Coaching Conference

Coaching Conference

Taking place at Valentine Sports Park on 21–22 November 2026, Australia’s largest gathering of football coaches will bring together coaches of all levels for two days of practical sessions, expert insights and professional development.

This year’s conference features five international coaching experts:

  • Oscar Tojo: National Technical Director, Portuguese FA
  • Ian Bateman: FA Youth Coach Developer Lead, The Football Association
  • Rebecca (Bex) Garlick: Senior Manager – Grassroots Coach Development, The Football Association
  • Boris Kubla: Head of Coach Education, Croatian FA
  • Bev Priestman: Women’s Head Coach – Wellington Phoenix

Attendees will receive 10 CPD Hours for a weekend pass or 5 CPD Hours for a single-day pass.

Missed out on tickets? Join the official waitlist to be notified if places become available.

Join Waitlist

Accommodation

If you would like to book accommodation on site at Valentine Sports Park, please submit an enquiry here: Booking Form – Valentine Sports Park

Snaps from the 2025 Coaching Conference

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Oscar is currently the National Technical Director of the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF), having rejoined the national federation in 2024 from league powerhouses FC Porto.

In addition to over a decade working for the FPF, Oscar has been involved in the technical and coaching teams at a number of clubs, including Club Tigres (Mexico), Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia), Cruz Azul (Mexico), Club Santos (Mexico), CD Nacional (Portugal) and Uniao de Leiria (Portugal).

Ian has spent the last 30 years developing coach developers and coaches and has a proven track record supporting people in both areas.

Ian is now in his 18th year at the FA and his current role is leading a team of 18 youth coach developers who work in the boy’s talent pathway. The team support coaches and Heads of Coaching working in the professional football clubs that have an academy programme.

During his time at the FA, he has been Futsal Coach Development lead and joined the FA as Northwest Regional Coach Development Manager.  Whilst working in these roles Ian also worked with England teams spending 10 years with the Partially sighted squad and 4 years with the Men’s England futsal team.  Throughout this period Ian was an “unpaid professional coach” (volunteer) at Crossfield’s JFC in Warrington and coached the Warrington Town team supporting his sons and his pal’s journey through junior into senior football.

Prior to working at the FA Ian worked for 10 years at Bolton Wanderers in the Academy programme and learnt his trade at the Bobby Charlton soccer school starting out as office junior and leaving as Managing Director.

Currently serving as a strategic leader for grassroots football at The Football Association, ‘Bex’ brings over 16 years’ experience within the organisation and two decades in coaching, having begun as a coach volunteer for her cousin’s team. Bex’s journey has seen her progress through roles as coach, coach developer, and leader, supported by an A Licenve qualification. With a background coaching across various abilities and genders—primarily in grassroots football, but also in talent and open age settings—she is am passionate about child development, curious about coach behaviours, and committed to helping coaches deepen their self-understanding to enhance their coaching practice.

Boris has been an educator of football coaches for more than 25 years and is currently Head of Coach Education for the
Croatian Football Federation. He is also a UEFA technical instructor and a long-time mentor and educator for coaches.

Across more than 15 years in high-performance sport, Priestman’s career has spanned three continents and includes involvement in four FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games. Her return tenure as Head Coach of the Wellington Phoenix women’s team has marked another historic chapter, guiding the side to an A-League Grand Final in a landmark season — the first time a New Zealand team, men’s or women’s, had reached that stage.

Known for her empowering leadership style, Priestman builds environments centred on trust, accountability and growth. Her work has consistently elevated team performance while fostering individual development, making her one of the most influential figures in modern women’s football.

LinkedIn Profile

Holly Fuda is the founder of tude, a human performance and wellbeing education brand. She has spent over 15 years working in high-performance sport, including 7 years in athlete wellbeing across elite, state and national environments since 2012. Her work spans Melbourne Storm, NSW Rugby League and national NRL participation roles. She has led wellbeing programs through successful State of Origin campaigns and two premiership-winning NRLW seasons with the Newcastle Knights. Holly is an Exercise Scientist and Oxygen Advantage breathwork instructor with a teaching background, holding a Cert IV in Elite Athlete Wellbeing Management. A combination that lets her translate performance science into tools coaches and players can actually use. In 2024 she was invited to speak internationally at the Wellbeing Science Institute’s Wellbeing in Action Conference in Loughborough, UK. She is currently delivering tude’s wellbeing program with Football NSW’s female academies.

LinkedIn Profile

Amy Shepherd is an experienced football coach and development leader with a strong background in women’s football, player pathways and coach development across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. She currently serves as Assistant Coach of the Wellington Phoenix A-League Women team and is a current Football Australia / Football NSW Coach Education Tutor.

Amy has previously held coaching and development roles with Norwich City FC, Watford FC Women, and football programmes in New Jersey, building extensive experience in youth development and high-performance environments. A graduate of Brighton University with a degree in Sport Management, she is recognised for her commitment to creating player development pathways and advancing opportunities within the women’s game.

LinkedIn Profile

Nick Timmings OLY is a two-time Winter Olympian who represented Australia at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and is preparing to compete at Milano Cortina 2026. Based in Sydney, he combines elite sporting experience with leadership, governance and sports industry expertise.
In addition to his athletic career, Nick serves as Athlete Director for Bobsleigh & Skeleton Australia and has worked across sport operations, events, partnerships and community engagement roles within the Olympic and sporting sectors. He holds a degree in Sport Management from Edith Cowan University and has completed governance studies through the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

LinkedIn Profile

Alex Epakis is a highly regarded football coach, coach educator and technical leader with extensive experience across Australia’s elite women’s football pathways. In 2025, he was appointed Head Coach of the CommBank Young Matildas (Australia’s U-20 Women’s National Team), reflecting his strong track record in player development, talent identification and high-performance coaching.

