Our People

Murray Newman State Lead

Nadelle Legge State Services Officer

Brian Hinton Events Coordinator

Brian has been around triathlon for over 35 years having first competed in the Hastings Duathlon in 1985. He was involved with the Melbourne Triathlon club from the early days and was involved in the establishment of the Victorian Duathlon Series in 1987. He went on to become a Life member of Melbourne Triathlon Club after many years on the committee, and as President, and later was awarded Life membership of Triathlon Victoria and Triathlon Australia for similar long and distinguished periods of service.

Since retiring from working life, Brian has graciously and with great passion given his time to triathlon with roles including Acting CEO, Triathlon Australia (2005), Board member (Triathlon Victoria, Triathlon Australia and the ITU), TA Selection Committee, TA Awards Committee (current Chair) and ITU Multisport Committee (current Secretary).

In the past 15 years Brian has taken to officiating and holds accreditation as a TA Regional Technical Official (Level 2) and ITU Level 2. He enjoys the opportunity to mentor others and promote the benefits of the role and community connections. Brian is proud of his involvement as an official highlighted by officiating at the 2004 Olympics (Athens) and as ITU team leader at 16 World Championships and 5 World Cups.

Jenny Dennison Technical Administrator

Deborah Friedlander President

Deborah has 20 years’ experience in management, law, and finance.  Most recently, Deborah served as a managing director for Caterpillar Financial, financing large construction and mining equipment, with full P&L responsibility for Australian and New Zealand operations.  Prior to her 16 years at Caterpillar, Deborah practised law at Clifford Chance in London and King + Wood Mallesons in Melbourne.  Deborah has degrees in law and science from the University of Melbourne and is currently completing a Masters of Environment (Climate Change) at the University of Melbourne.  She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Deborah is a keen age-group triathlete with a preference for sprint distances.

For any contact enquiries: president@vic.triathlon.org.au

Melanie Armsby

Melanie is a senior commercial lawyer with 13 years’ experience in global law firms, Herbert Smith Freehills and Norton Rose Fulbright, advising clients, including not-for-profit organisations. She has moved in-house and is Senior Counsel at Origin Energy. During her career she has advised on issues including Corporate governance, Directors’ duties, Corporations Act, Australian Consumer Law, Risk and risk management, Intellectual property, Litigation, Competition, Privacy and Contractual issues. Melanie has a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Tasmania, a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne and is a registered trade mark attorney. She is an active member of the Law Institute of Victoria, Association of Corporate Counsel, Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand, and The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys. Melanie has a keen interest in triathlon and is committed to supporting Triathlon Victoria’s work in inspiring people of all ages to live a healthy life, spend time outdoors and be socially connected.

Mardi Cuthbert

Mardi is currently employed as Head of Facilities and Infrastructure at City of Casey managing a large workforce to maintain all infrastructure and facilities in the municipality – incorporating staff, financial, risk management and decision making. Having worked across local government and YMCA Victoria, Mardi has a strong understanding of the community leisure and local government industries in Victoria.

Within triathlon, Mardi has been an active member of the Triathlon Victoria Women in Triathlon Working Group, graduate of the Triathlon ACT Women in Leadership Program, and is Vice President of the Hawthorn Triathlon Club.

Nigel Fanning

Nigel is the Group Head of Networks, Schedules and Alliances at Jetstar Airways (Qantas Group). He has held a broad range of commercial and operational leadership roles in the air transport industry in Europe and Asia. Previously Nigel worked at Sydney Airport as Head of Commercial, and various Business Development management roles in easyJet Airline (UK). He also volunteers his time to support several university and industry advisory committees. Nigel was a competitive swimmer before taking up triathlon in 2000. He has competed in numerous triathlons and multisport events around the world, including several ITU World Championships. He continues to compete in age group triathlons, cycling, and masters swimming events. His favourite events include Noosa, Hamilton Island and the 2XU Triathlon series in Melbourne. He is a committee member of the Yarra Triathlon club. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course (GAICD), holds a Master of Science from Cranfield University (UK), and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University Limerick (Ireland).

Nick Kennedy

Nick is an experienced management consultant with expertise in human resources, workforce planning and design, change and transformation. As managing partner of HR advisory firm, deliberatedge, Nick has strong commercial leadership experience and a proven track record in guiding successful organisations. Across his career, Nick has advised government, not for profit and corporate organisations on matters relating to workforce design, staff turnover, leadership, talent, wellbeing, organisational structure, service delivery and operating model design. He is a proud foundation member of the Davey Black triathlon club, has served on the committee, and has a deep appreciation for grass roots triathlon, clubs and their members.

