BNSW Staff

David Simpson

Interim Chief Executive Officer

David is a seasoned sports leader with extensive experience across both community and high performance sport in Australia. He was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of Basketball NSW in January 2026, bringing a collaborative leadership style and a strong commitment to growing the game for all communities. A passionate advocate for inclusive sport, David is dedicated to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate and thrive.

David joins Basketball NSW from Basketball Australia where he led the Member Relations and Game Development functions of the sport nationally. Beyond the basketball world, David has significant major event experience, including working with the Australian F1 Grand Prix and MotoGP events for over a decade. Davids claim to fame is being the face of cancelling the 2020 Australian Grand Prix on live TV.

Off the court, he is a devoted football (soccer) fan and an ultramarathon runner, often found exploring trails around the Blue Mountains and chasing personal bests.

Caroline McLuckie

Chief Financial Officer / HR Manager

Caroline is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

Being a stereotypical Scot, I am tight when it comes to cash and will keep a close eye on the $$$ being spent, from staples to apparel. Not a normal accountant, I look for ways to explain numbers to non-numbers people. Usually in the form of graphs and gifs, and using basic language – not everyone knows what a provision is!

With a background in community sport, I can sympathise with the challenges and frustrations faced by small committees and boards who would rather just develop their sport rather than spend hours understanding and working on the admin. Ask me for tools to make this easier.

Outside of work, I can be usually seen using my elbows to bash up players on the lacrosse field and gaining unknown bruises due to my clumsiness.

Geoff Tripp

He/Him

General Manager Community, Member Services & Innovation

Geoff is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ambassador

Geoff is an experienced basketball administrator with more than 25 years of involvement in the sport at all levels, from refereeing at the local stadium to working at a national level. Passionate and enthusiastic, Geoff has a wide range of skills in event management, product and program development, marketing, brand management, and more.

At Basketball NSW, Geoff is responsible for Community Growth & Marketing, which includes developing community programs and expanding participation in the sport among diverse groups such as LGBTQIA+, as well as providing support services to member associations and organising events.

Better known as the Trip Advisor, Geoff’s other loves include photography and drinking coffee!

Brett Coxsedge

General Manager: Performance Pathways

Originally from the country and a graduate of Gilgandra Grammar, Brett has coached at just about every level from Association land, to State teams, to college in the USA, at World University Games and in the NBL as an assistant coach with the mighty West Sydney Razorbacks and Sydney Spirit. This is Brett's second stint at Basketball NSW (having worked previously at the ITC Head Coach back in the early 2000's) and also spent 6 years working in the wild west for Basketball WA.

Jokingly referred to as the "best in the business," Brett also has a personal motto of "no excuses...get it done" and loves pineapple on pizza!

A tragic Parramatta Eels and Sydney Swans supporter who longs for a return of the glory days, Brett believes that the future of basketball in NSW is very bright with the talent of athletes available and the great array of hard-working coaches that volunteer their time to help make the sport better.

Liz Mills

Head of Competitions & Leagues

Liz Mills is an Australian basketball coach who began her career in Sydney in 2002, working with junior and senior women's teams.

Since 2011, she has focused on coaching men's teams in Africa, leading senior club teams, national university teams, and national teams. Notably, Mills made history as the first female head coach of a men's national team at a FIBA continental championship when she coached the Kenyan men's national team in 2021, and as the first female head coach in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2022.

She has also achieved milestones as the first female head coach of a men's team in Morocco, North Africa, and the Middle East, and has coached various teams in the BAL and its qualifiers.

Liz also has a Bachelor in Sport Science and Sports Management (UTS) and a Masters Degree in Education majoring in Coaching (USYD) and a diploma in Basketball Analytics (Sports Management Worldwide or SMWW).

Chanelle Bailey

NBL1 East Competition Manager

Chanelle also works in our competitions department, during the season you’ll find her working with all of our country associations or going cross-eyes, from the numerous court grids and draws that need to be completed for the five country junior leagues.

It’s fair to say that Chanelle has a competitive streak, but keeps it on the down-low so naturally, competition (off-court) arises between the competition department with Country v Metro.