Alex has held senior coaching and technical roles with Football NSW, Perth Glory FC Women, Sydney University SFC, Sydney FC and Canberra United FC, while also contributing to the Philippines Women’s National Team as Lead Opposition Scout during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Known for his possession-based, attacking style of play and commitment to developing young talent, Alex is widely respected for fostering positive, high-performance environments and advancing the professionalisation of women’s football in Australia.

He holds a Football Australia/AFC Professional Diploma, a Master of Education (Sports Coaching), and is an accredited coach educator and developer.

Stelios Pikoulas is a highly experienced sport scientist and strength & conditioning coach who works across elite football and youth athlete development environments. He currently serves as a Sport Scientist and Strength & Conditioning Coach with Football Australia, where he has supported national team programs including the Young Socceroos, and has played a key role in athlete performance, physical preparation and long-term player development.

Alongside his national team work, Stelios leads the Olympus Elite Athlete Program as Head of Strength and Conditioning at Meriden School and has held performance roles with APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC. Recognised for his expertise in athlete development, sports science and performance optimisation, he is passionate about helping athletes maximise their potential both on and off the field.

David Plowright is a highly respected goalkeeper coach and coach educator with extensive experience across elite club, national team and player development environments. He currently serves as Goalkeeper Coach for the Australia U20 Women’s National Team (Young Matildas) and as a Football Australia Coach Education Tutor, specialising in goalkeeper coach development and AFC/FA coaching qualifications.

Based in Sydney, David has worked with Sydney FC, Football Australia, Football NSW and the Philippine Football Federation, contributing to the development of youth and senior international players while helping shape the next generation of coaches. A former New Zealand Futsal Whites representative, he is widely recognised for his expertise in goalkeeper development and high-performance football programs.

Gabor Ganczer is an AFC Pro Diploma-qualified football leader with extensive experience in technical leadership, coach development and football strategy across Australia, Europe and Asia. He has held senior technical positions with Football Queensland, including Technical Director for Female Pathways, and is the founder of xG Strategies, providing strategic consulting to football federations, clubs and academies.

With a background spanning sporting director, technical director, performance analysis and coach education roles, Gabor is recognised for his expertise in player development systems, academy design and organisational strategy. He holds a UEFA A Licence, an AFC Pro Diploma and postgraduate qualifications in sports management and communication, bringing more than two decades of experience to the global football industry.

Claire Coelho is an accomplished football coach, former A-League Women player and practicing solicitor, bringing a unique combination of high-performance sport and professional leadership experience. She currently serves as Goalkeeper Coach for the Newcastle Jets A-League Women team and has also worked with the A-League Women All Stars coaching staff.

A former goalkeeper with the Newcastle Jets, where she made nearly a decade of contributions as a player, Claire transitioned into coaching following her retirement and has quickly established herself as one of Australia’s emerging goalkeeper coaches.

Phil Myall is a highly experienced football development leader and coach educator with extensive expertise in youth player development, coach education and talent identification. He currently serves as Boys Youth Development Manager at Football NSW and is a Coach Education Tutor with Football Australia, having also worked as Assistant Coach of the Australia U17 Men’s National Team.

With coaching experience spanning Australia and the United Kingdom, including roles with Sydney FC, Watford Football Club and Southampton Football Club, Phil has built a strong reputation for developing players and coaches within high-performance environments. He holds AFC and FA A Licence coaching qualifications and remains a passionate advocate for creating effective player development pathways.

LinkedIn Profile

Nadine Shiels is a highly respected football development leader, coach educator and talent pathway specialist with more than two decades of experience at Football NSW. She currently serves as Player Development Manager, while also contributing as a Technical Advisor and Coach Education Tutor, overseeing the growth and progression of emerging players within the state’s elite development programs.

An AFC/FA A Licence coach, Nadine has played a significant role in the development of female football pathways in Australia and has spent more than 16 years coaching within Football NSW’s elite girls programs. Widely recognised for her commitment to player development, coach education and talent identification, she has helped nurture numerous players who have progressed to national team representation.

Andrew Fearnley is an experienced football development professional who has spent more than two decades with Football NSW, where he currently serves as Manager, Regional Football Development. In this role, he leads the growth and delivery of football programs across regional New South Wales, supporting player development, coach education and community football initiatives.

Widely respected for his contribution to grassroots and regional football, Andrew has played a key role in expanding opportunities for players, coaches and associations throughout NSW, helping strengthen pathways and participation across the game. He holds a background in business management from Charles Sturt University.

Joe Fox is a football development professional with extensive experience across player development, coaching and club capability building. He currently serves as Club Technical Development Coordinator at Football NSW, supporting clubs to enhance their technical programs, coaching environments and player development pathways.

Prior to joining Football NSW, Joe was Head of Football Programs at Manly Warringah Football Association and held several coaching and development roles with Manly United FC, where he also competed as a semi-professional player. Earlier in his career, he worked as a physiotherapist with Fleetwood Town FC in England and began his professional football journey with Hull City. Joe combines experience in coaching, player development and sports science to support high-quality football environments and long-term player growth.

Luke Harris is a football coach educator, community football leader and experienced PDHPE educator with a passion for grassroots coach development and player learning. He has held key roles, serving as Community Football Manager at Northern Suburbs Football Association and Lindfield Football Club, where he led coach education programs and skill acquisition initiatives.

Holding an AFC/FA B Diploma, Luke has coached across grassroots, representative, academy and senior football environments, as well as being a Football NSW Coach Education Tutor.