Corporate Profile

Established in 1920, ClubsNSW is the peak representational body for the NSW club industry.

ClubsNSW represents more than 1200 member clubs, and makes an important contribution to state and national policy direction, including the development of industry-specific legislation relating to alcohol, gambling, taxation, and industrial relations. In addition to these services, ClubsNSW executes media and PR communications, tailored training solutions, financial services, events, and responsible gambling services.

The Association’s purpose is to put the interests of clubs and their communities first.

To view the Board Charter, which covers purpose, values, responsibilities and structure, please click here

To view our 2022 Governance Statement, which outlines the main governance practices and policies of ClubsNSW with reference to the AICD Not-for-Profit Governance Principles, please click here.

Board of Directors

George Peponis copy.jpg
Dr George Peponis OAM was elected as Chairman of the ClubsNSW Board after Peter Newell resigned his position in June 2019. He previously served as a Director of the Canterbury League Club and is a Life Member of both the Bulldogs Football Club and the registered club. He has been Chairman of the NSW Rugby League since 2012. Dr Peponis was elected as a Director of ClubsNSW at the 2017 AGM, and was appointed to the position of Deputy Chair in 2018. Dr Peponis graduated from the University of NSW with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1976 and has since worked as a general medical practitioner. In 2013, he received an OAM for services to rugby league. 

Dr. George Peponis OAM; MBBS

ClubsNSW Chairman
Sallianne Faulkner copy.jpg
Sallianne Faulkner was elected Deputy Chair of the ClubsNSW Board in June 2019.  She joined the ClubsNSW Board after filling the casual vacancy created by the retirement of Deputy Chairman Michael Fraser in May 2018. Sallianne is a member of AICD, Women On Boards and serves on a not for profit board, St George Children with Disabilities Fund. Sallianne was elected as President of the Ramsgate RSL Memorial Club in 2014 after joining the club  board in 2012, and has been instrumental in driving its process of governance reform. She is the Secretary/Treasurer of the ClubsNSW Southern Metropolitan Region, commencing in that role in 2015. 

Sallianne Faulkner

ClubsNSW Deputy Chairperson
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Ron Coskerie was appointed by the ClubsNSW Board in June 2019, filling the casual vacancy following the departure of long-term Chairman Peter Newell OAM. Ron is the Deputy President of St Marys Rugby League Club and has been on their board since 2007. He has worked in the financial sector for 30 years, currently the Regional General Manager of Commercial and Business Banking for Greater Western Sydney with Westpac. He holds a Masters in Accounting and Finance and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Ron Coskerie

ClubsNSW Board Member
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Rob Smith was appointed to the ClubsNSW Board in June 2021, filling the casual vacancy following the retirement of long-serving director Keith Gomes.
Rob is the Chief Executive Officer of Twin Towns Services Clubs and Resorts and has more than 40 years’ experience in the ACT and NSW club industries respectively.
Representing ClubsNSW for many years on the Gaming Advisory Committee and as the appointee to the Tourism Industry Council, Rob holds a Bachelor of Business with a Major in Tourism.
Serving in various tourism, educational and club related roles during the course of his career, Rob has a wide range of experience across the broader sector -  with a specialised focus on strategic partnerships, amalgamations and the evolution of gaming products and operations.
He also brings with him extensive operational knowledge in executing a range of core and diversified developments including club redevelopments, residential and accommodation projects, sporting and childcare facilities and more.

Rob Smith

ClubsNSW Board Member
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Grant Easterby has worked in registered clubs for the past 38 years, with 32 of those years at an Executive Management level. He is currently the CEO of Dee Why RSL, a position he has held for the past 26 years, and is a former Director of the RSL & Services Association.
Dee Why RSL has been at the forefront of diversifying its interests away from the traditional food & beverage, entertainment and gaming offerings by developing financially sustainable, community based assets. These have included carwashes, childcare centres, a ten-pin bowling and laser skirmish centre, a 76-apartment independent living village for seniors, and various other property interests.
Grant has a particular passion for supporting veterans and their families and has instigated a strategic alliance with RSL Lifecare Veterans Services, with offices housed in the Club to assist veterans on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and beyond.
In his spare time, Grant enjoys watching live music, spending time with his two daughters, and the odd round of golf.

Grant Easterby

CLUBSNSW BOARD MEMBER

Executive Team

Rebecca Riant
Rebecca Riant has 30 years’ experience in large financial corporates — notably, 10 years at Westpac and five years at the Commonwealth Bank, where she began her executive level career as Chief Operating Officer for the Institutional Banking and Markets division. 
More recently, Rebecca was Tabcorp’s Executive General Manager for Sustainability, Markets and Customer Experience Delivery before moving into the role of Tabcorp’s Chief Operating Officer of Wagering and Media. In September 2022, she joined The Star Sydney (contract role) as their Chief Controls and Enablement Officer (NSW) before extending the contract and taking on the role of Chief Controls Officer for The Star Entertainment Group in January 2023. 
Rebecca brings to ClubsNSW extensive expertise in corporate governance, strategy determination and execution, large scale change implementation, commercial negotiations and navigating through complex regulatory environments. She is also an active participant in forums and initiatives relating to improving diversity, inclusion, flexibility and workplace culture. 
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her husband and two boys, and their dog Spot. 

Rebecca Riant

Chief Executive Officer
Simon Sawday

Simon Sawday

Executive Manager Policy & Government
Joanne Ede

Joanne Ede

EXECUTIVE MANAGER - WORKPLACE RELATIONS
Alison Tehan

Alison Tehan

Executive Manager - Regulatory Affairs
Darren Flynn

Darren Flynn

Executive Manager Media & Marketing
Daniel Mitchell

Daniel Mitchell

HEAD OF STRATEGY
Katherine Jian Portrait

Katherine Jian

Chief Financial Officer
Jaime Heap

Jaime Heap

Chief Legal & Risk officer
Jacqui Keys

Jacqueline Heys

Chief People Officer

State Councillors

Paul Cousins - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Newcastle & Hunter Valley Region

Andrew Bell JP - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Riverina & South West

William (Bill) Greenwood - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Central West Region

Michael Free - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Southern Metropolitan

Daniel Munk - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Illawarra & Shoalhaven Region

Bill Jackson - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Central Coast

Michael Lavorato - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Western Metropolitan

William Drury - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Southern Tablelands & Far South Coast Region

Malcolm Chapple - ClubsNSW State Councillor - North Western Metropolitan

Patrick Lonergan -  ClubsNSW State Councillor - New England & North West Region

Deborah Atkins - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Eastern Metropolitan

Roy Bendall - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Northern Metropolitan 

Roger Hong - ClubsNSW State Councillor - Far North Coast Region

 

 

Affiliated Associations and Representatives

Edward Camilleri, Senior Vice-President Margot Smith, Chief Executive Officer Tim Rowe, Chief Executive Officer
   
 
Stuart Fraser, Chief Executive Officer  Don Hammond, Chief Executive Officer  

Life Members

The Commercial Travellers Club Mr Rod Desborough  
Mr Robert (Bob) J. Ferris Mr David Doyle OAM  
Mr Len Ainsworth AM Mr Jon Chin  

 

Deceased

Mr Robert (BOB) M. Cook Mr Brian O’Donnell Mr John C. Whittle OAM
Mr Roger Cowan OAM Mr Ron Pearson MBE Mr John (Mo) Wilson
Mr Charles Eason OAM Mr Pat Rogan OAM Mr Jack Ball AM
Mr Bernard Harley OAM Mr W. (Wally) Ward Mr Peter Newell OAM
Mr Jack Stewart Mr Peter Bracher