PSG Management Profiles

Ron Burns

General Manager

 

Ron’s teaching career started in rural and regional schools in NSW, and finished with positions as principal of primary schools in Canberra and Canada (for native Indian children).  He was president of the ACT and Australian Primary School Sports Association and Vice President of the Australian Schools Sports Council.

After teaching he worked as the Confederation of Australian Sport’s (CAS) Director of the Masters Sport Project, Consultant in Mature Age Sport at the Australian Sports Commission, Deputy CEO of CAS, General Manager of Sport Industry Australia, CEO of the 9th Australian Masters Games and Senior Project Manager with Sport & Recreation ACT.

Ron was a member of the organising committees for three World Championships, three Australian Masters Games, two Asia Pacific Masters Games, and did consultancy work for the Brisbane and Melbourne World Masters Games.  He managed the development of the National Sports Industry Training Package, was a member of the Board of Sport and Recreation Training Australia and Chair of the Recreation Industry Training Company Board. 

Ron conducted training courses in the Pacific (thirteen courses in eight countries) under various international programs including Olympic Solidarity and presented internationally at conferences in Japan (twice), Germany and Australia on Masters, School and Junior Sport, Vocational Education and Training and Skill Shortages in Australia.  

Before commencing with the 2008 PSG he worked for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as its Training Advisor managing Commonwealth Government funded, industry based projects addressing Australia’s skill shortages.

He has a NSW Teachers Certificate, a BA (ANU) and Certificate IV Workplace Trainer/Assessor and is a life member of School Sport Australia, School Sport ACT and the North Canberra Softball Association.  In 2001 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to School, Masters and Community sport. 

Ron believes the Pacific School Games offers a tremendous opportunity for school students from Australia and other countries to participate in a sporting event. 

“It provides an opportunity to test their skills in a competitive but supportive international environment while increasing their understanding of people from other countries and various parts of Australia.”

Kevin Bawden AM

Functions Manager

Kevin has a strong background in general administration and sport.

He worked for the Commonwealth Government for 35 years in various management positions prior to leaving in 2001 and as the Chief Executive Officer of a Not-for-Profit organisation in Adelaide until his retirement in 2006.

Kevin contracted polio at the age of four and became active in sports at the age of 18. Amongst his sporting achievements Kevin lists representing South Australia at 12 National Championships for wheelchair athletes, representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1974 where he won a gold medal for rifle shooting and at Paralympic Games in 1968, 1976, 1984 and 1988.  He competed in archery and rifle shooting and in 1988 was the assistant basketball coach to the Australian Men’s Team.

At the age of 19, Kevin established the Wheelchair Sports Association in South Australia and was President of that organisation for a total of 28 years. He is also recognised as the founder of the Junior Disabled movement in Australia. He was the Chairman of the organising committee that oversaw the inaugural National Games for juniors in 1981.

He was also the first person with a disability to manage an overseas team when he took a team of athletes aged between 14 and 16 to England in 1981 to compete in the first International Games for junior athletes with disabilities.

Kevin was honoured in 1995 when he was made a Member of the General Order of Australia (AM) for his work with people with disabilities.

“It is personally very rewarding to be involved in the Pacific School Games – Kevin said, - the opportunity of seeing so many young people from so many cultures coming together without prejudice in friendly, but serious competition striving to do their very best, comes to us all too seldom. The games will provide memories and experiences that will influence everyone for many years to come. It is our jobs to ensure those experiences are positive ones.”

 

Jo Campbell

Sports Manager

In his previous life Jo was Principal at Campbell High School and Deputy Principal at Lyneham High School (both in Canberra).

Jo brings to his role in-depth knowledge and experience of school sport organisation at all levels. A former Physical Education and Health teacher, Jo taught at Asquith Boys High in Sydney, Temora High in country NSW and at Lyneham and Campbell High Schools. In school sport he coached and managed ACT Australian Rules and Basketball representative teams.

Jo is a member of the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Sport and Recreation. He convened a number of ACT championships including Track & Field, Swimming, Hockey, Australian Rules Football, Swimming and Lawn Bowls.  He was involved in organising and hosting of a number of school sport National Championships including, Softball, Hockey, Australian Rules Football, Tennis, Golf and Water Polo.

Jo was president, secretary and treasurer of the ACT Secondary Schools Sports Association (ACTSSSA) and a long standing member of School Sport ACT Council (SSACT) and executive.  He was an ACT delegate to School Sport Australia (SSA) for many years and recently served two years as a member of the SSA Executive Committee.

Jo has a Masters Degree in Education, a Diploma of Physical Education and a Certificate in Health Education.

Kirsten Drower

Services Manager

 

Kirsten recently returned to Australia after eight months living and working in Vancouver, Canada, where she coordinated an extensive range of Summer Camps for Simon Fraser University.

 

Kirsten has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement Studies)/Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from QUT, Brisbane.

Since completing her tertiary studies, Kirsten has been involved in a multitude of sporting events at local, national and international level including the Queensland Corporate Games, the Brisbane Goodwill Games, the Eastern & Australian University Games, and the Fina Swimming World Cup. In particular she was Sport Liaison Officer for the 9th Australian Masters Games, where she managed 15 sports, from dog handling to water skiing.

