Bernadette brings a wealth of diverse experience and dedication to the intersection of sport, community well-being and local government. As the Manager of Community Wellbeing at Merri-bek City Council, her experience spanning local government and community health has equipped her with the insights to navigate and influence the complex landscape of public policy and community engagement. She has taken a co- leading role in developing a comprehensive sports field policy and framework. Her leadership experience spans more than 25 years across non-profit organizations and local government where she has consistently advocated for the betterment of community well-being through sport. She has consistently advocated for the empowerment of women in sports, recognizing the importance of equal representation and opportunity in fostering a more inclusive and diverse sports culture.

Amber Koster is the National Community Football Venue Lead at the AFL. Her role is to drive the number and quality of community AFL venues to ensure they are welcoming, accessible, fit for purpose and inclusive, and to deliver on the community venue related aspects of the AFL’s Towards 2030 National Infrastructure Strategy. She also administers the AFL / CA Synthetic Turf Technical Committee, ensuring compliance to safeguard the health of players and officials and to guarantee the integrity of the performance of the synthetic field. Amber has over 18 years’ experience working across the public and not for profit sectors in infrastructure, community participation and women’s leadership programs.

Lucas offers a comprehensive suite of consultancy services spanning the entire lifecycle of field development. These services encompass site investigation, condition assessment, feasibility studies, master planning, long-term asset planning, technical specifications, sand and turf selection, construction supervision, performance monitoring, coaching, and mentoring. As the Field of Play Team Lead at SPORTENG, Lucas brings with him 25 years of extensive experience in the field. His team collaborates closely with Project Managers and Civil Design Engineers to tailor field designs to meet clients' needs. They start by investigating sites thoroughly to gather data, then use this to create custom plans. During construction, they ensure quality and oversee material inspections. Before completion, SPORTENG Field of Play Team conducts tests to ensure the field meets standards. Lucas is also an esteemed member of the Australian Sports Turf Management Association, further enhancing his expertise and credibility in the industry.