In the off season, Chanelle loves venturing out and exploring the world of ours, trying new things and always planning the next getaway. Always on the hunt for a last-minute deal when it comes to getaways.

Louis McGuckian

Competitions Coordinator

Louis joins Basketball NSW from Ireland, having completed a Bachelor's degree in Sport Management at Loughborough University in England.

He is a huge sports fan, particularly Rugby Union, having played for 20 years as well as watching any rugby game going.

He enjoys topping up the Irish tan (burn) at the beach and travelling around Australia, making the most of not seeing rain everyday like he would at home!

Kasey Abbott

Junior Leagues Competitions Coordinator

Kasey keeps our junior leagues running smoothly, making sure competitions are organised, teams are set, and everything is good to go come game day. During the season, you’ll find Kasey juggling draws, schedules, and the occasional curveball—because what’s sport without a bit of unpredictability?

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Kasey brings experience from coaching, umpiring, and swim instruction, but don’t be fooled—there’s a competitive streak lurking beneath the cool coordination.

When not deep in competition logistics, Kasey loves to explore new places, play various sports, and plan the next adventure.

Nik Mailk

Competitions Coordinator, Country Junior Leagues & 3x3

Nik looks after our Country Junior leagues as well as 3X3.

Nik is a Sydney local & comes from a rich basketball background, having coached, refereed & still plays at the representative level, with various experience working in the NBL & WNBL.

He is passionate about enhancing the growth of the game & providing opportunities for more people to engage with & enjoy basketball. This passion drives Nik's eagerness to contribute to inclusivity & inspiration for the next generation of basketball enthusiasts. His journey has been fueled by an unwavering commitment to make a difference, as well as a love for community, comradery & the special way in which basketball brings us all together.

When not on court, Nik enjoys learning to cook & cruising on his skateboard.

Ben Stoodley

Competitions Coordinator, Senior Leagues

Ben joins Basketball as the Competitions Coordinator, Senior Leagues after multiple years in the industry working at places such as Sport NSW and Venues NSW

A lover of all things Sydney Roosters, Green Bay Packers, Sydney Swans and cricket (All forms)

When not at work Ben is always found somewhere near a soccer or baseball field as either a coach & manager for son's team , a player, or just a spectator enjoying the game or just watching any sport that is on. Also spending time with Family, being in nature or watching Marvel Movies.

Jarrod Moore

Coach Development Manager

Jarrod is passionate about Australia, basketball and people. Hope to see the game one-day grow into a sustainable and well-oiled machine in Australia.

Curtis Sardi

Metro Performance Pathway Coach

I started out as a die-hard basketball fan of the West Sydney Slammers who later became the West Sydney Razorbacks, I have been around the sport for 30 years. I began playing at Penrith Basketball Association, then I turned to coaching junior teams whilst continuing to play at Penrith. I then became a Basketball NSW network coach for NITP (SPP) and was given the opportunity to coach NSW State teams.

I was then fortunate enough to become the Basketball NSW High-Performance coach in 2018, dedicated to athletes and coaches in country NSW. I've been focusing on building relationships and seeking out the hidden talent in untapped areas. I'm driven to get out to our Country areas to deliver SPP but also develop the SPP program to have unity across Metro & Country and help our State teams be as successful as possible on a regular basis at Nationals.

Outside of work I love to spend as much time with my family as I can. I enjoy watching as much basketball & soccer in my spare time. My favourite TV series is 'The Big Bang Theory.

Mathew Neason

Country Performance Pathway Coach

Matt grew up in Victoria, but we don't hold that against him (mostly). He joins us after 20 years working in sport and recreation including roles with State and National bodies, local associations, and Council. He realised at a young age that coaching was a more realistic pathway to progress in basketball, and took up a Sport Coaching and Administration degree at Deakin University. Matt has coached state teams with four States and spent time at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Looking to develop his leadership Matt recently completed his MBA with Torrens University. He loves to read, and does breathwork and qigong to decompress. Outside of work Matt is a fantasy football nut.

Antonio Rosina

Performance Pathways Administrator

Antonio joins Basketball NSW in the role of Coaching & Development Administrator after completing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Sports Management abroad in the United States.

