As we head into another year there’s plenty to look forward to and be excited about, particularly at board level at TTV. The last 12 months have seen a lot of changes to the TTV board with five new directors joining since the end of 2020. We thought it would be a great time to take a moment and get to know some of our more recent TTV Board members a little better with five fast questions.

Recently we spoke to Deborah Niccol to learn a bit more about her, her background, and goals for her time at TTV.

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

“I moved to Australia from the UK in 2014 to gain international experience working in the sport industry, following previous roles in leisure management and at Sport England. I have since worked at Melbourne Olympic Parks Trust, Tennis Australia, Bowls Australia, City of Yarra Council, and am now at Sport & Recreation Victoria. Outside of work I’m an active participant in the athletics community, running for Crosbie Crew and South Melbourne Athletic Club, where I was club Secretary 2015-2018.”

2. What brought you to TTV?

“I wanted to use my experience working with clubs and industry stakeholders across the country to provide impartial and comprehensive support to a sport that does not benefit from extensive resources. With diverse leadership being fundamental for the development of organisations, I knew I could both compliment and constructively challenge the organisation to pragmatically evaluate practices for the betterment of table tennis in Victoria.”

3. What are your goals for TTV?

“As a sport with longstanding and rich history, it is important for TTV to evolve with contemporary participation trends whilst maintaining the integrity of traditional values. As a truly inclusive sport, table tennis has limitless opportunities to diversify and increase its participation base, whilst providing a pathway for people pursuing competitive opportunities. In tandem with goals for the field of play, enhanced sector governance requirements are an integral component of sport at all levels. It is therefore important that TTV keeps driving continuous improvements in this space, which has a cascading impact on the table tennis community.”

4. What do you find rewarding and challenging about serving on the board of an SSO?

“It is always a privilege to help lead an organisation at any level. Although serving on a board is a strategic role, as we all know prevalent challenges in recent times have been highly operational. Recognising the difficult circumstances our community is experiencing on-the-ground, it is a natural response to want to provide tangible assistance. Therefore, maintaining focus on an equitable leadership style through balanced decision-making in a complex and ever-changing environment, is both rewarding and challenging in equal parts.”

5. What would you say to the TTV members during this time?

“Thank you for your continued support of table tennis in Victoria. Everyone has played an integral role to collectively navigate the last 18 months. The tireless work undertaken by volunteers and employees of our community is recognised and appreciated. For members who are yet to be involved with delivering the sport, please consider how you can assist your local club. There is no task that is too small to contribute and provide a positive impact. Don’t forget that TTV and other organisations such as Vicsport and Local Governments provide important services that I encourage clubs and associations to leverage. Support includes a diverse suite of resources, programs and grant opportunities.”