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QLD Touch Football Conference 2024: “Stronger Together”
Date: Monday 2 December, 2024
Location: RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast
Welcome to the Queensland Touch Football Conference 2024, a revitalised and united event that merges the former Affiliate and Sports Performance Conferences into one complete experience.
Under the theme “Stronger Together,” this year’s conference aims to foster the development of touch football through knowledge-sharing, inspiration, and innovative strategies. By creating a single, cohesive event, we bring together diverse perspectives and expertise to collectively shape the future of touch football. The conference features a combined start and finish, ensuring a unified kick-off and a grand conclusion to the event.
Attendees will have the flexibility to tailor their experience by choosing from two specialised streams. These streams will cover a variety of topics, allowing participants to swap and change sessions as they wish, ensuring they get the most out of their conference experience.
Stay tuned for this year’s line-up of speakers!
Notable Past Speakers
Our previous conferences have featured a range of distinguished speakers, including:
The QTF Conference is suitable for affiliate and regional administrators and committee members, coaches, teachers and sport enthusiasts across all sporting codes.
Registrations will open in August 2024. All participants wishing to attend the QTF Conference must purchase a ticket.
Tickets will be available to purchase through Humantix. If required, organisations can choose to request an invoice via Humantix and can pay this invoice via bank transfer to the nominated account.
All attendees will be required to purchase a ticket. If you wish to send more than 3 attendees, please contact the QTF Office (07) 3367 6250 for available payment plans if required.
For any queries, please contact our events team for more information.
Accommodation can be organised through RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast at the discounted rate of $320 per night (for a mountain view room + 2 x breakfast), or $290 per night (for a mountain view room + 1 x breakfast).
This offer will be available for three days pre and post the official conference (subject to availability).
Please contact the events team for more information.
Cost TBC
Your ticket is all inclusive and includes entry to the full day conference, morning tea and lunch.
Note: This does not include any accommodation costs.
With over 150 affiliate administrators, coaches and sport enthusiasts in one place, get your brand in front of the heart of Touch Football in Queensland.
If you are interested in attending, contact the events team for more information.
*Times subject to change.
Deputy General Manager of Industry Capability – Sport Division – Australian Sports Commission
Kate is a lawyer, mediator, director and sport executive leader with a background as a litigator for the Australian Sport Anti-Doping Agency; & ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. Kate is currently the Deputy General Manager of Industry Capability in Sport Division at the Australian Sports Commission. The Industry Capability Branch at the ASC encompasses community coaching, the Australian Sport Learning Centre including Game Plan, Governance and Organisational Enhancement, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Sport Financial Advisory.
Kate led the whole of sector co design of the Sport Governance Principles and Sport Governance Standards in 2019 and is published in international journals in the area of Sport Governance. In her current role Kate is leading her five teams to ensure that supporting the development, education and training of coaches, volunteers and officials and empowering them to provide safe, fun and inclusive environments that focus on the needs of participants.
Formally the Chair of Judo Australia in an Australian first in 2018 she was appointed to the International Judo Federation Gender Equity Commission. She is a group fitness instructor teaching Les Mills programs and a Director on the Board of AusActive (formally Fitness Australia).
Coach Development Lead – QLD – Australian Institute of Sport
Lúcás Ó’Ceallacháin is a coach with over 20 years global experience in high performance sport as an athlete, coach and leader. His areas of expertise are coach development, high performance strategy and athlete career transitions.
He graduated with an MSc in Sport and Exercise Management from UCD in 2011 and holds diplomas in sports law, sports psychology, sports journalism and strength and conditioning. In addition, he holds qualifications in Suples training systems, psychological safety, motivational interviewing and Lego Serious Play.
Before relocating to Australia to work with the Australian Institute of Sport he oversaw Wrestling Canada’s high performance program where he led them to a record breaking 4 medal world championship performance. His personal values are play, love and care and these come to the fore in his coaching.
He is currently pursuing a Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance which focuses on wellbeing as a performance driver.
Director – Beyond the Break Consulting
Lauren leads Beyond the Break Consulting’s Communications division and has more than 20 years of media, communications and marketing experience working with charity, sport and government agencies. In working with leading national sporting organsiations, Lauren is responsible for developing communications strategies from grassroots through to elite sporting teams, as well as stakeholder management.
Lauren has worked across large-scale communications, press operations, media management and event management for:
• London, Rio, Tokyo and Beijing Olympic Games, and the Tokyo Paralympic Games
• Gold Coast and Glasgow Commonwealth Games
• Invictus Games, Rugby League World Cup, Super Rugby
• Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
“The Greatest Ironman in the World” Australian Sport Hall of Famer
Trevor Hendy is an international Keynote Speaker, Director of the LifeChanger Foundation for youth and author of The Bootcamp for the Soul. He is a highly renowned Soul Coach, guiding some of the World’s leading CEO’s, community leaders, actors, musicians and athletes. Known as one of Australia’s fittest ever athletes and greatest Ocean Ironmen, he has been inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame and honoured as a member of the Order of Australia for his services to the community. His motto is “bring it into now and never under estimate the power of who you are”.
