Working Group Members - MJN Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport

Working Group

Sport SA established a Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport Working Group to provide an industry voice to inform the development and future of the centre. The working group provides confidential, strategic, and practical industry advice to inform Sport SA of the priorities in the development of the centre that improves the professional and continuous development of participation and leadership of women in sport in South Australia.

Marija is an active member of International Tennis Officials with Tennis Australia and has experience as a Board member of Tennis Australia; including President of the Para Hills Tennis Club and the North East Tennis Association; Tennis SA Volunteer Manager and Executive Assistant. As a member of the Tennis Australia Women’s Leader in Tennis Program, Marija is passionate about being an advocate and enhancing opportunities, exposure and representation for women and girls in sport which is fuelled by the challenges she experienced in sport. Marija believes being a member of the working group will make a difference in enhancing the gender balance for women and girls in sport for future generations.

The majority of Kelly’s career was devoted to police services in the UK and Australia. After making a career transition to sports administration Kelly was promoted to NRL SA State Manager within the first four years of her transition. She has experience as a player, coach and team manager in Rugby League and Rugby Union. Kelly played Rugby League for England and Rugby Union for the British Police and has been instrumental in establishing an NRL Female Academy. Kelly played soccer at an all-female club and AFL SMOSH for two years, winning best and fairest medal in 2021. She is an avid runner competing in UTA Katoomba in Blue Mountains and has dedicated her life to organisations where she can make a difference in service and sport.

James has led Softball SA for the past eleven years, a traditional women’s sport with over 75% female membership in SA. James believes Softball has a role to play in addressing the gender gap in sport as he has witnessed a growth in the following of women’s sport firsthand. Under James’ leadership, Softball SA has successfully developed junior pathways that have increased the number of national representatives from SA, as well as livestream broadcasts popular on social media, televised on free to air TV (NITV and C44) and streamed on the SBS-on-demand app. Both the pathways and livestream have enhanced the profile of the sport and created role-models and inspired a new generation of players and motivated ‘older’ members to return to the sport.

Chelsea joined the Glenelg Football Club in 2019 as a player (SANFLW) and was immediately elevated into the leadership group after showing strong leadership throughout her first season and having an instant impact on the playing group. Chelsea’s experience on and off field played an integral part in Glenelg’s inaugural SANFLW Premiership.

Chelsea has recently made a career move into football administration, as SANFL’s Women and Girls Community Lead and is eager to enhance football experiences for women and girls within the community. Chelsea is highly driven to increase opportunities and visibility of women in their chosen sporting pathways.

Karla is passionate about challenging the status quo and empowering women to reach their potential regardless of age or experience. As a young female leader, she is keen to share her experiences with other women and be part of the solution for increasing the number of females in leadership. Karla’s experiences include athlete, official, administrator and board member which has provided her with an understanding of the challenges women face in these roles. Karla wants to make a positive contribution in sport by advocating and establishing strategic frameworks to empower women in sport and reduce the gender gap.

Thomas competed in sport from a young age and volunteered at every level of sport from Club, State through to National Sporting Organisations as an administrator and coach. He is an aspiring leader in the Government and Sport and has been involved in the major infrastructure grant programs for the past seven years and made a valuable contribution to the creation and implementation of the Sports Vouchers Program. Thomas is incredibly passionate and vocal about the importance of sport in Australian society and is excited to be involved in the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport.

Jane currently serves on the Ice Hockey Australia Board (Vice President); the Ice Hockey Australia High Performance National Teams Committee and is Chair of the Deakin University Master of Applied Sport Science Advisory Board. Jane has worked as a teacher, professional coach, author, runs her own consultancy business and most recently enjoyed leading and managing elite sports departments in the AFLW (Collingwood GM Women’s Sport) and Netball (Adelaide Thunderbirds Coach) programs. Jane is passionate about the project of the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport and is excited to be involved.

Working Group

Marija Lentic

Kelly Rourke

James Harris

Chelsea Packer

Karla Della Pietra

Thomas Etherton

Jane Woodlands Thompson