MSA Research Centre Committee

Professor Caroline Finch AO - Edith Cowen University

Professor Caroline Finch AO is internationally regarded as Australia’s leading sports injury epidemiologist and prevention researcher. Her research has directly informed safety policy for Government Departments of Sport and Health, health promotion/injury prevention agencies, and peak sports bodies worldwide. In 2022, she received the Special Award for Sustained Achievement in Injury Prevention from the Australasian Injury Prevention Network. In 2018, she became an Officer of the Order of Australia for ‘distinguished service to sports medicine, particularly in the area of injury prevention as an educator, researcher and author, and to the promotion of improved health in athletes and those who exercise’.

Professor Clare Hanlon - Susan Alberti Women in Sport Chair; Victoria University

Clare provides translational research and advice to international - local organisations to build capacity for girls and women to lead and play sport. Clare has pushed the boundaries for sport uniforms, co-led a national framework for women in sport; and was a member on the Victorian Ministerial Inquiry for Women and Girls in Sport and advisor for three State/Territory Governments on infrastructure and systems. Clare is Co-chair, Auscycling Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group and Co-Founder Musical Moments Trust to help kids with cancer. In 2022 Clare finished her roles at Tennis Australia Women in Sport Taskforce; and Director, Oceania Gymnastics Union.

Professor Rhodri Lloyd - Cardiff Metropolitan University

Rhodri is a Professor in Paediatric Strength and Conditioning and Chair of the Youth Physical Development Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University. His research interests surround the impact of growth and maturation on long-term athletic development and the neuromuscular mechanisms underpinning training adaptations in youth. He is a senior associate editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and as associate editor for the Strength and Conditioning Journal.

Professor Donna O’Connor - The University of Sydney

Donna O’Connor is a professor of sports coaching and coordinates the sports coaching program at the University of Sydney. She is a former coach, an active researcher and consultant on coaching practice, athlete and coach development, and sports performance. Donna is a member of the International Council of Coaching Excellence (ICCE) research committee and an ICCE-trained coach developer.

Associate Professor Simon Rice - The University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Simon Rice is a Principal Research Fellow and Clinical Psychologist at The University of Melbourne, where he leads the Elite Athlete Mental Health research program at Orygen. Simon has broad research interests stemming from his clinical and consulting work across the youth mental health and elite sports sectors. Simon is a member of the International Olympic Committee Expert Consensus Group into Athlete Mental Health. He has developed and validated the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire, the Sport Psychological Safety Inventory and the Athletic Perceptions of Performance Scale. He is an experienced educator, having undertaken formal teacher training and has held secondary and tertiary teaching positions throughout Australia and South-East Asia.

Dr Ebonie Rio - Victorian Institute of Sport

Professor Sam Robertson - Victoria University

Professor Sam Robertson is a researcher and consultant focusing on the future of sport. His work and research has spanned topics such as sports innovation, skill acquisition, sports analytics, organisational decision-making, and technology strategy. He has worked with a range of sporting organisations including FIFA, The Australian Football League, San Antonio Spurs, Tennis Australia, Barça Innovation Hub, Kansas City Royals and the Western Bulldogs amongst others. Sam also hosts the popular future of sport podcast, One Track Mind.

Dr Liam Toohey - Australian Institute of Sport

Dr Liam Toohey is a clinical epidemiologist, physiotherapist and researcher. Liam is the sports epidemiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he leads the coordination of proactive and preventative health measures within the Australian high performance system to maximise athlete availability and performance outcomes. Liam has a Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master in Physiotherapy Practice (Honours), Graduate Certificate of Public Health, Master of Clinical Epidemiology, and a PhD in sports injury epidemiology and prevention. Liam holds an Adjunct Associate Professor appointment at the University of Canberra and is a Member of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.

Professor Tony Watt - Victoria University

Anthony is a Professor of Education (Physical Education) and Associate Dean Research and Research Training at Victoria University. Anthony has extensive research experience in the field of physical education pedagogy, physical literacy in the physical education curriculum, and teachers’ confidence and motivation to teach physical education. He is an experienced educator, demonstrated by supervising numerous Doctoral and Masters Students, and has been responsible for the design, development and delivery of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum and Pedagogy unit in the Master of Teaching Primary Course. Anthony has served as a Board Member for the Victorian Branch of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Professor Kate Webster - La Trobe University

Professor Kate Webster is a Professor of Allied Health and Head of Department for Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at La Trobe University, Melbourne Australia. She is an internationally recognised expert in orthopaedic and sports medicine research and had been named as Australia’s Top Researcher in Orthopaedic Medicine and Surgery. Her personal research interests cover a range of topics pertaining to knee orthopaedics, including surgical techniques and outcomes, and return to sport issues, with a focus on younger aged athletes and the psychological impact of returning to sport participation.

Maribyrnong Sports Academy Staff Committee Members

Mr Michael Keenen (Maribyrnong College Principal)

Mr Mark McAllion (Maribyrnong Sports Academy Director)

Dr Paul Larkin (MSA Research Centre Director)

Mr Tony Baldwin (School Council)