2025 Lead Your Way participants at Marvel Stadium. Image: Luke Hemer
AFL Victoria is proud to announce the successful delivery of the 2025 Lead Your Way Development Conference, a key milestone in this year’s Lead Your Way program for women and gender-diverse community football club leaders.
Held at Marvel Stadium's Horizon Room on Sunday 1 June, the Development Conference marks the mid-way point of the 2025 Lead Your Way Program. The conference brought together 50 participants from across Victoria for a full day of education, connection, and leadership development.
This year’s cohort was selected from over 150 high-quality applications, with the 62 leaders so far having the opportunity to attend the launch event, three sessions of the 2025 Online Education Series, and this weekend’s jam-packed development day event.
All 10 metropolitan leagues, and 10 AFL Victoria country regions were represented this week amongst the 50 attendees, some travelling from as far as Swan Hill or Mildura to attend the event at Marvel Stadium.
The Lead Your Way program supports the growth and retention of women and gender-diverse individuals in community football leadership by helping current leaders build capability, confidence, and connection. The program also aims to equip participants with practical tools to positively impact their clubs and communities, delivering content specific to the groups identified challenges.
The Lead Your Way Development Conference is the key event of the Lead Your way Program annually. The day featured a mix of personal and professional development opportunities including:
- A behind-the-scenes tour of both AFL House and the ARC (AFL Review Centre), with former AFL field Umpire David Harris answering questions and providing insights into managing high-pressure environments
- A financial stability and sponsorship workshop, offering practical insights for managing club finances through modern approaches to partnerships.
- A wellbeing-focused session designed to help leaders manage stress, avoid burnout, and lead with resilience, delivered by Performance Psychologist Kelly Doherty
- A keynote from Debbie Lee, a pioneering figure in Australian football and the first women inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame, who shared her personal leadership journey and the powerful lessons she has learned along the way.
Attendees also had professional headshots taken, had the opportunity to be pictured with the AFL and AFLW Premiership Cups, and engages in structured networking and discussion-based activities, strengthening their connections across the football community.
Looking ahead, the Lead Your Way program continues with three more workshops in the Online Education Series, followed by a final celebration to mark the end of the 2025 program and celebrate each leader involved.
Congratulations again to all 50 participants on reaching this important milestone. The impact of your leadership is already being felt, and there is much more to come.
For more information, visit play.afl/victoria/community-programs/lead-your-way.
| First Name | Surname | Community Club | Role | League/Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Adrienne | Cochrane | Waverley Park Hawks Junior Football Club | Vice President | South Metro Junior Football League |
Aliesha | Fisher | Beaconsfield Junior Football Club | Committee member, Girls Football Manager | Eastern Football Netball League |
Amber | Bates | Warragul Blues Junior Football Club & Neerim District Junior Football Club | Secretary | AFL Gippsland |
Ashlee | Barbetti | Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club | Volunteer coordinator | AFL Central Victoria |
Bridget | Smith | Fitzroy Junior Football Club | Club President | Yarra Junior Football League |
Carlee | Maher | Warragul Industrials Football Netball Club | Women's Football Manager | AFL Gippsland & AFL South East |
Catherine | Koroma | Yarraville Seddon Eagles | Vice President | Western Football Netball League |
Chelsea | Hart | Grovedale Tigers Football club | Junior girls football coordinator | AFL Barwon |
Debbie | McColl | Congupna Football and Netball Club | Club President | AFL Goulburn Murray |
Dee | Dickson | Warrandyte Football Club | Vice President | Eastern Football Netball League |
Emily | Dellios | Kyneton Football Netball Club | Head of Junior Football | Riddell District Football Netball League |
Emily | Hoare | Portarlington Football Netball Club | Vice President | AFL Barwon |
Emma | Carey | Beechworth Football Netball Club | Club President | AFL North East Border |
Haley | Gravenall | Laurimar Football club | Treasurer | Northern Football Netball League |
Hannah | Singleton | Collegians Football Club | Committee Member | Victorian Amateur Football Association |
Jacinta | Mulholland | Surrey Park Football Club | Vice President | Eastern Football Netball League |
Jen | Kat | Elsternwick Amateur Football Club | Vice President | Victorian Amateur Football Association |
Justine | Frescher | Waverley Blues Football Netball Club | Vice President Women's | Eastern Football Netball League |
Katherine | Chalke | Ivanhoe Junior Football Club | Club President | Yarra Junior Football League |
Katie | Atkin | Clyde Junior Football Club | Vice President | AFL South East |
Kellee | Frazer | Gordon Football & Netball Club Inc. | Club President | AFL Goldfields |
Laura | Houston | Westbourne Grammarians Football Club | Club President | Victorian Amateur Football Association |
Laura | Kretiuk | St Albans Football Club | Secretary & Team Manager | Essendon District Football League |
Lauren | Halliwell | Montmorency junior football and netball club | Club President | Northern Football Netball League |
Laz | Shaw | Aberfeldie Sports Club | Senior Women President | Essendon District Football League |
Leah | Peters | Mitta United Football Netball Club | Secretary | AFL North East Border |
Libby | Petty | South Melbourne Districts FC- Senior | Club President | Victorian Amateur Football Association |
Lily | Edwards | Belmont Lions sports club | Vice President | AFL Barwon |
Marilyn | Kearney | Chirnside Park Football Club | Treasurer | Eastern Football Netball League; |
Meaghan | Donaldson | Albert Park Football & Netball Club | Vice President & Secretary | Victorian Amateur Football Association |
Megan | Ioannidis | Hurstbridge Junior Football Netball Club | Vice President | Northern Football Netball League |
Melania | Serwylo | Belgrave Junior Football Club | Club President | Outer East Football Netball |
Nicole | Smith | St Albans Football & Netball Club | Secretary | AFL Barwon |
Peggy | Stewart | Surrey Park Junior Football Club | Women, Girls and Inclusion Coordinator | Yarra Junior Football League |
Rachael | Baker | Eastern Devils Football Club | Club President | Eastern Football Netball League |
Rachel | Stevens | Caulfield Grammarians Football Club | Vice President | Victorian Amateur Football Association; |
Rani | Madden | Eaglehawk Football Netball Club | Club President | AFL Central Victoria |
Rebecca | Miller | Shepparton Swans Junior Football Club | Vice President | AFL Goulburn Murray |
Rebekah | Dean | Black Rock Football Netball Club | Treasurer | Southern Football Netball League & South Metro Junior Football League |
Sue | Mulder | Merbein Football Netball Club Inc | Secretary | AFL Sunraysia |
Tania | Pyle | Whittlesea Junior Football Club | Women's Football Manager | Northern Football Netball League |
Tanya | Waterson | Koroit Football Netball Club | Club President | AFL Western District |
Tanya | Wines | North Warrnambool Eagles Football Netball Club | Club President | AFL Western District |
Tash | Degrassi | Frankston Rovers Junior Football Club | Vice President | AFL South East |
Taylah | Morris | Tooleybuc Manangatang Football Netball Club | Club President | AFL Central Victoria |
Tereasa | Hobbs | Harrow Balmoral Football Netball Club | Club President | AFL Wimmera Mallee |
Theresa | Prior | Westmeadows Football Club | Gender Equity and Inclusion Officer | Essendon District Football League |
Vanessa | Brewis | Echuca United Football Netball Club | Junior Football President | AFL Goulburn Murray |
Victoria | Mackey | Port Melbourne Colt Junior Football club | Women's Football Manager | South Metro Junior Football League; |