A lover of all things Sydney Roosters, Manchester United, Western Sydney Wanderers and or anyone else who rivals a team Jaylee supports.

When not at work Antonio is always found somewhere near a football (soccer) field as either a coach, a player, or just a spectator enjoying the game. Antonio is also a strong believer that it should be called football across Australia.

Eric Hackett

Community Pathways Coach

Originally from Moss Vale, I played basketball right up until I was 18 - then swapped the jersey for a clipboard and haven’t looked back since. Coaching quickly became the thing I loved most about the game, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I entered the Basketball NSW pathway in 2018 as a Network Coach, and my coaching journey has only gained momentum from there. Since 2023, I’ve been proud to serve as an Assistant Coach for NSW Country State Teams across both the U16 and U18 Boys programs.

Outside of basketball, I’m a fully qualified Carpenter (trade completed in 2022) but once I finished, I went all-in on the sport full time. I joined Illawarra Basketball Association, where over three years I took on a range of roles including Development Officer, Competitions Manager, and Junior Development Coordinator.

When I’m not on the court, you’ll usually find me watching other sports, gaming, cooking… or picking up a random new hobby for a few weeks before moving on to the next one.

Steve Clark

Head of Technical Officials

Steve joined Basketball New South Wales in 2021 as our Head of Technical Officials after a 25 year career in the National Rugby League as an on field referee, video official and then in referee coaching, education and development. Steve refereed in over 300 games on field another 300 plus games as a video official as well as refereeing 5 State of Origin Matches, 8 Test Matches and 2 World Cups.

Outside of Rugby League, Steve is a general Sport lover and is a keen golfer. Steve his wife Christine and their daughters are all regular sport participants.

Steve loves a coffee and also a good meal at night with the family.

Brendan Lloyd

he/him

Technical Officials State Development Manager

Brendan is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

Brendan began his basketball journey in Albury, picking up the game at age 7 and began refereeing at 12, inspired by his two older siblings. He progressed through the Junior National programs and went on to referee in the Waratah League, earning selection to the NBL Elite Referee Program in 2017.

With over a decade of experience in referee development, Brendan served as Referee Development Officer at Albury Basketball Association from 2011 to 2017. After relocating to Sydney, he took on the role of Referee Development Manager with Norths Basketball from 2018 to 2023. After many years at a high level, Brendan retired from refereeing in 2022, officiating his final NBL1 game - fittingly a matchup between Norths and Albury, with Australian Basketball legend Lauren Jackson playing.

Beyond basketball, Brendan is an avid netball lover and has represented NSW Men's Netball at multiple National Championships and enjoys spending time at his local beaches of Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Liam Mills

Technical Officials Community Development Coordinator

Liam has joined Basketball NSW to further his lifelong passion for sports officiating. He brings a strong background in Rugby League referee coaching and extensive experience in developing and coordinating referees at the community level. His fascination with officiating began at a young age, sitting in the grandstand at Penrith Park alongside his grandfather, listening intently to the referees through a device called Sports Ears. That early spark ignited a deep appreciation for the art and discipline of officiating—a passion that continues to drive his commitment today as he nurtures the next generation of officials.

Caitlin Grove

State Referee Development Program Coordinator

Caitlin is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally.

Caitlin began her basketball journey in Bankstown, starting in their learn-to-play program and beginning her refereeing career at age 12 with her older brother. She progressed through the Junior National Pathway and is now active in the NBL1 East competition, currently sitting in the National Referee Development Program. Caitlin is aspiring to officiate in the WNBL.

Caitlin works full-time in mental health and is a registered Social Worker with the AASW, alongside her role with BNSW. Beyond basketball, Caitlin enjoys adventuring with her labrador, Oakley.

Annie La Fleur OLY

Head of Participation & Community

Annie is an experienced leader with more than a decade of working in basketball and community programs across Australia and the Pacific. She has dedicated her career to creating inclusive, culturally safe, and community-led initiatives that empower people from diverse backgrounds particularly women, girls, and underrepresented groups to feel welcomed and valued in sport.

