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

Appointed to the North Melbourne Board in 2024, Nick Dowling brings significant business acumen to the club. Nick 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 for over a decade at Macquarie Bank. In 2011, he was appointed CEO of real estate group Jellis Craig, and he is now the company’s chairman. He also has extensive experience in non-executive finance, technology and real estate directorships, currently including ASX-listed REA Group and Assemble Communities.  

He comes from a big family of North Melbourne supporters, and his wife and children are also passionate Kangaroos fans.

Andrew Harris

Andrew Harris is the managing partner of commercial legal firm Harris Carlson Lawyers, and has also served as honorary legal counsel to the club since 2006. He joined the club’s board in March 2022.

Andrew also serves as a founding member of the club’s Integrity Committee and founding director of the club’s public ancillary fund, the Shinboners Foundation.

A lifelong, fourth-generation North Melbourne supporter, he is a Match Committee coterie group member and has been a member of the Shinboner Club coterie group since its formation in 2010.

Selina Lightfoot

Selina Lightfoot joined the Board 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 Marinus Link, South East Water and TLC Healthcare, with other current and recent roles in retail, professional services and renewable energy.

Together with her corporate and commercial experience, she brings expertise in risk, strategy, and people and culture. She has also served on not for profit and membership organisation boards and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Selina is a long-time member and third-generation fan of the Kangaroos.

Rodney Piltz

Rodney Piltz joined the board in 2022 after many years of involvement with the club as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee since 2007 (now the Chair since 2022). He has been a member of various club coterie groups for over 20 years and is currently a member of the President’s Club coterie group.

With more than 35 years experience with leading global professional services firm Ernst & Young, Rodney is an Assurance Partner with extensive experience in external and internal audit, risk management and governance. Rodney is also a former Managing Partner of the Ernst & Young Melbourne office.

Rodney is a current board member of the Shinboner Foundation and Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health Ltd.

Suzana Ristevski

Suzana Ristevski is the Country Marketing Manager, AUNZ at Google. She has extensive experience growing businesses and brands across multiple industry segments, including financial services, telecommunications, private health insurance, and industrials.

Suzana has held CMO roles at GE Capital, GE, and National Australia Bank, and held senior marketing roles at Optus Telecommunications, Medical Benefits Fund, and 20th Century Fox in London.  

In addition to the board of the North Melbourne Football Club, Suzana also sits on the board of the Advertising Association of National Advertisers (AANA). Suzana was recently awarded a Monash University fellowship, recognising her significant contribution to marketing in Australia.

Andrew Swallow

Former AFL captain Andrew Swallow returned to the club in 2024 as a board member.

A life member of the club, Andrew 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. Off the field, Andrew holds a Business degree and has built hands-on experience in property development. Currently employed by Molti, he plays an integral role in the company's financial function and strategic planning, ensuring strong commercial outcomes for the business and its shareholders.

Dr Harry Unglik

With one of the most successful sports medicine clinics in Melbourne, the Midtown Medical Clinic, Dr Harry Unglik specialised in sports medicine but brings extensive knowledge of general practice, with a passion for holistic health and wellbeing.

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 as the doctor for the Australian International Rules 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 developing the 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 - Strategy and Women's Football - Erin Lorenzini
GM - People & Culture - Meg Lauritz
Chief Executive Officer - The Huddle - Cameron McLeod

Committees

Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

Oversight of club finances, annual budget, financial risks, audit, insurance and regulatory compliance.

Chair: Rodney Piltz (see profile above)
Nick Dowling (see above)
Glenn Borin – Head of Professional Services, APAC at Stripe

Integrity Committee 

Oversight of matters relating to compliance, gambling, illicit drugs, anti-doping, personal conduct, medical decision-making, HR processes, and supplements.

Chair: Ian Solomon – Lawyer (30 years at King & Wood Mallesons)
Kate Trainor – Chief Growth Officer at Champion Data
Andrea Fischer – Director, Community Drug and Alcohol Responses at Cohealth
Peter Keogh – TBC
Andrew Harris (see above)
Harry Unglik (see above)

People & Culture Committee 

Oversight of people and culture strategies, policies and procedures, health and safety, risks, culture and remuneration.

Chair: Lisa Interligi – Managing Director, Launching Pad
Selina Lightfoot (see above)
Ben McKinley – Workplace Relations & Safety Partner at Pinsent Masons, Shinboner # 963

Independent Nominations Committee 

Provide assessment of any Director nominations, review of Board performance and proactive identification of talent for Board/Committees.

Chair: Peter Nash – Chairman, Johns Lyng Group
Julie Laycock – TBC
Suzana Ristevski (see above)

Heritage & Honours Committee

Assist the club in celebrating the history and successes of the North Melbourne Football Club.

Chair: Andrew Swallow (see above)
Darren Crocker – AFLW senior coach, Shinboner #764  
Emma Kearney – Inaugural AFLW club captain, dual North Melbourne premiership player, Shinboner #1
Karen Lyon – Media professional and Australian Football Hall of Fame selection committee member
Greg Miller – Former NMFC CEO and recruiter
Greg Ryan – Club historian
Daryl Schimmelbusch – PPOA president, Shinboner #697
Chris Simmonds – NMFC Chief Financial Officer
Michael Tormey – NMFC GM Media and Communications