Meet The Board

FAL Board Members

Malcolm James
Chairman

Malcolm , based in Subiaco, Western Australia, brings a wealth of leadership experience as a Director, CEO, and Company Secretary. With a Bachelor of Business and Fellowship with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), Malcolm specializes in management and finance. His extensive career has included roles with junior football clubs, the Western Australian Football League (WAFL), and Basketball Australia, where he has served in leadership positions such as Vice President and Director.

Malcolm’s sporting involvement spans football, basketball, volleyball, and badminton, with coaching and management roles at both junior and development levels. He has worked as a Junior Football Manager and Coach, a WAFL Junior Development Coach, and has also coached basketball and netball teams. Beyond his professional contributions, Malcolm actively supports not-for-profit initiatives, including ICEA and The Fishing Rod Foundation.

In his personal life, Malcolm enjoys motorcycle riding, camping, and traveling. With seven grandchildren, he is passionate about helping people reach their potential, combining his love of family with his commitment to personal development and community involvement.

Steve King
Executive Director

Steve located in Western Australia has been an influential figure in the global and local floorball community for nearly two decades. A dedicated member of the International Floorball Federation’s Central Board and Executive Committee since 2008, Steve’s current term runs until December 2024. Throughout their career, Steve has played key leadership roles within Australian Floorball, including Secretary, Treasurer, and President since 2006, while also serving as the President and Senior Vice President of the Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation (AOFC) since 2008.

Currently, Steve holds dual roles as the Executive Director and Treasurer of Floorball Australia Ltd. On the field, Steve represented Australia as a goalkeeper at the 2006 World Floorball Championships and competed in multiple AOFC Cups, also playing for the Revolution Sharks in Perth as both a goalkeeper and defender.

Off the field, Steve holds a Bachelor of Business from Warrnambool, Victoria, and runs a business specializing in demolition, asbestos removal, and contaminated site remediation, based in Perth. In their spare time, Steve enjoys golf and reading, balancing their professional and sporting commitments with personal passions.

Chris Milne
Secretary

Chris Milne, appointed as a Secretary of Floorball Australia in 2024, brings extensive leadership experience in finance and accounting. He has held senior management roles including Finance Director, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Finance Manager, and Consultant, with expertise spanning decision support, change management, and process improvement.

Chris provides strategic financial insight to the board, leveraging expertise in finance leadership, investments, process improvements, and corporate governance.

Vanessa Austin

Vanessa, from Sydney, is a dedicated leader in floorball and sports development. She began her floorball journey in 2012 with the Peninsula Floorball Club, where she now serves as Chairman. In 2024, she expanded her leadership impact by founding Western Sydney Floorball, introducing the sport to a new region and driving local community engagement. She also is a member of the AOFC Youth Development Floorball Committee (2024-2028).

Since 2017, Vanessa has represented Australia in the Women’s National Team, competing in major international tournaments, including the World Floorball Championships (2017, 2019, 2023). Her passion for sport extends beyond floorball, as she contributes to community initiatives through her role on the Blacktown Council's sports and recreation advisory committee. 

In addition to her sporting achievements, Vanessa brings expertise in cyber security. She holds a Bachelor of Business Information Systems and has completed a Women in Leadership in Sport course. Currently managing Cyber Executive Services and with experience as a Digital Forensics Consultant, Vanessa specializes in online investigations and personal security. 

Shannon Barnes

Shannon, a resident of Western Australia, holds dual degrees in Exercise Science and Human Movement and an Honours degree in Applied Science with a focus on Biomechanics. She currently works as a Field Operations Coordinator at Sportable and as a Senior Biomechanist at Victoria University, blending her passion for sports performance and biomechanics with hands-on operations.

Shannon began her floorball journey with the Pakenham Squishees (Victoria) in 2012, playing as a goalkeeper and center. Since 2017, she has represented Australia on the national team, participating in multiple international tournaments, including the 2017, 2019, and 2023 World Floorball Championships (WFC) and their qualifying events. Her leadership extends to coaching, having served as Assistant Coach for the Australian Women’s Team at the WFC in 2022 and 2024.

Beyond floorball, Shannon is actively involved in community and sports organizations. She has held committee roles within the Victorian Floorball Association and Skye Cricket Club and has been a dedicated Girl Guide Leader since 2007. A multi-sport athlete, Shannon has played in the Women’s VFL, cricket, and ice hockey, while her love for hiking and camping reflects her enthusiasm for the outdoors.