Managing Director – CPR Group
Michael Connelly is Managing Director of CPR Group. For 25 years, CPR Group has been dedicated to building stronger not-for-profit businesses through planning, training and mentoring to help sports volunteers achieve their best results, and most importantly, love their roles!
Clubs, associations, councils, government and universities turn to Michael when they are striving to grow their membership, are frustrated by a limited supply of volunteers, are under significant pressure to increase revenue and profit, or are committed to achieving first-class governance. Michael and CPR Group are driving the innovation of not-for-profit governance to ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of a transforming community sport sector.
As an advisor, facilitator, club mentor and trainer, Michael’s governance seminars are high-energy, entertaining and inspire change.
NRL Titans, CEO
Steve Mitchell came to the Gold Coast Titans from Touch Football Australia where he spearheaded the highly successful inaugural NRL Touch Premiership competition. Steve has held a number of executive roles, working with the Melbourne Rebels (Super Rugby), North Queensland Cowboys, Southern Cross Austereo, Seven Network, News Corporation and Network Ten.
In his second season as CEO of the Titans, Steve has led the club’s resurgence on the field and commercial growth off the field through a difficult year for everyone. The Titans are now well placed to begin the 2021 season on the front foot with a strong and loyal following of passionate corporate partners and clubs members.
NRL Touch Premiership Cowboys Captain
Dave Zanette has been playing touch football since he was 12 years old. Growing up in Chinchilla, Dave played most sports including, soccer, rugby league and swimming.
As an Australian Touch Football representative player, Dave began his sporting career representing South West Queensland in Cross Country, Athletics, Rugby League, Soccer and Touch Football. Selected to represent Queensland for the first time in 98’ at the state championships in Cairns, from that moment Dave began to take touch seriously.
He participated at the national carnival in Melbourne, (coached by Peter Gagen) and won. Shortly after, Dave was selected in the Australian squad on tour of New Zealand (coached by Peter Robinson). The support and mentorship off the back of this campaign encouraged Dave to relocate and accept a scholarship in Bundaberg at St Lukes Anglican College and progress his touch career.
Dave is currently the NRL Touch Premiership Cowboys Captain and continues to improve his own personal game as well as support and encourage his teammates and grassroot players.
General Manager – Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association (BMTA)
Like many Australians, Chris first developed a love of sport in primary school, specifically in Aussie Rules Football, swimming, athletics and triathlon. At the age of 16 he discovered ultimate frisbee, going on to play in 9 National Championships with teams in South Australia and Queensland along with being selected in the All Australian open training squad in 2011.
Even early on, his passion for organisation and sport was evident, running cash entry AFL tipping competitions and coordinating junior teeball referees before leaving primary school. On his 21st birthday, Chris packed up his life for a full-time club development role in Toowoomba with AFL Queensland before eventually finding his way to Brisbane managing the QAFL State League competition. In 2018 Chris was selected into the AFL Industry Emerging Leaders Program and was awarded AFL Queensland’s prestigious Troy Clarke Award for the employee best living the AFL’s values.
Chris is currently the General Manager at BMTA, a role he has held since June 2019. Since his appointment, BMTA has returned to a financially stable position, completed construction of a new maintenance shed, launched a new strategic plan and still managed to have an increase in team numbers despite COVID-19.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys road and trail running in summer, along with playing football for the Sherwood Magpies while his body continues to hold out. He also spends time working through DIY projects at home and spending time with his wife, Loren and 6 year old daughter, Olivia.
Affiliate Manger – Caboolture Touch Association
Like many other sports driven people, Aimee has played Touch Football from the age of 13 to her early 20’s including representative football throughout her schooling and for the Sunshine Coast. Aimee also enjoyed playing Netball from the age of 5 including representing Queensland.
Before landing the job of affiliate manager for Caboolture Touch, Aimee used to work as a personal assistant for the partners of a large accounting firm in Brisbane for 10 years before shifting to office manager of a Biodiesel Manufacturing Facility for 4 years where Aimee has developed her office administration experience. After 4 years at the Biodiesel Manufacturing Facility, Aimee moved to work as Assistant in Nursing in an aged care facility for 10 years which provided her with the skills of working with people and time management. All of this experience made Aimee the perfect candidate for the Affiliate Manager of Caboolture Touch.
Aimee has been the Affiliate Manager of Caboolture Touch since 2013 and prior to this was involved as a volunteer admin since 2009 whilst her father Ross Best was the Administrator. Aimee’s current role as affiliate manager involves managing all competitions from senior and junior, additional programs like women in touch and the junior academy, representative events and teams, finance, stock, volunteers, the website and social media, staffing and canteen.
General Manager – Palm Beach Touch Association
Mitch has an impressive resume, boasting achievements in the sporting industry and the financial sector. Mitch has 14 years’ experience as a Bank Manager and Home Loan Specialist and has spent over 16 years volunteering and working between Affiliates in NSW and QLD in addition to attaining a role within the South Queensland and Border Districts region.
Mitch is currently the General Manager of Palm Beach Touch Association and continues to lead a dynamic team and kick goals in South East Queensland.
When he’s not on the touch football field representing Queensland, Sharks, Coaching or Refereeing, Mitch enjoys participating in triathlons and spending time with his wife, 3 kids and puppy!