A passionate 70.3 athlete, Nick has represented Australia as an age group athlete at multiple half ironman world championships. In addition to his long course endeavours, Nick is a regular participant in the Noosa Triathlon and has a soft spot for the Sandringham 2XU Olympic distance race.

Damian Walsh

Damian is Managing Director – Asia with DB Results, a leading Digital Technology company headquartered in Australia but serving the Asia Pacific region.  He has over 30 years experience in the Finance and Technology Industry, holding leadership positions previously with NAB and Coles Myer in Australia, as well as major corporations in Hong Kong.  Damian’s sporting background started as an AFL football umpire, followed by running, and then moved into Triathlon while working and living in Hong Kong where he competed across many Asian races at the 70.3 distance.  He also qualified and competed at the last 2 pre Covid IM 70.3 World Championships in South Africa and Nice, France.  Since returning to Australia a few years ago, Damian has been an active member, and Committee member of Nunawading Triathlon Club and has been Training Coordinator for the last 2 years, balanced with competing himself across full and half Ironman races.  Damian is passionate about developing the sport of Triathlon from the club level up, and seeing Junior talent fostered and encouraged to shine on the world stage.

Mark Warburton

A familiar name in the Victorian triathlon community, Mark is the President of the Hawthorn Triathlon Club and has been part of Triathlon Victoria’s Governance and Finance Committee. With experience in leadership as a company CEO, Mark has experience in providing strategic direction, managing Human Resources and overseeing finance, sales and marketing in the corporate world. A keen triathlete, Mark has raced in Sprint, Olympic and half IRONMAN domestically and has represented Australia overseas. He is also a Triathlon Victoria Technical Official.

Tim Bentley

When we talk of Victorian pioneers of our sport, one name stands out as probably the most successful Victorian triathlete in terms of race wins at both elite and age group level.

Like fellow legend Stephen Foster, Tim Bentley was at the sports beginning in Australia. Australian Sprint Champion in 1983, a foundation member of the Geelong Triathlon Club and Australian ‘Endurathon’ winner in 1986, Tim was an athlete with an incredible run. He frequently started the run ‘down the field’ and proceeded to run himself onto the podium at all levels. Like all ‘pioneer’ triathletes of the early period, Tim completed across all distances, winning at Sprint, Olympics and Long Course. In the golden age of our sport, Tim’s ability stood out and he ‘bested’ many of the superstars of the era.

Emma Carney

Triathlon Australia Hall of Fame and inaugural ITU Hall of Fame triathlete, Emma Carney, dominated the mid 1990s in Sprint and Olympic distance triathlon. The first of the three World Champion ‘Emma’s’, alongside Snowsill and Moffat. Emma is a two-time World Champion, winning the 1994 world title by a record margin of 2 minutes 12 sections, was number one ranked athlete in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and recorded 19 World Cup wins, including 12 straight wins, during this period.

Her fellow athletes marvelled at her hard ‘all or nothing’ attitude towards training and competition. Forced to retire for health reason, Emma continued to be involved in the sport as a coach and Triathlon Australia board member.

Stephen Foster

Stephen Foster is a Triathlon Australia Hall of Fame athlete. He first competed in triathlon in 1983, and within a few short years was at the top of the sport in Australia. Steve was Triathlete of the Year three of the four years it was held in the 80s, as well as National Series Champion, five time National Olympic Distance Champion, and National Long Course Champion. Foster was the first Aussie male to have significant success over the best, beating Scott Tinley and Rob Barel in Australia, and finishing ahead of Dave Scott, Mark allen and Scott Molina in the 1987 unofficial World Championships, going on to win the world’s biggest race, Chicago, ahead of Mike Pigg, truly cementing his place as one of the sport’s greats.

David & Penny Hansen

While the public face of Supersprint is David Hansen, those close to the sport know how important Penny Hansen has been behind the scenes. Both have been involved in the sport since its beginnings in Australia, with David quickly moving in administration with Penny after a brief stint as a pro triathlete. After starting the Captains Triathlon, and later Supersprint Port Arlington in 1987, Supersprint was formed and became the company that we all know well today. David was a foundation member of the Geelong Triathlon Club, and a foundating member of the predecessor to Triathlon Victoria, the Triathlon Association of Victoria.

Over a quarter of a century later, and Victoria leads the way in commercial racing with a level of professionalism that other states admire. A critical organisation to the sport, SuperSprint organised the inaugural 2000 Sydney Olympic Triathlon, as well as six ITU Triathlon World Cups leading up to the Olympics, staged five UCI Women’s Road Cycling World Cups in Geelong, over 10 Australian Championships, as well as races in Singapore and Fiji.

