National Leadership & Governance
Meet our National Executive Committee
Our leadership consists entirely of volunteers responsible for the management & operations of the league
Erik de Jager
(he/him)
Chief Finance Officer
Erik manages all aspects of the league’s finances, including the preparing of annual and season budgets and the league’s end of year financial statements and overseeing membership registration.
Erik brings valuable experience from his role as Senior Risk Underwriter for an Insurance company, where he deals with complex financial (credit) risks. Having to deal with various different kinds of companies, the wide exposure to industries helps Erik identify risk and build a framework for the organisation to mitigate (financial) risks.
Jamarr Mills (he/him)
Chief Brand Officer
Jamarr facilitates Emerald City Kickball’s internal and external communications including digital channels, branding materials and collateral design, and media relations. Jamarr focuses on building the Emerald City Kickball brand’s reputation through marketing and public relations programs in collaboration with other Committee members. He acts as the main point of contact for any external press interactions.
Jamarr brings experience working as Asia Pacific VP, Brand Planning at Essence Global where he guides the world’s leading marketers in the best strategies to grow their brands, nurture existing audiences, and identify new opportunities. It’s no wonder his favourite Wizard of Oz character is the Wicked Witch. Pushing her message in skywriting, iconic catchphrase, and even a rebrand with “Wicked”, she’s the original queen of camp marketing!
James E. Shields III (he/him)
Chief Growth Officer
James, known as JES, is responsible for our national outreach and growth plans for the organisation and maintaining satisfaction from our league’s internal stakeholders (captains, players, social chairs, etc.) and external special interest groups (other sports groups, local government, etc.). JES guides strategic messaging, best practice communications, and guiding policy direction in the interest of the league’s various stakeholders. He initiates programs to keep members of our stakeholder engage and interested in the league’s vision, value and opportunities.
JES is an engagement specialist professionally and strategically brings disconnected people together for a common and developmental purpose. His previous roles working within the public sector and international development equally equipped him with technical ways to build something from the grassroots up. Now circuitously, he gets people to play in the grass.
Alex Webb (he/him)
Strategic Partnerships Lead
Alex leverages the power of partnerships to accelerate the ECKB mission. Partners enhance the kickball experience with their expertise, safe spaces, content, creativity, reach and more.
Alex is a Communications and Marketing professional with specialism in digital and events currently working at the Marine Stewardship Council. Previously, he volunteered for Pride in London as Deputy Director of Communications, the UKs largest LGBT+ event and London's biggest single day outdoor event.
He is a massive Wicked fan, even named his cats Elphaba and Fiyero. His favourite characters from the Wizard of Oz because of their unexpected truth.
Anna Longwood (she/her)
Chief Sports Officer
Anna is responsible primarily for the National Rules, and works closely with the Local Area Sub-Committees Director of Operations to ensure consistency and innovation.
Anna has coached or competed in a large range of sports at local and national level, including sailing, netball, baseball, softball, touch rugby, ballet and rowing (to name a few). Outside of sport, Anna has worked in the regulatory and compliance environment for over 17 years.
Annas down time is usually spent not sitting down. If she's not in the garage restoring her 1968 Morris Mini Deluxe, you’ll usually find her somewhere in the garden, out catching up with friends or getting out of her comfort zone trying something new.
Anna is also a big supporter of mental health, known for finishing any of her kickball speeches with ‘Thank you for getting out of bed today and being here. Please remember: I am enough and you are enough.
Ben Woodlock (he/him)
Chief Events Officer
Ben is responsible for creating and executing large scale national events and projects within the kickball community, such as national and international tournaments, fundraising events and national pride events such as Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
Ben has a passion for Design and Self expression, consecutively chairing ECKB’s Mardi Gras project since Sydney WorldPride, receiving various nominations and grants across the years, most recently including the most prestigious award, the Ron Muncaster Award for Best Costume Design in 2024.
Professionally, Ben is a Management Consultant in the Technology industry, previously working for Deloitte across Asia Pacific and Global, specifically in Innovation, Strategy and Business Operations.
Jemma Young (she/her)
Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Jemma is the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Emerald City Kickball and is based in Perth. Jemma oversees all things ‘people’ and she is responsible for ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion remain at the heart of everything we do. Jemma is passionate about creating spaces that facilitate belonging and that allow people to present themselves as their authentic selves.
By day, Jemma is the Design and Communications manager for an organisational psychology firm, and she has a keen interest in enhancing user experience by making accessibility a priority in design outcomes.
In her free time, Jemma enjoys walking or going to the beach with her furbaby, Tilly; working on fun little graphic design projects; spending time with family and friends; and of course, all the many vibrant kickball-related shenanigans.
Curtis Ward (he/him)
Perth Area Representative
Curtis practices family law as a lawyer (solicitor and barrister), mediator and family dispute resolution practitioner.
Curtis was appointed Commissioner for Legal Aid in 2021. He sits on the executive board of Legal Aid overseeing the performance of the organisation, formulating strategic plans for growth, managing risk and compliance and overseeing budgeting and financial sustainability.
Appointed President of the Gender Reassignment Board WA in 2023, hopefully to be abolished by late 2024. In this role, he is the head of the gender acknowledgement jurisdiction. Curtis reviews and decides on application to change a person’s legally recognised gender.
Previously sat on the executive board of Pride WA, a peak LGBTQIA+ body within WA. Pride WA is responsible for the big Pride events in WA, including the Pride Parade, Fairday and PrideFEST. Curtis sat on this board for 6 years, as the Secretary for 3 and President for 3.
Curtis completed the US State Departments IVLP program in 2021. He sits on various other boards, community groups and advisory committees.
Out of work, and other work, you’ll find him at the theatre.
Steven Ariansen (they/them)
Sydney Area Representative
Steven overlooks Sydney’s committee adherence to our National rules and regulations. They are the main touch point between Sydney and our National organisation leaders.
Steven Joined kickball when they moved to Sydney from out west. As of yet, they have not been able to stop coming back every season. Steven is an avid seamstress and they enjoy doing anything crafty.
You can find Steven with a good book at your local coffee shop.
Samantha Ballantyne (she/her)
Secretary
Sam is responsible for the day to day governance and keeping things in line.
Professionally, Sam works as running an accounting Firm.
With a background in start ups and Female AFL, Sam was asked to assist in bringing Kickball to Perth a few years ago and enjoys supporting such a welcoming diverse community.
Hamilton Kings (he/him)
Philanthropy & Stewardship
Hamilton grew up in Melbourne, moved to Sydney in 2000 for a job in finance. In 2004 he left to start his own business, a restaurant in Bondi. For 20 years, he has owned and run many small businesses, primarily in hospitality.Hamilton owns and runs Honkas restaurant (Potts Point), Surrey Social event space and Hamilton Cooks, a catering business.
Recently, he has been appointed chair of the Potts Point Partnership, local chamber of commerce.
Hamilton has a keen interest in helping people in the communities he is part of. He is an advocate for fostering diversity of thought in both work and personal spaces.
As a highly social person, Hamilton lives and breathes his community. He is commonly found around Potts Point stopping and having a chat with locals, usually with Yank, his 6y.o. Beagle.
Governance
Emerald City Kickball Inc is managed in accordance with the league’s Constitution and Bylaws, which govern all aspects of kickball operations, community engagement, finances and communications. For more information, please contact the Executive Committee.
Emerald City Kickball Incorporated is registered as an incorporated association in New South Wales under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW).