challenges. Highly experienced in gender diversity, governance and workplace culture; she works with corporate organisations and boards encompassing government, state sports bodies, national charitable organisations and peak industry associations.

An engaging public speaker, she enjoys delivering keynotes on gender equity, authentic leadership and cultural change.

Cindy worked for the State Government of South Australia from 1998 to 2019 leading organisational change projects and providing specialist Human Resources consultancy and strategic planning for the Department of Education and Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources amongst other government agencies.

Now a self-employed Organisational Change Consultant, she works with businesses, not-for-profits and government on organisational change and development, implementing creative approaches to change and the deployment of resources to achieve this. She is passionate about shaping an engaged high-performing culture and thrives on building and leveraging an extensive network, facilitating those ‘hard to have’ conversations.

Cindy enjoys giving back to the community and is currently Chair of Diving SA, Director of Squash SA and the Events Director for Women in Innovation. She has previously served on the Make-A-Wish Foundation as the National Director/Deputy Chair and was a founding Member of the Women in Leadership Executive Sub Committee, Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Qualifications include the Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Human Resource Management through the University of South Australia. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

She excels in the following Gallup strengths areas:

  • Communication – finds it easy to put thoughts into words, good conversationalist and presenter
  • Strategic – creates alternative ways to proceed, can quickly spot relevant patterns and issues
  • Individualisation – intrigued with each person’s unique qualities and can figure out how different people can work together productively
  • Woo – loves the challenge of meeting new people, making new connections and winning others over

Activator – make things happen by turning thoughts into action.

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Amy Challans Member Representative

Amy Challans is a Past President and former Director of Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) and a current Director of Squash SA. She is also a Director of the SANFL Football Club North Adelaide. Appointed to the role of AWL President in 2013, Amy was the first South Australian to hold this position. In 2015 Amy was named as one of Australia’s top 50 women by Australian Consolidated Press in its 10th anniversary edition of Who’s Who’s of Australian Women for her services and national contribution to women in the legal profession in addition to being awarded the inaugural Gender in Equity Law Award by the Law Society of South Australia. Amy is a judge of both the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards and Women in Law Awards, is a former member of both the Law Council of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Committee and the Law Society of South Australia Women Lawyers Committee and is a long-standing member of the Women Lawyers Association of SA. Amy has worked for a number of key Agencies in Australia and the United Kingdom and has a Bachelor Arts from The Flinders University of South Australia, a Bachelor Laws from the University of Adelaide and is admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia as a Barrister and solicitor.

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