Third Annual harvard alumni Sports Lecture
HCV members and guests are warmly invited to attend a very special event: The Third Annual Harvard Alumni Sports Lecture, which is generously being hosted once again by Hall & Wilcox and all proceeds will support the HCV Non-Profit Fellowship. The event will be held on Monday the 24th of October at 11.30am.
The Harvard Club of Victoria and Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Australia are offering a truly unique opportunity: the chance to hear from a panel of leading sports administrators who have agreed, under Chatham House Rules, to speak about issues affecting the direction and public face of sport in Australia.
This year, we are exploring the topics of innovation and entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship in 2022 along with managing damage control, tough pivots, and overcoming hurdles. Exploring the dynamic landscape of domestic and international sport, and sharing their insights into areas of controversy, are representatives
are representatives of Australia’s major sports:
Matti Clements
Matti is the Acting Director of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Matti joined the AIS in 2018 as Director of People Development and Wellbeing, a department that supports Australia’s high performance sporting industry. Prior to the AIS, Matti was Director of Mental Edge Consulting, specialising in team and organisational culture, wellbeing, performance enhancement, professional development services and support systems for high performance sporting organisations. A qualified psychologist, Matti has over 15 years’ experience working with Australia’s top elite and professional sports at both a strategic and operational level for organisations including several AFL Clubs, Cricket Australia, Golf Australia, Netball Australia, Tennis Australia, AFL and the Australian Cricketers Association.
Nicole Livingstone OAM
Nicole Livingstone is one of Australia's greatest ever backstrokers. She was a member of the Australian swimming team for twelve consecutive years winning several Olympic, Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific championship medals. Since retiring from swimming, Nicole has had careers as a television sports commentator and media presenter for a variety of programs and broadcasts. Nicole has also made her mark in the business of sport. Since 2017, Nicole has been at the helm of Women's Football for the AFL as the General Manager of Women's Football. She has also held board positions including Ovarian Cancer Australia, ASADA, the Victorian Institute of Sport, VicHealth, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the Australian Olympic Committee and Swimming Australia.
Roy Masters AM
Roy Masters AM coached first grade rugby league for ten years in the Australian elite competition, being voted Western Suburbs Coach of the Century and was St George’s longest serving coach. He was also the longest serving board member of the Australian Sports Commission, being a director for 23 years. He initiated many projects, such as Aussie Sports, a system of modified rules for schoolchildren. Roy has written for the Sydney Morning Herald since 1988 and continues to produce a regular column. He also appears on ABC’s Offsiders.
Frank Ponissi
Frank Ponissi is the General Manager of Football at Melbourne Storm Rugby League club, and one of Australia’s most renowned sporting administrators. Frank started at the NSWRL Coaching and Development Academy in 1990 which included 2 tours of South Africa working in the townships as part of the Aussie Sports Program in SA before then spending 9 seasons at the Manly Sea Eagles on their Coaching staff. He was also on the Australian Kangaroos Coaching Staff for the 1994 Kangaroo Tour and 1995 World Cup Tour both to the UK. Frank then had 5 years overseas coaching Rugby Union at clubs in France and England and the Springboks national team. In November 2007, Frank returned to Australia to become the Melbourne Storm’s General Manager of Football, a position he still currently holds to this day.
Spencer Kassimir (OPM 48 and co-founder of HAE Australia) will be returning to moderate this year’s discussion. Spencer currently heads up the sports lighting company SportsBeams Lighting Inc. in Australasia, which most recently were featured in the Super Bowl along with Formula 1 Shanghai and Major League Soccer. Spencer was Rugby League’s Tom Brock Scholar for 2017–18, is currently completing his PhD in sport from the Institute of Health and Sport at Victoria University and has been a featured sports expert/analyst and repeating guest on Australia’s ABC Grandstand, ESPN Los Angeles and the UK's Rugby Reloaded podcast series. Spencer is also the founder and host of 'ChatandBusiness', a podcast about the sports business featuring interviews with c-suite executives, athletes and industry leaders talking all things innovation, leadership, and overcoming hurdles through the lens of the sports industry. You can check-out the ChatandBusiness series by clicking here.
Join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking exchange of views, as some of our most influential sports administrators lead us through some very topical territory!
Tickets are limited, so book early to avoid missing out!
Please note: Attendees must maintain strict confidentiality with regard to the views expressed by the panel members in the course of this event. Accordingly, any and all audio or video recording is strictly prohibited.
Date: Monday 24th October 2022
Time: 11.30 am (for 12 noon) – 2.00 pm. A light lunch will be served.
Venue: Hall & Wilcox, Level 11, Rialto South Tower, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne
Cost: $50 for HCV and HAE Members and their guests; $70 for Non-Members. Please click here to book (HCV members pls login first)
RSVP date: Monday 10th October 2022. Please book early, as numbers are limited.
For further information: Please contact mandy@harvardclubofvictoria.org.au
Funds raised at this event will support the HCV Non-Profit Fellowship Program and associated initiatives.
The Harvard Club of Victoria is very grateful to Hall & Wilcox for its generosity in hosting this event.