Peter Filopoulos elected to Vicsport board

Liam Watson

Vicsport have completed their 2019 Annual General Meeting and confirmed that Peter Filopoulos has been elected as a non-executive Director, along with Jamie Parsons.

Ron Gauci has also been re-elected by Vicsport’s affiliate members as part of a voting process.

Filopoulos and Parsons and will join the Vicsport board consisting of Ron Gauci (Chairman), Catherine Harding, Margot Foster AM, Tim Large (ex-officio), Derek O’Leary, Susan Smith, Simon Brookhouse and Tanya Gallina.

Filopoulos and Parsons have been identified by Vicsport as people who will bring a vast amount of experience from different organisations throughout the sports industry and are both passionate about advancing Victorian sport.

You can read more about Filopoulos, Parsons and Gauci’s background below:

Peter Filopoulos:

  • Has 25 years experience as an accomplished senior C-Suite executive in sports administrations with Australia’s major sports and entertainment brands.
  • Is currently the CEO of Football Victoria (FV), overseeing the state’s 400,000 strong organised participation base across men, women, boys and girls of all abilities across more than 360 clubs.
  • His role at FV has seen a 24% rise in participation for 2018 in line with the four-year strategic plan.
  • Played a key role at Perth Glory before joining FV, having guided them through the salary cap issues they faced in the 2014/15 season, while ensuring he played a role in their business transformation for the future.
  • Has developed a strong reputation as a sports and entertainment executive, with past work including eight years with AFL clubs Hawthorn and North Melbourne, seven years at Marvel Stadium (Etihad at the time) and 18 months with National Sporting Organisation, Swimming Australia.

James Parsons:

  • Has a business degree, a graduate diploma in law and 30 years experience contributing to the sport, recreation, art and cultural sectors.
  • A previous board member at Little Athletics Victoria and Football Federation Victoria, along with leadership roles at Netball Australia, World Swimming Championships and Deaflympics Games.
  • Is the current CEO at Gymnastics Victoria where he has helped coordinate the Women in Sport Breakfast that has become a staple for the Victorian sporting calendar.

Ron Gauci:

  • Initially appointed to the Vicsport board in 2016 and served as Chairman since 2017.
  • Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
  • Significant experience in transformational strategy development.
  • Has held directorship positions with many sport related boards including CAMS Foundation, Softball Australia, Melbourne Aces Baseball Club and is a former CEO and Executive Director of the Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club.

Vicsport has offered its sincere gratitude to outgoing Directors Andrew Walton and Richard Amon.

Source and image credit: https://vicsport.com.au/blog/3487/ron-gauci-re-elected-peter-filopoulos-and-jamie-parsons-elected-to-vicsport-board

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Canada Soccer to begin new National Training Centre project

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Backed by the Government of Canada with an investment worth nearly AUD 10 million ($9,826,000), the project aims to establish a world-class facility for athletes, coaches and communities.

Building the sport and community

The investment comes as part of the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF), an ambitious program of the Government of Canada which will provide AUD 51 billion ($51 billion) to infrastructure projects over 10 years.

However, the Canada Soccer Training Centre is one key project which will benefit from such substantial investment. But the project isn’t just for future players – it will help boost economic activity and create a facility built for excellence and growth.

“It is about creating a world-class sport facility where athletes can train and represent Canada at their best,” explained Secretary of State (Sport), Honourable Adam van Koeverden, via press release.

“From the playground to the podium, it is projects like this that provide athletes, coaches, local families and communities with vibrant, accessible spaces to fuel participation, connection, and a growing passion for sport.”

President of Canada Soccer, Peter Auguros, further expressed his gratitude for the investment and what it could bring future generations.

“This support reflects a shared belief in the power of sport to strengthen communities and develop the next generation of Canadian talent. We are proud to partner in building infrastructure that will benefit our athletes and help shape the future of the sport in Canada.”

 

Growth gains momentum

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to kick off in a few short weeks, Canada Soccer’s plan for a National Training Centre Project is symbolic of long-term vision.

The tournament is not a final flourish, but a stepping stone to accelerated growth.

And this is not a short-term setup.

As President of Concacaf and Vice-Preisdent of FIFA, Victori Montagliani explained, this is a project designed to survive for generations.

“The development of a National Training Centre in Canada represents an important legacy project for the country and it is always a positive sign when our members invest in infrastructure across the region.”

 

Final thoughts

The project, therefore, perfectly aligns a growing buzz for football across the region with intentional investment and ambition.

And although the action must eventually stop on the pitch, Canada Soccer are ensuring that growth continues long after the tournament’s final whistle.

Female Football Week kicks off across Northern NSW

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Female Football Week has officially begun across Northern NSW, with a program of gala days, networking events and awards ceremonies running until Sunday May 17, marking a ten-day celebration that organisers say reflects both the growth of women’s football in the region and the work still required to sustain it.

The national initiative, now a fixture on the football calendar, provides a dedicated period of visibility for female participants across all levels of the game from players, coaches, referees to volunteers, whose contributions have historically received less recognition than their male counterparts.

NNSWF Participation and Women’s Football Officer Serena Carter said the week offered something for everyone connected to women’s football in the region.

“Female Football Week provides a fantastic chance to highlight the dedication and skill of female players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the northern NSW community,” Carter said. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from grassroots participants to elite competitors.”

Women’s football in northern NSW spans remote and regional communities where clubs operate on limited resources, alongside more established metropolitan programs with clearer development pathways. Female Football Week creates a moment of shared recognition across that spectrum and acknowledges the role volunteers play, from running the canteen to progressing through the pathway.

Northern NSW Football has recorded some of its strongest participation numbers in women’s and girls’ football in recent seasons, a trend that has placed increasing pressure on clubs and facilities to keep pace. The week’s events offer clubs an opportunity to showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion at a time when that commitment is being tested by growth.

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