Jo King

Jo King first appeared on most triathlete’s radars in 1996, when she made the World Junior Team in Cancun. Nicknamed ‘the sponge’ for her dedication to learning to train and compete, it was not a surprise to most when Jo blitzed the junior scene to win the junior race the Cleveland ITU World Championships. In 1997, Jo went on to win the National Open Sprint title and record three top ten finishes at various World Cup races. The following year, Jo broke through into the senior ranks, winning the ITU World Championship in Lausanne. Jo moved easily into long course triathlon, winning the 19998 Frankston Australian Long Course Championships and finish second at the IRONMAN Forster in a world record female debut IRONMAN time in the same year. In 1999, Jo recorded a number of stellar results including fifth at the Montreal World Championships, a win at the Belgium World Cup, 2nd in the ITU Long Course World Championships, a win at IM Roth and 9th at Kona.

Rohan Phillips

Before becoming a triathlete, Rohan Phillips had more than ten years experience as a cyclist. After reading about cyclist John Howard’s third place finish at Ironman Hawaii in 1980, and then his win in 1981, Rohan was inspired to enter the event, despite having no swimming experience whatsoever. Four months later, Rohan won the 1981 Nautilus Melbourne Triathlon, winning a ticket through to the February 1982 Ironman Hawaii. With limited experience it’s no surprise his his overall placing on the day was thwarted by stronger competitors.

On his return to Australia, Phillips launched into an unbroken winning streak over a period of twenty or so months, recording wins at events like the 1982 Hastings Triathlon, 2918 Geelong Endurathon, 1983 Ocean Grove Triathlon, 1983 Gold Triathlon Triathlon, and the 1983 Coral Coast Triathlon among others.

The biggest impact Phillips brought to the sport was his indepdent approach; he wore skin suits made by Hillman Cycles long before others picked up on the idea, bolted cycling shoes to his bike pedals to make transitions quicker, and kept a nutrition diary. Phillips returned to cycling by the mid-1980s, but by then his renowned debut at Hawaii, alongside his innovations and his victories in Australia, had made Phillips’ career the stuff of triathlon folklore.

Peter (Robbo) Robertson

Peter Robertson burst on to the Australian triathlon scene at a time when Australian triathletes reigned supreme.

Robertson first came to the forefront of multisport as a 19-year-old in the infamous F1 series races that dominated Australian triathlon through the second half of the 90s.

Robbo, as he became known, outran the best runners in the game. However, it was the way he outran them that was most surprising, often making up deficits of 100 metres in one kilometre. Think Simon Lessing or Al Brownlee or the dominance of Gwen Jorgenson and you’d be in the ballpark.

Robbo became Australia’s most successful Olympic distance triathlete. He finished second to Olivier Marceau at the 2000 ITU Worlds (sudden death back then) and backed this up with a win in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and a second-place finish in 2002.

Perhaps his most significant victory was Gamagori Japan in 2005. Robbo was a reserve and only made the team at short notice. Out of form and not expected to do well, Robbo got off the bike with the bunch and with a quick transition, he sprinted out of T2 gaining a 50-metre lead. The chasing pack expected him to fade, but Robbo held that lead to the finish line to claim his third World Championship.

Robbo also won the Sydney Olympic demonstration race destroying the opposition in a fashion which became his trademark ‘easing’ down the finishing chute.

From 2000 to 2008, Robbo qualified for every Australian team and was Australia’s most dominant athlete on the international circuit. He represented Australia at two Olympics and two Commonwealth Games, picking up a bronze medal in Melbourne (2006) behind winner Brad Kahlefeldt.

In 2015, Robbo was inducted into the ITU Hall of Fame alongside Michellie Jones, Emma Snowsill and Simon Whitfield.

Julie Tedde

Julie’s contribution to Triathlon Victoria and triathlon extends over 30 years.

Julie has coached both club and squad environment where she is known for her high standards and expectations, and respect for each individual’s triathlon goals.

Julie instils discipline and encouragement in equal measures to maximise athlete potential. She has consistently coached athletes to Age Group World Championships and Kona. Her coaching also extends to the junior ranks, where she has been actively involved with Triathlon Victoria’s Development Program. Further to this has been her support of coaches through mentoring and development to help them pursue their coaching businesses goals.

Through race director roles with Sole Motive and the ActiveTri series, Julie played a significant part in the early period of multiclass racing and the Victorian Schools Triathlon Shield competition. Julie stepped inside the ropes to become an accredited technical official, quickly progressing to Level 2. She has performed a voluntary role of sanctioning officer for Triathlon Victoria. She is always willing to share her experience with other race directors in pursuit of safe and fair racing.

Julie is a natural leader and has been an influential and inspiring female in Victorian triathlon.