SOFTBALL VICTORIA BOARD

mAREE hOLDEN

Board Position: President (Elected by the Board July 2026)

Date Joined: July 2026

Description of Background / Expertise: 

A senior leader with extensive experience in external engagement, community relations, regulatory affairs, organisational governance and more recently Psychosocial Health across Australia, the UK, Papua New Guinea, and Mozambique. She has led community and regulatory consultation, strengthened governance systems, and supported executive teams in complex social performance environments. Beyond her corporate career, Maree has contributed more than four decades to softball as a player, coach, media officer, administrator, and former Softball Australia Board Member, including supporting the Australian Women’s Team at major international events such as the 1996 Olympic Games.

matt clugston

Board Position: Chair (Elected by the Board July 2026)

Date Joined: November 2025

Description of Background / Expertise: 

Visionary property executive with 20 years’ experience, creating innovative workplace strategies to solve complex problems, deliver great operational outcomes and enable organisational ambition. Matt brings over two decades of rich and varied experience, collaborating with diverse stakeholder groups across the Asia-Pacific, Americas, and Europe.

Currently a Senior Workplace Strategy & Change Consultant, and holds a Master of Applied Commerce, Business Administration and Management.

Matt Forbes

Board Position: Treasurer (Elected by the Board July 2026)

Date Joined: April 2023

Description of Background / Expertise:

Matt is a professionally qualified accountant with twenty years of audit and financial advisory experience, including planning, completing and reviewing statutory audit work, reporting to clients on results and internal control and governance recommendations, and preparing and reporting client company financial accounts at year-end. Matt has proven abilities in financial and business advice, client relationships, business development and team leadership. He is currently a Partner in Bentleys Victoria’s Audit & Assurance Division, a position he has held since September 2023.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is a Chartered Accountant with both CA ANZ and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Interest / involvement in Sport 

Matt is an avid sports fan who looks to volunteer in community sports whenever he can. Matt is currently a member of Richmond Football Club, Melbourne Storm, Melbourne City Football Club and the Melbourne Stars, and plays soccer on a regular basis. He is also a keen runner and completed the London Marathon in April 2019 and the Melbourne Half Marathon in November 2022, amongst many others.

Michelle Clyne

Board Position: Director (Elected)

Date Joined: April 2018

Description of Background / Expertise:

Michelle has more than 20 years experience working in sports media management at the Australian Football League and the St Kilda Football Club.

Michelle is the AFL Publicity and Promotions Manager and the AFL Women’s Media Manager. Her expertise includes media planning, project management, media releases, social media planning and implementation, crisis management, match day media, events and sponsorship announcements.

Has a Master’s in Business (Sports Management), a Graduate Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Involvement in the Sport:

A softballer with the Northwood Falcons in the Waverley Softball Association for two decades, she has also played Melbourne Softball Association slowpitch with the same team during this time and regularly plays in Masters tournaments.

Prior to this was a provisional state league netballer.

Member of the AFL Victoria Women’s Advisory Board 2015-2016.

Northwood Falcons committee member 2013-present.

Media Liaison at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Sub-Committee Involvement: 

Finance and Governance Committee

ANDREA (Will) MANSFIELD

Board Position: Director (Elected)

Date Joined: May 2025

Description of Background / Expertise: 

Andrea Mansfield brings nearly 50 years of dedicated involvement in the softball community and more than 35 years of professional experience as an educator.

Andrea's lifelong commitment to softball has seen her contribute to the sport in an extensive range of roles, including player, coach, statistician, team manager, and committee member. Her broad experience has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the game at grassroots, association, state, national, and international levels, together with an appreciation of the vital contribution made by volunteers, clubs, officials, and associations to the ongoing success of the sport.

A highlight of Andrea's softball career has been her extensive service as a Team Manager, representing Australia, Victoria, and School Sport Victoria on numerous occasions. She has managed Australian teams at World Cups and international tours, as well as Development Pathway teams, Softball Victoria representative teams, and School Sport Victoria teams. These appointments reflect her outstanding organisational skills, leadership, professionalism, and her unwavering commitment to athlete welfare, wellbeing, and creating positive, high-performing team environments where individuals can thrive both on and off the field.

Professionally, Andrea has enjoyed a distinguished 35-year career in education, earning a reputation for integrity, collaboration, and developing people. Her commitment to student welfare and wellbeing has been central to her career, recognising the importance of supporting individuals holistically to achieve their full potential.
Complementing her professional career, Andrea has served for many years as a School Council member, playing an active role in governance, strategic planning, policy development, financial oversight, and organisational decision-making. Her governance experience has strengthened her ability to contribute to effective leadership, ensuring sound governance practices, accountability, transparency, and sustainable long-term outcomes.

Andrea is a passionate advocate for community sport and firmly believes in its ability to foster confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership, inclusion, and lifelong participation. She is dedicated to creating positive experiences for players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and clubs while supporting the continued growth and sustainability of softball throughout Victoria.
Andrea's unique combination of nearly five decades of practical softball experience, international team management, governance expertise, a distinguished career in education, and a genuine passion for participant welfare and wellbeing provides a well-rounded perspective that will be a valuable asset to the Softball Victoria Board.

jell radford

 Board Position: Director (Elected)

Date Joined: May 2025

Description of Background / Expertise: 

Jell comes to the board with nearly 30 years of experience within the Softball community in Victoria. As a player, coach, administrator and umpire, Jell is well versed in all aspects of the game. Most recently Jell spent 10 years as the President of the Melbourne Softball Association, in which time she oversaw the reaffiliation of Melbourne back into the Softball Victoria fold. Jell’s expertise lies in her advocacy of our affiliated associations and ensuring adequate pathways to excellence for all members in each facet of the game.

Professionally, Jell has built a career within the Insurance industry, having worked in many areas including quality auditing, underwriting and business development. Jell currently oversees the Victorian Business Development and Underwriting program for a large Heavy Motor insurer. Her professional strength in relationship management is an asset that she brings to the Board of Softball Victoria.

Julia Hibma

Board Position: Director (Appointed by the Board July 2026)

Date Joined: July 2026

Description of Background / Expertise: 

Julia is a governance, integrity, and allied health professional with a strong track record across complaints management, ethics, accreditation, and member engagement. She recently served as Accreditation & Certification Manager (Regulation) within an allied health peak body, working within procedural fairness and natural justice frameworks. Julia is currently Operations Manager at a basketball club.

Julia's connection to community sport runs deep, including playing softball in the Albury/Wodonga region as a teenager. She has since held Vice President and Co-President roles at Maffra Football Netball Club and Maffra Netball Club respectively, and currently coaches junior basketball under Basketball Victoria's child safe framework. Julia brings a combination of compliance, operational, and governance experience to support Softball Victoria's strategic and integrity priorities at Board level.

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