What can Brendan do?
Give a quick overview of your work experience (jobs, internships, volunteering)?
Since 18, I’ve worked for Champion Data at AFL, AFLW and secondary competitions, throughout NSW and interstate, to capture event performance data.
Concurrently, I work for TripleSdata, delivering data services and operational support for 50 national and international horse racing clubs (250+ events per year).
Earlier in my career, I volunteered for Goalball NSW at community sport events and also completed an AusCycling internship, contributing to the delivery of 6 State and National events.
Do you have a track record of delivering measurable outcomes or KPIs?
While I haven’t worked to formal KPIs in my sports industry experience, in my previous hospitality role, I was promoted to a supervisor role where I shared responsibility for sales KPIs, operational KPIs and running NPS customer surveys.
In my sport industry roles, I’ve delivered to strict quality objectives such as accurate data capture and event delivery in many of my roles. I’m a planner and a goal-oriented person, so I find KPIs useful to track performance myself and reassess my progress.
What technical or industry-specific skills do you bring?
Sports event coordination and logistics - Creating and executing run sheets, risk assessments and management of equipment inventory.
Sports data collection (manual and automated) and data analysis.
Market research: Designing surveys, conducting interviews, analysing results and presenting findings to executive stakeholders.
Stakeholder reporting and client communication - Liaising with clients, partners, suppliers, volunteers and technical specialists.
What tools/platforms/software are they proficient in?
Microsoft Office - Excel, Word & PowerPoint (Intermediate/Expert)
Tableau, SPSS, Confluence, Canva (Intermediate)
POS and multiple custom-built applications (Expert)
What qualifications, certifications, or degrees do you hold?
Bachelor of Business (Sport Management), Western Sydney University, 2023.
Business Analytics and Visualisation Short Course, RMIT Online, 2024.
Sport Ethics and Ethical Decision Making, Sport Integrity Australia eLearning Hub, 2022.
NSW Working with Children Check (Volunteer) is current, expiring 2027.
I’m keen to listen and understand others’ perspectives and collaborate as part of a team
I’m disciplined and driven, having balanced multiple jobs while studying. I am a fast learner and can contribute quickly to the organisation. I build strong working relationships based on mutual trust and respect. I also enjoy being challenged and I’m curious to learn and improve.
What steps has Brendan taken to break into the sport industry?
When I was 18, to secure my first job in the sports industry, I reached out to companies to ask about potential part-time or casual opportunities while studying. Champion Data said they weren’t hiring at the time, but still put me through their aptitude testing process, then they offered me a job due to my strong results.
For my internship, I also reached out to sporting organisations. AusCycling had an internship opportunity in their event team and offered me a six-month role. After my Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management, I continued to develop my professional skills with data by completing a Business Analytics and Visualisation short course at RMIT Online in 2024.
I joined SportsGrad in early 2024 to meet people already working in the sports industry and learn from their experiences. As a result, I’ve been proactively networking using coffee catch-ups with individuals from World Rugby, Tennis NSW, Fox Sports, just to name a few.
On LinkedIn, I post monthly to share personal work experiences and read the LinkedIn feed to stay connected with the sports community. I also regularly seek feedback from mentors, colleagues and other contacts.
Brendan’s interest in sport all started back when he was a child
Since I was young, I’ve been drawn to sport because of the emotion it creates, whether that be my competitive side when I play, the connections with my teammates, the sense of belonging to a sporting club or the joy of team success. For example, when the Sydney Swans won the 2012 AFL Grand Final, I was at school and remember being intrigued by why people who hadn’t followed the team all year suddenly jumped on the bandwagon and it was a topic of conversation. I want to work in the sports industry because I want others to experience a similar emotional connection to sport.
Where does Brendan want to go?
Next six-12 months | Next 5-10 years |
|---|---|
My goals are to build strong professional connections step into a full-time sports industry role using my data and technology skills and learn from experienced professionals. | Be recognised as a trusted professional who can bring data and technology knowledge and experience to sporting organisations, taking on positions with greater responsibilities. |
What sporting problem keeps Brendan up at night, and how would they solve it?
One problem I’m curious to solve is how sporting organisations can capture, quality assure and utilise data to make more informed decisions. For example, understanding untapped customer potential, increasing the awareness of emerging sports or creative fan engagement opportunities.
What is Brendan like?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
A positive, supportive environment with constructive feedback.
A team culture with collaborative discussions, where people enjoy what they do, where successes are celebrated and with social gatherings outside of work.
A successful organisation where I can learn from others so I can become an increasingly valuable employee.
When have you had to show resilience in your life or career?
Growing up with Verbal Dyspraxia and Auditory Processing Disorder, I attended speech therapy weekly until I was 13, then monthly until I finished school, which taught me the importance of resilience and persistence.
What about Brendan’s interests outside of work?
What are your interests outside of work?
Rock climbing (bouldering) with friends
trivia nights with friends and extended family
photography
participating in fantasy competitions
reading and watching sport
listening to successful individuals from sport and business
What is your favourite sporting moment?
Working for Champion Data at the SCG when Lance Franklin kicked his 1000th AFL goal. Watching thousands of fans flood the field in celebration was an unforgettable experience that may never happen again, and it reminded me why I love working in sport.
What’s your ideal holiday?
Travelling to see a major sporting event, relaxed beach holiday outside of a major city with outdoor activities
If you had 30 minutes to pick the brain of anyone, who would it be and why?
Ross Oakley to learn about the circumstances and key decisions about when the VFL decided to grow Australian Rules Football nationally and how the organisation made the most of the opportunities.
What’s book or podcast that’s helped your career you recommend?
Listening to 'The Mentor with Mark Bouris' has helped me develop self-awareness by reflecting on my strengths and skill gaps, as well as understanding other points of view.
Additional details
Where in the world are you located, and where are you open to work?
Living in Sydney, open to work anywhere in Australia
What is the most important consideration for you in your next role?
Continuously challenged with opportunities for professional development. Uses my existing personal, technical and industry skills.
What others say about Brendan
“Brendan was a fantastic addition to our events team. Brendan had a number of strengths that were demonstrated including patience and empathy, attention to detail, ability to learn on the job and a willingness to take on any challenge or task.” - Kipp Kaufmann (AusCycling)
“Working with Brendan was always a plus. He had a great attitude and a real talent for helping others.” - Steve Tsagarakis (TripleSdata)
“One of Brendan’s standout qualities is his remarkable attention to detail”. “He has a natural ability to stay focused and maintain a high level of quality”. “He’s always looking for ways to expand his knowledge and refine his skills”. “Brendan’s ability to adapt and learn quickly sets him apart, making him an incredibly coachable team member”. - John Watson (Champion Data)
What questions does Brendan have for employers?
What emerging trends do you predict will have an impact on your organisation and what are the implications?
What values or qualities does your organisation look for in employees?
How do the different roles within the team collaborate with each other?
How is success defined for the team and how is it measured?
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