Before joining Basketball NSW, Annie spent more than a decade with FIBA, where she led basketball development across 22 Pacific Island nations. In this role, she worked closely with national federations to co-design and deliver programs that reflected local languages, traditions, and community voices. Annie is deeply committed to fostering strong partnerships, mentoring teams, and ensuring cultural understanding is embedded in every aspect of program delivery.

A former professional basketball player, Annie represented Australia with the Opals, winning a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, a bronze at the 1998 World Championships, and contributing to Australia’s first-ever medal at the 1989 World Championships. She also competed in the WNBA, WNBL, and French professional leagues, bringing with her a wealth of experience in elite sport and leadership.

Outside of work, Annie is a proud dog lover and enjoys life with her boy, Bandit, her Maltese X.

Nicole Foran

Community Growth Programs Coordinator

Nicole is a sports junkie and has played in various team sports with hockey being her true love. She has stood on the sidelines of rugby, cricket, water polo and rowing cheering (or rather screaming) on her two boys. She is super competitive and everything in her house hold becomes a competition.

She has a love of hiking and has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Larapinta Trail in Alice Springs.

Nicole has a background in sports events and over the last few years worked on delivering several World Cups, including the FIBA Women’s World Cup. She is a master organizer and coordinator and loves rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in.

Nicole has a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Master of Teaching. She has a passion for empowering young people to be themselves and believes sport is such a powerful tool in doing that.

Isabel Forbes

Regional Development Officer - Riverina

Isabel joins Basketball NSW as the Regional Development Officer – Riverina after a long military career as an Operational Administrator in the Australian Army which saw her live and work across many locations within Australia and deployments overseas.

Her passion for basketball stems from volunteering at a local association and becoming part of a strong sporting community and seeing barriers being broken down for children of all ages and backgrounds in an inclusive environment. Isabel is very excited to be part of the BNSW team and working with associations, schools and other agencies looking to increase awareness and participation in all basketball programs that BNSW have to offer.

In her down time, Isabel can be found planning the next getaway with family & friends; from camping to resorts. Party planning skills are well known amongst friends which also spill onto the basketball court adding a sprinkle of glitter where she goes.

Lauren King

Regional Development Officer - Far North

Lauren is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

Lauren is our Regional Development Officer covering the Far North Region. Based in Lennox Head Lauren’s area runs primarily between Grafton and the NSW / QLD border.

Lauren grew up playing basketball in the Far North where the basketball community nurtured her love and enjoyment for the game. Lauren loved watching the Sydney Flames in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) on television as a kid, dreaming of one day playing for the Flames-her dream came true some years later, along with playing over 250 games in the WNBL.

When Lauren isn’t coaching or playing in her local basketball comp she loves to get out in the sun and enjoy the great beaches and food in the area with her family.

Alisha Sixtus

Basketball Connect Manager

Alisha is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

Alisha is our resident Kiwi and has a sporting background in Equestrian (horse riding) as an athlete, coach and in recent years administration and management of the sport. She has a thorough knowledge of sport databases and online management systems as well as experience in website design/management.

With her sound problem solving skills she is looking forward to helping our associations make the most of the technology available to them, to minimise their time spent on administration tasks.

Being new to Basketball she has no pre-existing team loyalties and welcomes all suggestions on who to support!

Gabriel Karagiannis

Assist All Hoops Programs Administrator

Gabriel (mostly known as Gabe) joins Basketball NSW as the Assist All Hoops Administrator after completing his Bachelor of Sports Business degree. Having worked and volunteered across a variety of sporting codes for the last six years, Gabe has shown a passion to encourage everyone to go out and play sport and is striving to make sport a safe and inclusive environment for everyone from grassroots all the way to representative level.

Being born and raised in Europe and family members from the United States, you can find Gabe playing and coaching soccer on the weekends with his bright pink boots or yelling at the TV watching his beloved New York Knicks or Arsenal FC disappoint him year after year.

Jaylee Ismay

She/Her

Head of Media & Communications

Jaylee is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

Jaylee is our go-to guru for all things social media, marketing, and communications, and she’s been part of our team for more than seven years. A passionate advocate for female empowerment, Jaylee champions fairness and respect for girls and women of all ages especially in sport. Most weekends, you’ll find her on the sidelines capturing the action through photos and videos across our leagues and high performance events.

