VAFA Board

George Voyage OAM

President

George Voyage began his VAFA career in 1970 and he went on to play 240 games for Caulfield Grammarians over eighteen seasons.

He was granted life membership of Caulfield Grammarians and was appointed as the Club’s Senior Coach, a position he held in two stints for three years.

In between, he was appointed to various roles for the VAFA U19 rep teams.  In 1997, he was appointed VAFA A-D4 and C-D4 Representative Team Senior Coach- and enjoyed an envious winning streak in that position with only one loss (in his first year at the helm).

He relinquished that role in 2008 when he was elected to the board of the VAFA where he chaired the Football, Growth and Development subcommittee.

George was awarded a VAFA Merit award in 2005 and the VAFA Personality of the year in 2007. He was elected President in December 2018-2021 and re-appointed President in March 2022.

Ivan Delac

Vice-President

Ivan Delac joins the VAFA Board after 9 years as President of the Glen Eira Football Club.  Having spent the better part of a decade rebuilding the foundations of Glen Eira through a merger, implementing that club’s inaugural Women’s Team and an U19’s pathway partnership with McKinnon Secondary College.

Educated at Xavier College and ACU with a Bachelor of Business, Ivan brings a commercial acumen as a senior manager for LG Electronics.

Ivan’s success at Glen Eira AFC came from securing more than $500K in local, state, and federal government grants, other fundraising, and sponsorship initiatives as well as a detailed knowledge and understanding of long term strategic and succession planning.  While experiencing a horrid start as President of Glen Eira in 2013, overcoming a 708-day draught between senior men’s wins:  Glen Eira has now grown to five teams and delivered five club Premierships, culminating in Glen Eira winning the VAFA Club Championship in 2021.

Ivan served for 2 years as a member of the Divisional Clubs Advisory Group,  developing a solid grounding on all matters of football operations and rules planning.

Ivan chairs the Commercial subcommittee.

Ben Verney

Treasurer

Ben Verney joined the VAFA Board in March 2023 bringing with him a wealth of experience gained across business, community and sport.

Ben is well credentialed and has a strong corporate professional services consulting background where he has partnered with a huge range of businesses and enterprises – optimising businesses, commercial outcomes and operational efficiencies. He has successfully managed and restructured many businesses and held roles including Managing Director of SMEs, Group Commercial General Manager of ASX100 listed companies, Voluntary Administrator, Liquidator and as a government authorised business mentor.

Ben co-founded the boutique corporate advisory, restructuring and turnaround advisory and service business, Greyhouse Partners. As an operating Partner, he focuses on providing business optimisation and restructuring services to distressed and non-distressed businesses.

He has a strong interest in community organisations and has been involved at all levels at various community sporting clubs and associations over the years. He has been President, Vice President and Treasurer at various primary education schools and centres as well as Coach, Manager, Trainer and Committee Member at various clubs across athletics, basketball, hockey and football.

When not at an AFL game supporting his team – St Kilda, he is generally at a VAFA game watching his son’s old team – OBGFC. Ben took on a committee position at OBGFC overseeing the treasury function and was part of the sub-committee tasked with establishing a female footy team at OBGFC.

Whilst not a football player himself, Ben has been a Big V hockey representative in Juniors to Masters and continues playing today at Southern United with some of his “old” hockey mates. Ben is passionate about keeping fit and can often be seen running around the Bay with his Labrador.

Vicki Durston

Vicki Durston is currently a member of the Executive team at Breast Cancer Network Australia as a Director of Policy, Advocacy and Member Support. She is a registered nurse by profession and has 30 years’ health sector experience spanning 20 years in health leadership and management across public, private, and not for profit sectors.

Vicki is highly committed to deliver measurable results for organisations and communities through effective strategic planning, governance, policy development, financial management and key stakeholder engagement.

She is a committed, enthusiastic football administrator as a former president of St Peters Football Club coming up through the ranks of assistant secretary, and secretary. Vicki’s passion for Australian rules football is ongoing, in areas of community engagement, working to understand member club’s needs, club sustainability, diversity and growth and the implementation of female participation.

Vicki is part of the Football subcommittee with a newly created portfolio overseeing the Women’s competition and is also Chair of the Governance subcommittee.

Anthony Amad

Anthony first played at Marcellin OCFC in 1978. Playing over 200 games and served on the committee for 10 years as both the Vice President and the Fundraising Manager.