Through these, she gained vast experience and developed an holistic understanding of event management across many areas such as accreditation, sport, athlete and spectator services, marketing and operations. Kirsten has also been involved in Sport and Recreation Management through her position with the ANU Sport & Recreation Association.

Kirsten has been dancing since she was 5 years old (ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop) and is a member of Canberra’s first competitive cheerleading squad, Canberra City Mayhem.  

She sees the 2008 Pacific School Games as an opportunity for children from Australia and around the World to compete in world class facilities and follow in the footsteps of some of Australia’s finest athletes, such as Ian Thorpe and Cathy Freeman. “More importantly, the 2008 PSG will be about achieving goals, forming friendships, learning about other cultures and experiencing life in the unique, Bush Capital.”

Daniel Higgins

Project Officer (Student)

Daniel is a student at the Canberra Institute of Technology and is currently doing a work placement with the Pacific School Games as part of his course – Sports and Recreation Event Management.  Daniel is part of the management team for the Games and assists the other members by completing various projects and giving his ideas and point of view on certain topics.

 

On a personal level Daniel works part time, studies at CIT and plays golf and soccer as much as possible.  He believes that the 2008 Pacific School Games will be a great stepping stone for young aspiring athletes and thinks that all the participants will have a great time representing their country, state or territory in competition and challenging themselves whilst interacting with other athletes from Australia and around the world.

Jane McCarty

Administration Manager

Jane’s career background is in administration primarily in industry associations covering subjects such as libraries, forestry and food and groceries.  Her most recent position was with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

Jane’s strong and broad background in administration covers all aspects necessary for organising such a large event as the Pacific School Games - finance, executive meeting coordination, preparation of complex reports and correspondence, office management and strong people skills. She also has experience in the management of large events under her belt including the co-ordination of the 7th International Forest Industry Roundtable and field trip.

Jane is currently enhancing her skills base through study at the Canberra Institute of Technology with a Diploma in Marketing.

She plays for St Patrick’s Hockey Club in their grass grade team and this year it is a back-to-back-attack as the team won the 2006 Premiership. She also keeps fit by brisk lunchtime walks with 2008 PSG colleagues.

Her vision for the 2008 Pacific School Games is for it to be a fabulous event where students, athletes, officials, and everyone involved has a great time. “This is a time for Canberra to show that we are more than a political destination!”

Neal Redmayne

Operations Manager

Neal’s background is as a teacher of Physical Education and Health in a number of ACT high schools and colleges. He completed a Diploma of Physical Education in Sydney and Bachelor of Education, majoring in Health Education, in Canberra.

As a teacher and executive teacher Neal has enjoyed a long association with ACT school sport in many sports, particularly Rugby League, Touch and Golf at local and Schools Sport Australia Championship level.

He also led the P. E. and Sport Unit in Curriculum in the ACT Department of Education and Training (ACTDET) and most recently was Assistant Manager in ACTDET’s International Private Students Program.

Neal has maintained a close involvement with the ACT Secondary Schools Sports Association for many years and managed the School Sport ACT Golf Team from 2004 - 2007at School Sport Australia Championships.  Neal received a School Sport Australia Service Award for service to school sport in 2004. He is an avid golfer and enjoys running to keep fit.

Neal sees the 2008 Pacific Schools Games as a great opportunity for students to experience the thrill of participating in an international event in the nation’s capital.  He hopes all students look forward to the challenge of friendly competition, seek personal bests and enjoy all that Canberra has to offer.

“Canberra really is a great place to stay and play. Make the most of it and you will take away long lasting memories and friendships.”

Rei Seah

Communications Manager

Rei moved to Australia in 2001 and has since been intrinsically involved with the sporting scene in Canberra. She holds a Bachelor of Sports Management and a Bachelor of Philosophy Honours majoring in Sports.

 

Rei’s vast work experiences include working at a local, national and international level with organisations such as the Australian Sports Commission, Swimming Australia, Hockey ACT, Tennis ACT, Volleyball ACT, the 9th Australian Masters Games and One Basketball Canberra.

In 2004, Rei was appointed Assistant Tournament Director for the Good Neighbour International Volleyball Tournament and Assistant Event Manager for the 2005 National Under 16s Basketball Championships. She was subsequently appointed Tournament Director of the Opals World Basketball Challenge in 2006.

More recently, Rei was Elite Programs Manager with One Basketball Canberra and managed the 5- time WNBL Champions the Canberra TransACT Capitals and 3- time SEABL grand finalist, the BOA Canberra Gunners. Through these positions, Rei has gained immense experience and will bring to the 2008 Pacific School Games her sound knowledge and holistic approach to communications and event management.

Rei sees the 2008 Pacific School Games as an excellent opportunity for Canberra to showcase not only its proud sporting history and achievements, but also its beautiful landscape and world class sporting facilities. She also hopes that all participants will leave Canberra with wonderful sporting memories and special friendships forged during the 2008 Pacific School Games.