TFA Board of Management

With over thirty years of participation in Touch Football and twenty years of strategy development and execution in leadership and executive roles - Christian has dedicated a large portion of his life to the development of Touch Football. Christian's contribution to the sport ranges from player, referee, administrator, and coach – he successfully coached NSW at Opens level as well representing the Australian Emus at Opens and Masters level, captaining his country at both the 2011 and 2015 Touch World Cups.

Christian brings over twenty years of experience in consulting and internal strategy development & execution to the Board. He has held executive and senior-level roles, including leading the establishment of a function in a start-up environment at the national broadband network, transforming a function in a media conglomerate going through disruption and most recently as a member of Ventia’s Executive Leadership Team delivering value to shareholders following the acquisition and integration in the infrastructure industry. His ability to build productive relationships to achieve current and future strategies translates to Touch Football as he brings strong experience in governance to the Board.

Craig has a longstanding association with Touch Football across both sides of the Tasman spanning decades as a player, referee, selector, and administrator. Craig is also an accomplished coach having achieved success across several junior divisions in NSW with Manly Touch and the Sydney Scorpions, as well as national NYC and NTLs titles. Craig couples his voluntary contributions in our sport with a passion for diversity, and inclusion, and proudly leads our NRL All Stars touch engagement. Craig has over twenty-five years of commercial business experience - currently working with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand as a General Manager in Account Management & Member Engagement. In this role, Craig demonstrates strong governance, people leadership, and relationship management as well as leading and developing strategic plans. Prior to this role, he was with First Data Australia and New Zealand in executive leadership and client engagement and brings to the Board a wealth of experience in member engagement, strategy, finance, governance and culture development.

John Mouawad brings with him over twenty-five years of involvement with Touch Football as a player and coach. Mouawad demonstrated leadership as a Partner at KordaMentha, one of Australia’s largest independent corporate restructuring firms – overlooking financial, commercial, and operational sectors. His extensive governance experiences extend as a non-executive director to the Masters Home Improvement Group (appointed by Woolworths Group Limited), Chair for Flinders Power Partnership Board, and Chair of the ASX-listed Tubi Limited.

Kate Jones has more than twenty years of experience in senior government and leadership positions. Kate served as a Minister in the Queensland Government for more than eight years in a range of portfolios including State Development, Education, Tourism and Major Events and Innovation and Climate Change. Kate was also the Minister for the Commonwealth Games working closely with key industry partners and all levels of government to successfully deliver Queensland’s largest-ever event, the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Kate has also served as a member of the Cabinet Budget Review Committee developing and implementing Queensland’s state budget and overarching economic strategy for the state. Kate has a Masters in Environmental Law (ANU) and a Bachelor of Arts, Journalism Major (QUT).

Danielle Smith is a values-driven leader committed to harnessing the power of sport to strengthen communities and promote inclusivity. As CEO of Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), she leads the national peak body, driving growth and enhancing member value for over 10,000 accredited professionals. With more than 25 years of experience across diverse sectors including elite sport, major events, and consulting, Danielle has held key leadership roles including Board Director, CFO and COO at Melbourne Storm. Notably, as the inaugural CEO of Storm’s Super Netball team, the Sunshine Coast Lightning, she fostered a high-performance culture and played a pivotal role in the team's back-to-back premierships and off-court success. Danielle is the 2021 QSport Sport Administrator of the Year and received Life Membership from Melbourne Storm in 2022. She serves as a director for Sunshine Coast 2032, an organisation focused on maximising the impact of the 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games to the region. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys travel, exercise, community sport, and time with family and friends. She is an AFL Masters player and committee member, and holds GAICD, CA, BCom and BA qualifications.

A Touch Football Hall of Famer, Williams was a mainstay in the Australian Women’s Open team for more than 15 years, earning 63 caps for Australia. She played in four World Cups, five Trans-Tasman Series, and the 2005 All Nations Series, before retiring from the Women’s Open team in 2009. She later returned to represent Australia in the Women’s 30s team at the 2013 Super Trans-Tasman Series. Off the field, Williams is currently the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of PWR Advanced Cooling Technology, bringing extensive experience in financial strategy, governance, and operational leadership. Prior to this, she spent eight years as CFO of G8 Education Ltd and nearly a decade at CMI Limited in senior financial roles. With a strong background in corporate finance and governance, Williams’ expertise will be invaluable in guiding TFA’s strategic growth and sustainability.

A rugby league legend and one of the sport’s most decorated figures, Fittler captained both New South Wales and Australia, leading the Kangaroos to two Rugby League World Cup victories in 1995 and 2000. He remains one of the most-capped Australian players of all time and was awarded the Golden Boot in 2000 as the world’s best player. Following his playing career, he transitioned into coaching, leading the Sydney Roosters and the NSW Blues, securing three State of Origin series victories. Fittler has also become a respected commentator and television presenter, contributing significantly to the rugby league landscape. Beyond his professional career, Fittler has a deep personal connection to Touch Football, with his own children playing the sport. He has spoken about his love for the game’s skill, pace, and inclusivity, seeing firsthand the impact it has on young athletes in developing core abilities that translate across multiple sports. His passion for fostering grassroots participation and player development makes him a strong advocate for the future of Touch Football in Australia.