Ross Ashcroft

Ross brings over 15 years of diverse experience in governance, human rights, adult education, and professional discipline, both in Australia and internationally. His leadership in these areas reflects a commitment to socially conscious practices and values-aligned living. In August 2024, Ross was appointed to the Floorball Australia Board, where he leverages his expertise to strengthen governance frameworks and oversee compliance as the organization’s Anti-Doping Officer (2023 - present).

Throughout his career, Ross has applied his multidisciplinary expertise to sports organizations, from grassroots to high-performance environments. His involvement spans coaching, strength and conditioning, sports therapy, and officiating. Ross's dedication to inclusivity earned him the Australian Sports Medal in 2024, recognizing his contributions to athletes with intellectual impairments at the 2023 Virtus Global Games.

Ross’s governance background is complemented by an extensive range of qualifications, including a Master of Laws and certifications in elite athlete wellbeing, high-performance sport, and yoga. His experience with numerous national and international teams—spanning rugby, football, netball, swimming, and Paralympic events—enables him to understand the needs of athletes and administrators alike. In addition to his work with Floorball Australia, Ross serves on various global committees, including roles within the International Paralympic Committee. 

Norman Kurta

Norman, appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Floorball Australia in September 2024, brings extensive leadership and management experience across multiple industries. With a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science and qualifications in building and finance, Norman has held senior roles, including CEO at the Australian BPD Foundation and SafeCode, and Delivery Director at Orion Innovation. His diverse career also includes directing operations at Acron Joinery and Zadar Consulting, showcasing his broad expertise in technology, construction, and finance.

Norman has a strong passion for sports, participating competitively in soccer with Beaumaris FC (U45) and in men’s open basketball with Sandringham OMBC. His involvement in team sports highlights his commitment to teamwork, discipline, and leadership beyond the corporate world.

In addition to his executive roles, Norman is an experienced board member and advisor. He currently serves as a Board Director and Finance Committee Member for Caladenia Dementia Care and as an Advisory Board Member for QuickSite.Guru. His previous governance experience includes serving on the board of LeasePLUS Group, further demonstrating his dedication to contributing to community and industry growth through strategic leadership.

Jess Jash

Jess, appointed as a Director of Floorball Australia in September 2024, brings a rich background in wellbeing consulting, leadership coaching, and corporate communications. Currently pursuing a Master of Applied Positive Psychology, Jess specializes in emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and workplace wellbeing. Her practical, evidence-based approach to leadership and team development has supported clients across Defence, sports teams, and corporate organizations in building authentic, high-performing teams.

Jess has significant experience in sports leadership, having served as Program Manager for the Australian Men's Goalball Team (Aussie Storm). In this volunteer role, she coordinated logistics for national and international training camps and competitions, including preparations for the Asia-Pacific Championships, qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. She also provided wellbeing coaching, yoga, and mindfulness programs to support player recovery and team cohesion.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Jess grew up playing and umpiring competitive netball while volunteering to assist with club operations. Her deep appreciation for community sport stems from her family’s involvement in local sports associations, with her mother serving as a netball club president and her father leading Surf Life Saving Club activities. This foundation instilled in her a passion for sport and a strong commitment to volunteerism and sports administration.

Roman Abasy

Roman, appointed as a Director of Floorball Australia in September 2024, brings extensive experience in sports leadership, coaching, and community development. With over 15 years of experience in Taekwondo, including representing Afghanistan in major international competitions such as the Asian Games and World Taekwondo Championships, Roman has demonstrated excellence in both sport and leadership. His dedication to empowering communities through sports extends from coaching national teams to leading impactful initiatives supporting disadvantaged groups.

Roman’s commitment to inclusion and community building is evident through his work as a Sports Coordinator for Reclink Australia, where he provides sports opportunities for marginalized communities. Additionally, he serves as a Regional Community Networker for Multicultural NSW, a Board Member of Floorball Australia, and a member of the Multicultural Advisory Board of Fairfield Council, contributing his expertise to advisory groups and leadership boards.

Passionate about using sports to drive social change, Roman brings a unique global perspective to the Floorball Australia Board. His personal journey from athlete to advocate and coach, combined with his experience in sports administration and community outreach, positions him to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of floorball in Australia.