What inspired you to pursue your sport at such a high level, and when did you first realise the Olympics were a real possibility?

I grew up with a natural love for sport and the joy of trying to be better every day. One of my earliest and strongest memories was watching Lisa Curry swim the 100 metres freestyle at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. She won gold, climbed out of the pool, pulled on her tracksuit, a medal around her neck, and sang Advance Australia Fair. At that moment, I said to myself, “I want to do that.” I didn’t know which sport yet, but I knew I wanted to be an Olympic gold medallist. Volleyball hooked me soon after, but not because I was good at it. It was the only sport I couldn’t play, no one at school could control the ball, so I took it upon myself to spend decades trying too! When Beach Volleyball was announced as an Olympic sport in 1993, I made the switch to the sand and the rest as they say is history! The turning point came when I represented Australia for the first time (in indoor volleyball in 1991). Standing there in the green and gold, beaming with pride I thought, “maybe I could inspire someone too.” From then on, the Olympics became not just possible, but inevitable if I was willing to put everything on the line.

Did you ever feel like giving up along the way? What kept you going during the hardest times?

Absolutely. There were plenty of moments—injuries, crushing losses, and the doubts that creep in during training sessions or even during matches, big and small ones!  What kept me going was my ‘why’: the dream of representing Australia in the green and gold and the belief that I could inspire the next generation by showing what was possible. I was lucky to have a great support team, and a partner like Kerri Pottharst, who reminded me I wasn’t alone. On the darkest days, it was the vision of standing on that podium, hearing the anthem, that pulled me through. I believe you need to keep one eye on the prize, and one on the process!

Sports can teach invaluable lessons about resilience and leadership. How do you use those lessons now to inspire or empower others?

Sport is the best teacher I’ve ever had. It taught me resilience—the steps to bounce back after failure—and that leadership is about actions, not just words. These days, I use those lessons with athletes, businesses, and young leaders to show how to perform under pressure, embrace setbacks, and move forward with clarity. My job now is to translate the high-performance mindset of sport into everyday life so people see they can “go for gold” in their own field.

Best piece of advice to young athletes or anyone chasing a big goal

Dream outrageously big (Olympic Gold Medal Big) and then break it down into steps you can chase every day. Consistency is the real secret; most people quit too soon. Write your dream down, say it out loud, (daily and with intensity) and build a team around you who will remind you of it and why you’re doing it when you wobble. Success is never just about talent—it’s about persistence, courage, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, and eventually that belief will rub off!

In your view, what are the major challenges faced by professional athletes?

What people often don’t see is that behind the highlight reels, athletes face real struggles—financial insecurity, constant pressure to perform, and the uncertainty of what comes after sport. Many juggle full-time training with work and/or study just to stay afloat. The toughest part isn’t only physical—it’s the mental and emotional load of giving everything to a dream while preparing for life beyond it.

From your experience as an Olympian, what are some meaningful ways that we can support our Aussie athletes?

Brisbane 2032 provides a great opportunity to lead the world in this space for all athletes. 

We need to build stronger systems around them: for financial stability and career pathways. I founded the Aussie Athlete Fund to build a sustainable athlete economy and support athletes aspiring to wear the green and gold. It is a way to bring the athletes and the community together for the ride. We teach the athletes how to raise the funds needed to represent Australia. It is not cheap! So they can focus on training and competing without constant financial stress. Corporate partners, government, and everyday Australians all have a role to play. When athletes know their country values them as people, not just performers, they’re empowered to thrive long after the last whistle has blown. There are many ways to support – www.aussieathletefund.com

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about being an Olympian—something we don’t see on TV or social media?

The Olympics spans across 17 days, every 4 years, but the preparation takes years—often a lifetime. What you don’t see are the countless hours of training, on the court, in the gym, in the rain,  the rehab sessions, the missed birthdays, and the sacrifices (especially financial) that all build up for one shot on the world stage. And even after a gold medal, life goes on—you still have to pay bills, do the washing, and figure out what’s next. An Olympian is an ordinary person doing something extraordinary.

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📅 Event Details

• Date: Friday 17 October 2025
• Time: 1:30pm for a 2:00pm start / 4:00pm finish
• Venue: The Main Ballroom, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Carrara
• Bookings close: 5pm 8 October