WATER POLO AUSTRALIA CONFIRMS KEY HIGH PERFORMANCE ROLES

Water Polo Australia is pleased to confirm four of its five High Performance roles recently advertised, with Andrew Pratley appointed to the key leadership role of WPA General Manager High Performance.

After an extensive search, WPA is excited to welcome Pratley as the General Manager High Performance, to lead the implementation of WPA’s new High Performance Strategy.

Most recently serving as the High Performance Director at CombatAUS, Pratley has also held various roles with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Australian Sports Commission, giving him a strong understanding of the high performance sport system.

The announcement follows the confirmation of Head Coach roles for the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers and Sharks, with Bec Rippon and Tim Hamill to continue in their positions through until the LA 2028 Olympic Games. 

They will be further supported by the new look high performance structure that includes the existing role of Chief Medical Officer and newly defined roles of Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Manager and Performance Support Manager. 

Water Polo Australia CEO Tim Welsford said the high calibre of talent WPA has been able to attract to the high performance team, will no doubt bolster the great position the teams are in leading into the new Olympic cycle. 

“We are thrilled to confirm four of our five roles within the High Performance team for the next Olympic Games cycle, to be led by Andrew Prately. 

“Andrew brings a deep knowledge of what is required as a GM of High Performance, not only from his most recent role with CombatAUS, but also working within the AIS and ASC system over many, many years. We are excited to have someone of his knowledge and practical experience join our leadership team and help to deliver our new strategy that will take us through until Brisbane 2032. 

“As part of the new high performance strategy, we recognised a need to redefine the roles within our high performance team.  So while it's not an increase in the number of people, the newly defined roles will provide the best level of support to our athletes, coaches as well as the pathways programs,” said Welsford. 

Commenting on his appointment, Andrew Pratley said: “Given the sport’s rich history, the strong performances of both the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers and Aussie Sharks in Paris, and with a home Olympic Games on our door step, I’m really excited to be joining Water Polo Australia in this role.

“There’s so much I’m looking forward to, but mostly I think it’s about meeting and supporting great people in whatever way I can as we chase big goals together…that’s what energises me.

“It’s a huge period coming up in Australian sport with a home Games in 2032 - I can certainly remember how Sydney 2000 inspired me. I was fortunate enough to watch a few live events in the second week in Sydney, and unbelievably the first of those was being at the aquatics centre when the Stingers beat the USA in the final in the last second of the match…my dad and I will never forget it.

“To now have the privilege of working with water polo as we move towards another home Games is an opportunity I am grateful for and really excited about.

“The new High Performance Strategy provides strong direction for us all. We have a great team of people, we have just come off a successful Paris campaign, we have a high quality HP strategy that will guide our work and we have increased industry investment and support. That’s a great platform for us to take on the LA cycle,” he said.

Water Polo Australia is also pleased to confirm a number of other key high performance roles as part of the new team structure. 

Dr. Carlee Van Dyk has commenced with WPA as the Chief Medical Officer, having served in roles across numerous sports including AFLW, Super Netball, A League, Rowing Australia as well as the AIS. 

The newly defined role of Performance Support Manager has been accepted by Kieran Young, who has served in numerous roles across performance support and S&C for the AIS, Paddle Australia, QAS and Cricket Australia. 

Sarah Conlon will join the team as Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Manager, joining the high performance team with extensive experiences in the athlete wellbeing space across organisations such as AIS, CombatAUS, NBA and Basketball Australia. 

Applications for the Athlete and Coach Development Manager have now closed, an update on the successful applicant will be made in the coming weeks.