Tim Kitching

IHA President and Company Secretary

Tim Kitching is a Risk Management and Governance specialist who works with individuals and organisation to manage organisational success. He has more than 30 years’ experience in leading teams and businesses across Corporate Australia, Government and Law Enforcement and the Sporting Sector, Tim brings a unique perspective to his areas of expertise. 

Veronica Ryan

IHA Vice President and Treasure

Finance, Audit, Risk & Compliance Portfolio Lead

Veronica is a CPA qualified finance professional with experience in the hospitality, publishing,  education and sporting sectors. Career experience and opportunities include partnering with leadership teams and other stakeholders to help identify and drive for improved commercial outcomes. Veronica has worked in large complex global organisations which has afforded a strong sense of how to work in dynamic and always changing environments.

Veronica has a passion for volunteering - having previously held the role of President of Ice Hockey Victoria, she has other board and leadership roles across a variety of sports.

Tim Kitching

Acting Director, Game Development Portfolio Lead

Jane Woodlands-Thompson 

IHA Director, High Performance & National Teams Portfolio Lead

With a background in Sports and Event Management, Governance and High Performance Coaching, Jane is currently working as GM of the Australian Masters Games. Her recent roles include General Manager of Women’s Sport at Collingwood Football Club overseeing the Club’s largest department in AFLW and Super Netball, and General Manager of High Performance at Netball South Australia. She was also the Coach of the one of the most successful teams in the ANZ Championship era, the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

As well as sitting on the IHA Board, Jane sits on Deakin University’s Masters of Applied Sport Science Advisory Board. She has presented internationally on coach education, is a published author of “The Netball Handbook”, and has completed a Masters of Applied Science in Sports Coaching. Jane embraces innovation and continually strives to inject creativity in search of best practice high performance programs.

Michael Juste

IHA Director, Information Technology Portfolio Lead

With over 25+ years of experience at the forefront of the technology, Michael is a distinguished Senior Technology Leader renowned for his strategic acumen and innovative approach. His expertise spans a wide spectrum, including strategy and planning, cloud technologies, service management, platform operations, architecture, virtualisation, and large-scale infrastructure ecosystems.

Michael has a proven track record of leveraging strategic relationships to expedite solutions, all while maintaining a governance approach that ensures successful organisational outcomes. His knack for aligning technology with business objectives has consistently driven transformative change. Michael has worked across other industries, including Government, Education, Retail, Private Sector and NFP. Michael continues to push the boundaries of what's possible, steering organisations towards technological excellence, and ensuring they remain agile and resilient in an ever-evolving digital economy

Suzanne Garas

IHA Director, Leagues & Tournaments Portfolio Lead

Suzanne has over 25 years’ experience working in Organisational Development and Human Resources. Holding senior leadership roles across a number of organisations in various industries, Suzanne works with business leaders to create high performance cultures where people can flourish and be the best versions of themselves.

Suzanne is passionate about ice hockey and has been involved at state and local levels since 2014. She has held positions with the Newcastle Northstars Board including Junior Program Manager, Tribunal Officer, Ordinary Member, Secretary, President, and Vice President; as well as taking on management positions for representative teams and tournaments at the local, state, and national level. Suzanne was instrumental in building the junior development program from the ground up to create an inclusive environment where kids of all ages and skill level are able to play hockey and thrive. Suzanne was recognised in 2022 by the Northstars when she was awarded with the Terry George Award for outstanding dedication to the Newcastle hockey community.

Karla Quinn

IHA Director, Communications & Marketing Portfolio Lead
 

Karla currently leads a large and premium Westfield Centre having spent most of her career in strategic and commercial property management. Karla has also led brand and marketing in an Australian Children’s not for profit, and started her career in marketing and communications for large ASX listed groups in Australia.

She has worked on high profile rebrand and marketing campaigns as well strategic internal and external communications and media advisory. Together with her teams, she has been afforded International award recognition for delivery of highly successful brand partnerships and sales driving campaigns. With a commercial, operational and strategic mindset, Karla has driven change and contributes as a sponsor to young executives. She lends her time to industry mentoring and coaching others to enable them to realise their potential. She is passionate about delivering meaningful value, a communications specialist and is customer centric.

Kathy Rogers

IHA Director, Governance, People & Culture Portfolio Lead

Kathy is currently working as a Specialist Human Resources Manager for CSIRO leading their early career programs. Previous roles have been within the policy, change management, workplace relations and recruitment space. Kathy's previous board roles have been for two South Australian community sporting clubs: Goodwood Saints Football Club and Matrics Netball Club. She is also familiar with the elite sporting environment, where she was the Team Manager for Adelaide Thunderbirds for three years and has represented Netball Australia as the Technical Match Delegate for all South Australian Suncorp Super Netball matches since 2018.

Deon Shearer

IHA Director, Commercial Portfolio Lead
 

Adam Woolnough

IHA General Manager

Adam is a career sports administrator, having spent 20 years in the industry. He played professional rugby league in the NRL for 9 years with the Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, and Melbourne Storm. After completing his rugby league career, he turned his attention to supporting Olympic, Paralympic, and Commonwealth Games athletes, coaches, and sports at the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). Adam implemented new community programs in hospitals and charity organisations, focusing on athletes connecting with their community. 

Adam accepted a role at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to lead a new department focused on community engagement to take new and innovative ideas to a national level. Key programs were established with charities and organisations supporting mental health, diversity, and First Nations. During his time at the AIS, Adam was asked to oversee further areas within the AIS to include personal development, career and education, and the athlete wellbeing network across the high-performance system. In 2019, Adam was awarded the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – Australia Day Award, for outstanding services to the ASC.

 Adam is a loyal and hardworking senior-level sports administrator that has an ability to connect with stakeholders at all levels. His mix of experience across high-performance sport, community, wellbeing, and partnerships, brings a unique and diverse perspective to IHA.