Anthony was elected as a VAFA board member in 2006 after serving as a representative selector since 1999.

He has served on the Football, Marketing and General Committees and his primary focus is the Big V Club, an annual gathering of former representative players. He is a current member of the Commercial subcommittee.

Sarah Delbosc

Sarah joined the VAFA Board as a leader in women’s football. As a foundation player, inaugural two-time premiership captain, two-time best and fairest and Vice President of the Hawthorn Amateur Football Club. Sarah was integral in shaping the club’s women’s program over the last five years.

She has been immersed in the VAFA since the Women’s competition began. Passionate about its growth beyond clubland, Sarah became a member of the VAFA Women’s Advisory group and VAFA Women’s Coaching Academy to broaden her reach and impact on the sport for a new generation of female footballers. With a strong voice for advocating for change as well as recognising the proud history of the competition.

Sarah has a unique skill set with extensive experience in leadership and organisational development, culture and transformation and large-scale project management as a senior learning solution designer at PWC. A highly regarded facilitator and coach, she is committed to creating environments for leaders at all levels to articulate and execute a purpose-led and commercial vision, effectively challenge assumptions and thrive in complex environments.

Educated at Loreto and ACU with Bachelors of Exercise Science and studies in Psychology, Sarah is also an accredited practitioner in a wide range of learning diagnostics and psychometric tools.

Sarah’s experience in the not-for-profit sector as a Director on the Pangea Global Health Education Board, ambassador of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation, and creator of the Getting a head of Brain Cancer fundraising initiative, demonstrates her capacity and passion for making a difference in the community.

Sarah is a member of the Football subcommittee, overseeing Women’s football, and is a member of the Governance subcommittee.

Tim Habel

Tim joined the VAFA Board when elected at the 2021 AGM.

Tim served on UHSVU Committee for over five years including two different terms as Secretary and one as Vice President. He also was Coach / Assistant Coach of UHSVU VAFA U18 for multiple years and Assistant Coach of UHSVU Women’s team 2019.

He was also an inaugural member of VAFA Women’s Football Advisory Group.

Tim played cricket for over 20 years for Williamstown Colts including multiple periods of Service on the Committee including as Treasurer as well as Coaching Juniors.

He is also Co-Founder of the group “Grassroots Women’s Sport” and is a strong supporter of diversity and collaboration.Tim served as Treasurer for multiple years for the Not-for-Profit Community Health Service “Westgate Community Health Services”

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and has over 35 years of experience in the Finance Sector, including Finance, Actuarial, Marketing and other roles with NAB, AXA, MLC, AIA, AMP and others, both in direct and consultancy roles.

Tim is our current Chair of the Community subcommittee.

Alistair Ewart

Alistair joined the board in March 2022.

Alistair attended Murchison Primary School, Shepperton High School, The Geelong College and studied Applied Science at Longerenong Agriculture School.

Alistair is the Founding parent of HUSH Foundation – music therapy at the RCH alongside Dr Catherin Crock which led to this being rolled out to all paediatric centres in Australia.

Alistair has over 25 years of involvement in the VAFA – as a commercial partner, volunteer, fundraiser, and worker and started the inaugural VAFA Grand Final luncheon which he ran for three years.

Nicole Hall

Nicole is a Director of Operations with over 25 years executive leadership experience in professional services, specifically STEM.  Nicole is committed to developing and delivering strategic plans, designing and embedding corporate governance, financial management and developing key stakeholder relationships.

In addition, Nicole is a passionate Australian rules football supporter and administrator. Nicole brings to the board experience at the grassroots level having been involved with the establishment of the MCC Women’s Football Club from its inception and most recently holding the positions of Vice President and President.  Nicole’s particular areas of interest include sports governance, the growth and sustainability of the women’s competition, club sustainability and community engagement and partnerships.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business and a post graduate qualification in psychology and is a current member of the VAFA Community Sub-Committee.

Paul Newton

Paul has had a close connection with the VAFA community over many years.

Paul’s passion of the VAFA stems from a combination of his playing days at Collegians, followed by a 12-year term at Old Carey where his children played, with nine years as President.  Beyond that, Paul has previously  spent 18 months on the VAFA Board during2018-2019 before stepping down, having a sea change and serving as the Commercial Manager for the Old Xavierians.