Board of Directors

 

Richard Lindell (Chair)

Richard was appointed to the board of Softball Australia in July 2018.  He has extensive experience in media and journalism having worked for 15 years with some of Australia’s leading news and current affairs programs at the ABC, SBS and Sky News.  As an Executive Producer and senior journalist, he led the design and development of new programs and also served as the ABC’s India Correspondent.  More recently, he was a Director of the International CEO Forum –  a membership organisation for multinational CEOs.  His role included building recruitment and retention strategies – in particular the development and implementation of content and communications strategies to improve engagement.

Chris Davis FAICD

Chris has enjoyed a professional career of almost 40 years across 4 continents in multiple Consumer Product & Service Segments in various Marketing, Commercial, General Management & Board roles.

Chris started his career in Australia. In 2006 he relocated to UK & joined the PZ Cussons plc Board & operated in a variety of International markets. Chris returned to Australia in 2018 & established his own Corporate Advisory consultancy. Chris has over 20 years of International board experience in Public & Private Companies, Not-for-Profits, Statutory Authorities, Industry Associations & Financial Services. Chris is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors & a graduate of the David Syme Business School at Monash University.

Jenny Goolagong

Jennifer and her four children moved to Canberra 29 years ago and have been part of the Canberra softball community since they arrived. During her time in Canberra she has worked as a Commonwealth public servant in community services; worked as a ministerial adviser; and worked in remote Indigenous communities across the top end of Australia. She has worked in many areas of government policy, funding and engagement building a practical understanding of the challenges in delivering policy change at the community level. Her recent work was focused on improving the governance interface between government and communities to improve outcomes on the ground.  

She has worked at all levels in softball in the ACT and is keen to see the sport further develop to secure its future so her grandchildren can enjoy the sport growing up.

Mark Guscott

Mark joined the board of Softball Australia in October 2021. He has over two decades of international business experience where for many of those years held senior executive roles within a global multi-national. In addition to being commercially astute, his strengths include governance, strategy and adding value to organisations. Mark is passionate about making a difference and loves sport. He sees a wonderful connection leveraging his executive experience with Softball Australia.

Chris Hall

Chris was appointed to the board of Softball Australia in January 2024. Chris was involved in Softball at a local level in Wagga for many years as a Committee Member and Chairperson before joining the Board of Softball NSW where he was President for 4 years until 2023. 

Chris served in the NSW Police Force for a period of 20 years before retiring as an Inspector and through his many years of service has significant experience in Human Resources, Policy & Procedures, Strategic Development, Event Planning & Operations, Governance and Investigations.

Chris is also a member of the National Paint Place Group of Stores where he owns the largest paint supply business in the Riverina area of NSW.

Verity Long-Droppert

Verity joined the Board of Softball Australia in July 2023. Verity had an extensive playing career in softball including representing Australia at 3 World Championships, winning 2 bronze medals, and playing professionally in Italy and the USA. Verity is a barrister and brings with her extensive knowledge of corporate risk and governance issues and excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Outside of work and softball, Verity is a Pinnacle Foundation mentor and Vice President of Pride In Law Western Australia. She is a passionate former player who is eager to see Australia return to the podium in the women’s international competitions and to maintain the excellent position of the men’s Australian teams.

Kelly McKellar-Nathan

Kelly is a descendant of the Kunja and Kooma Peoples of South West Queensland. Kelly attributes her identity to the loving influence of her father and grandmother. Kelly’s language name is “Lilga” meaning smooth, calming waters, given to her by the Lardil People of Gununa (Mornington Island).

Kelly joined the board of Softball Australia in January 2024. As the 162nd member of the Australian Women's Softball Team, Kelly represented the country in 95 games, including at the 1998 World Championship in Japan where the team won the silver medal.

Philippa Wright

Philippa was appointed to the board of Softball Australia in March 2020.  She is an Accredited Scorer and from a softball family, both her daughters played for many years at Manly Warringah Softball Association.  Philippa brings a wealth of business knowledge to the Softball Australia Board with an extensive background in corporate marketing, previously holding six leadership roles in Deloitte’s Communications, Marketing and Business Development area.  Following her time at Deloitte, she set up Connected Growth, a consulting business offering all-round results driven marketing and business development services to help organisations transform and grow.