Meet the Team
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Abbie Burgess
Chair & Elected Director
Abbie has been involved in lacrosse for more than two decades. She is a member of Camberwell Lacrosse Club and continues to represent Australia, having done so since 2007. Abbie is one of two Australian women to have played in the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League in the USA.
Abbie is the global Head of People & Culture at ASX listed Rosterfy. Abbie holds qualifications in Human Resources Management, Business Management and Training & Assessment.
Abbie brings to the board a combination of skills and experience including but not limited to, lacrosse playing experience, employee engagement, people strategy, change management and Diversity, Equality & Inclusion.
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Paul Mollison
Vice Chair & Appointed Director
Paul’s professional career for the past 14 years at Victoria University as a TAFE Teacher was preceded by Asset Management positions with the City of Yarra, Banyule City Council and Melbourne City Council for some 10 years. Serving Board and Committee roles, Paul has held positions as an LA/ALA/WLA Director for 23 years, LV/WLV/VLA Board positions for more than 20 years, and Footscray LC Committee for some 38 years. He is also the current Chair of the World Lacrosse Women’s Rules Sub-Committee having been on the Sub-Committee for 11 years.
Having commenced lacrosse as a player at a young age, Paul played over 300 senior club field games, over 300 senior box games and represented Victoria and Australia. Paul has coached numerous junior and senior men’s and women’s club teams and state teams, and Men’s Box and U19 Women’s Australian teams at two world events.
Paul was awarded the Lacrosse Australia Certificate of Merit in 1987, Life Member of Footscray Lacrosse Club in 1990 and Life Member of Lacrosse Victoria in 2008
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Bill Barton
Elected Director
Bill has been involved in lacrosse since he was a young child having played lacrosse at various clubs across the country, and has also been involved in club and State association administration in various roles over the years.
Bill has been a former President at Subiaco, a former Secretary at Surrey Park and a director of the Lacrosse WA board over the years. More recently Bill was involved in the junior review committee for Lacrosse Victoria.
Bill has an Accounting and Tax background and currently works for a multi-national company as a regional head of Tax. Bill brings a wealth of experience in both commerce and lacrosse to the Lacrosse Australia Board.
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Karen Meredith
Elected Director
Karen's experience includes a professional career in Administration and Finance roles spanning 35-years, including the past 25-years in a family supermarket business as Business Manager for IGA Murrumbeena. Karen also served on the IGA Xpress Committee for a number of years.
Being introduced to the sport of lacrosse in the mid-1980s led Karen to the role of club Treasurer at Malvern for nine years, and Manager of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Australian Men's Lacrosse team.
In 2015, Karen was appointed to the position of High Performance Manager and has since held this position for the past eight years, providing support to all 16 Australian Teams during this time.
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Tim Kennedy
Tim has been involved in lacrosse since birth, having been born into a lacrosse family at the East Fremantle Lacrosse Club. Tim played lacrosse at all levels for over three decades whilst also coaching at club and state level. Tim is now a full-time official having officiated at local, national and international level and is currently a World Lacrosse accredited official.
Administratively, Tim is a former President and committee member of the East Fremantle Lacrosse Club, a former director of Lacrosse WA and a former President and committee member of the Western Australian Lacrosse Officials, having overseen the amalgamation between Men’s and Women’s lacrosse at East Fremantle and WALO. Tim is also the co-founder of the Australian Lacrosse Network.
Tim has been a practising solicitor for nearly two decades specialising in commercial law, associations law and litigation. Tim has been a partner of a number of law firms but is currently the director of his own law firm operating in West Perth. Tim was also formerly a board member of the Event Industry Association of WA and was the chair for 3 years, advocating for the event industry in Western Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tim was awarded a Lacrosse WA Certificate of Merit in 2023, an East Fremantle LC Certificate of Merit in 2014 and became a Life Member of the East Fremantle Lacrosse Club in 2022.
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Mike Skeggs
Elected Director
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John Morgan
Elected Director
Director Code of Conduct.
Purpose of Code of Conduct
The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to outline the type of behaviour that Lacrosse Australia (LA) requires from its Directors and set out clear principles and guidelines for the ethical and professional conduct of Directors in effectively carrying out their responsibilities.
Who does this Code of Conduct apply to
This Code of Conduct applies to LA Directors whenever they are acting in their capacity as an LA Director.
Acknowledge Fiduciary Duty to LA and all stake-holders.
Acknowledge to act in good faith and in the best interests of the Association.
Commit to act with care and diligence.
Undertake to disclose all areas of actual and perceived conflict of interest.
Undertake to study and understand all financial and key reports, and not seek protection under the claim of Ignorance of the financial standing of the Association.
Endeavor to attend all meetings. If unable to attend provide written input so opinion can be tabled.
Undertake to circulate meeting papers no later than seven (7) working days prior to an LA meeting.
Undertake to study all papers prior to Board meeting so balanced decisions can be made, and meetings do not revert to research and discussion.
Commit to serve on committees and discharge duties in a timely and efficient manner.
Undertake to treat each other with courtesy and respect.
Uphold confidentiality of all Board meetings and Board related matters.
Act as an ambassador of LA and not bring the Association, the sport, or fellow Board members, into disrepute.
Behave professionally and in ways that uphold the LA Values (Ambition, Passion, Community, Resilience, Leadership, Professionalism).
Support all Board decisions regardless of own personal view.
Comply with the Australian Institute of Company Director’s Code of Conduct.
1Not use LA information or resources for personal or third-party gain or benefit whilst as a current and as past Director.
Undertake to LA and fellow Directors to discharge my responsibilities as a Director of LA in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
Exercise the degree of care, skill and diligence that a reasonable person in a like position would exercise in LA’s circumstances.
Exercise powers granted to them honestly and for the purposes for which they were conferred and not for ulterior purposes.
Avoid any actual or potential conflict between the obligations owed to LA and a Director’s personal interest or other duties.
Prevent insolvent trading by LA.
Make reasonable enquiries at Directors meetings to ensure that LA is operating efficiently, effectively and legally towards achieving LA’s goals.
Not abuse, harass, bully, intimidate, discriminate, threaten or victimise other Directors, colleagues, members and/or employees of LA.
Comply with the content and themes of the Child Safety section of this Code of Conduct.
promote and encourage diversity, equality and inclusiveness in decision making and throughout LA.
Child Safety
LA is a child safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. LA adheres to applicable child safety standards and legislation. Directors must be aware of their responsibilities outlined in LA's child safety and safeguarding documents and be clear about processes for reporting and acting on concerns or reports of child abuse.
Directors will respect, listen to and promote the rights of children and ensure behaviour and interactions with children are appropriate, respectful and adhere to the behavioural expectations outlined in LA's child safety and safeguarding documents.
Review
This Code will be reviewed by the Board annually, or earlier as required.
Director Declaration
The LA Code of Conduct must be annually executed by all directors.
Being a Board Director of LA confirm that:
I have read and understood the above, and have an understanding of the Australian Institute of Company Director’s Code of Conduct. (reference document attached – www.companydirectors.com.au)
I acknowledge that I must ensure that any personal interests or roles do not influence or interfere with the proper performance of my duties in the best interests of LA
I agree that I have an ongoing obligation to comply with the LA Directors Code of Conduct