Board Members
Dr Sonja Hood AM - President
Dr Sonja Hood AM brings significant government relations, strategy, fundraising and organisational development skills to the board. She is CEO of the Scanlon Foundation and former CEO of Community Hubs Australia.
She has a PhD in Population Health from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s Degree in Policy from Penn State University.
From 2011-2015 Sonja was NMFC’s General Manager of Community Engagement, helping to establish The Huddle as one of the best community programs in the country, and ensuring that the club’s community and fan development programs were based where they should be – at Arden St.
Sonja comes from a long line of passionate North Melbourne supporters, and is firmly committed to the club, and to Arden St.
Nick Dowling
North Melbourne added more business acumen and experience to its Board in 2024, appointing Nick Dowling, who has built an impressive CV as an executive and director across multiple business sectors.
Dowling started his career in banking, first with NAB and then Macquarie Bank.
In 2011, he was appointed CEO of real estate group Jellis Craig, and he is now the company’s executive chairman. He also has extensive experience in non-executive finance and real estate directorships.
He comes from a big family of North Melbourne supporters and his children are also passionate Kangaroos fans.
Andrew Harris
Match Committee coterie group member Andrew Harris joined the Kangaroos’ board in March 2022.
Founder and managing partner of commercial legal firm, Harris Carlson Lawyers, Harris has served as honorary legal counsel to the club since 2006.
A lifelong, fourth generation North Melbourne supporter, he is a founding member of the club’s Integrity Committee and founding director of the club’s public ancillary fund, the Shinboners Foundation.
Selina Lightfoot
The Board's most recent acquisition, Selina Lightfoot joins as an experienced company director having been a board member across a range of industry sectors over the past 10 years following an executive career in corporate law.
Lightfoot's current non-executive directorships include roles with Hydro Tasmania, South East Water and Tasmanian Development and Resources, with other current and recent roles in health and aged care, retail and professional services. Together with her corporate and commercial experience, she brings expertise in risk, strategy and people and culture.
She is also a long-time fan of the Kangaroos.
Rodney Piltz
Rodney Piltz joins the board after many years of involvement with the club as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee since 2007 and the Integrity Committee since 2021. Piltz is also a current member of the Shinboner Foundation.
With more than 30 years experience with leading global professional services firm Ernst & Young, Piltz is currently the Managing Partner of the Ernst & Young Melbourne office and an Assurance Partner with extensive experience in external and internal audit, risk management and governance.
He is also a member of the Match Committee coterie group.
Suzana Ristevski
Highly respected marking executive Suzana Ristevski joined the board in August 2021.
Ristevski is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Google Australia and New Zealand. She was previously held key executive roles at National Australia Bank and major multinational brands General Electric and Optus.
She is also a lifelong North Melbourne supporter.
Andrew Swallow
Former AFL captain Andrew Swallow returned to the club in 2024, joining the board along with Nick Dowling.
A life member, Swallow enjoyed a storied career at North Melbourne, captaining the club from 2012-16, winning three Syd Barker medals and playing 224 games from 2006-17.
During his time as a player, he was a long-time AFL Players Association club delegate.
Since leaving the club, Swallow has lived in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. He has remained in football since retiring, firstly with Gold Coast’s men’s and women’s programs, and then at a community level with the Byron Bay Magpies Football Club.
Dr Harry Unglik
With one of the most successful sports medicine clinics in Melbourne, the Midtown Medical Clinic, Harry Unglik specialises in sports medicine but brings extensive knowledge of general practice, with a passion for holistic health and well-being.
He was the Medical Officer for the North Melbourne Football Club from 1983 to 2001 and this has enabled him to practise sports medicine with elite athletes at the highest level.
Harry was selected as an Olympic doctor for the Sydney Olympics and the doctor for the All-Australian AFL team touring Ireland in 2000 and 2001, and served as the Medical Director of the AFL from 2001-2017.
He is a life member at North Melbourne and the AFL and was instrumental in designing the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy. He was also involved in protocols for Concussion, now used by the AFL.
Executive
Chief Executive Officer - Jennifer Watt
Chief Financial Officer - Chris Simmonds
Chief Commercial Officer - Orry Lack
GM - Consumer - Scott Wood
GM - Digital Media & Communications - Michael Tormey
GM - Football - Todd Viney
GM - Women's Football - Erin Lorenzini
GM - People & Culture - Meg Lauritz
GM - Strategy & Legal - James Gallagher
Chief Executive Officer - The Huddle - Cameron McLeod