When she’s not behind the camera, Jaylee is a proud Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRL fan, braving the winter chill to cheer them on. She also showcases her own athletic flair as a competitor in the BJP Physie World.

Caleb Fogarty

Content Creator and Communications Coordinator

Caleb is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

Caleb is our Content Creator and Communications Coordinator.

Originally from Maitland, via Newcastle, Caleb has a background in commercial radio and journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Communications majoring in Digital News & Media, and Media Production from the University of Newcastle.

Since 2023 he has been the play-by-play commentator for the Maitland Mustangs and has been lucky enough to call the 2023 NBL1 East Women's Grand Final and 2024 NBL1 East Men's Grand Final. Additionally, he has also commentated for NSWRL TV and BarTV covering Rugby League.

If you're lucky enough, you may just stumble into him hosting a night of trivia at your local.

David Watts

Member Protection Officer & Disciplinary Tribunal Manager

David is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

David has been involved with the sport of basketball at various times over the past 35 years. David joined the Basketball NSW ‘family’ after an lengthy and highly decorated career with the NSW Police.

A graduate from Charles Sturt University, David has gained extensive experience working on a number of covert and overt drug operations, a wide variety of investigations, and he was also an integral member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Security Command police contingent which was given the honour of being “…the most successful, safest, friendliest Games ever staged…”

With more than 21 years experience as a trained investigator and 15 years as a criminal law prosecutor within the NSW Police Force, David now performs the roles of in-house Investigator, Member Protection Officer and the Manager of Disciplinary Tribunals.

Luisa Mastrangelo-Clarke

Head of Partnerships

Luisa is a Pride in Basketball LGBTIQA+ Ally

Luisa joined the Basketball NSW family in 2021 and heads up the grants, philanthropy and sponsorship area.

She has over a decade of experience in the Philanthropic sector and a passion for helping great ideas come to life. Luisa believes in building partnerships based on trust, common goals and a little bit of magic.

When she’s not flicking through the thesaurus looking for the perfect word for the perfect proposal you’ll find her supporting her three girls in a variety of creative and sporting activities.

Luisa loves all things food and has a flare for sorting a messy cupboard.

Lucinda Khawly

Management Accountant

Lucinda is a mother of two young children (3 if you include the husband) who has recently completed my CPA (certified practising accountant) studies.

She enjoys the challenge of complex reconciliations & continuous learning of different aspects of accounting.

In her downtime, I love keeping fit by heading to the gym where I love to smash out a HIIT class or outdoors with the family exploring wildlife on a bushwalk.

In the NRL season, you can find her either at Jubilee oval or WIN stadium cheering on my beloved St George Illawarra Dragons.

Ruth Sabado

Accounts Receivable & Payable

Ruth is our master of accounts receivable and payable; a super organised individual who is dedicated to her role. A team player within the office and loves nothing better to ensuring that timelines are met and that all of our associations are treated with the utmost respect.

You’ll also find that Ruth is a fan of coloured folders, and loves her filing, her indexing methods range from simply writing names on folder tabs to computer-generated strip labels complete with names, numbers, color codes and much more.

Raffaele D'angelo

Risk Coordinator

Raffaele basketball journey began on school courts in Lakemba and Bankstown, where he represented Western Suburbs juniors in the last century. Basketball was always more than a game to him; it was a community, an identity. He remembers watching Donnie Ray Cruse debut for the Bankstown Bruins, grew up watching Larry Sengstock, Phil Smyth, Cal Bruton and Larry Bird. His sporting loyalties run deep (and patiently), still waiting for the Parramatta Eels’ glory days to return and for the Western Sydney Wanderers to lift their first A-League title.
Respect the Court – Respect the Risk reflects his approach: protecting people while keeping basketball safe, inclusive and accessible. Raffaele bring's governance and risk management experience from Board and Committee roles. This experience helps him work collaboratively with staff, associations, and volunteers to embed practical, proportionate risk management that strengthens confidence, resilience, and trust, so the game continues to thrive. As Risk Coordinator, he am here to support the basketball community in managing risk in ways that enable the game to grow.