DANIEL DICKSON – CHAIRMAN
Daniel Dickson is a successful North Sydney award-winning businessman who has invested his plethora of skills and passion for people into the community he serves.
Daniel was born and bred in Crows Nest, Sydney, and continues to reside there to this day with his wife Debbie and two sons, Jordan and Bailey. Daniel also played for the North Sydney Bears Jersey Flegg team and was a trainer for our NRL side in the 1990’s.
In 2016, Daniel was further able to give back to society when he was named the president of North Sydney Brothers, JRLFC. In this position Daniel and his dedicated committee turned participation numbers around from just 32 kids to over 150 within just two years. Not only did they promote a healthy and inclusive environment for young people, they also endeavored to rid the club of any playing fees. This feat was achieved through the support of local businesses and the hard work behind local fundraisers.
Daniel is also a current director of the Norths Collective.
PETER McGRATH – DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Peter joined NSDRLFC Board in 2013 having been a football club member for many years. Peter has worked in the Packaging and Paper Industry over 35 years, and in the last 20 years in various executive and Board positions whilst living in the USA for six years, and secondments in Sweden, Vietnam and Singapore. In 2016 Peter was a Co-Founder of Australian start-up, language translation company Lingmo International.
Peter has been a strong advocate for the clubs women’s football program since inception in 2018.
Peter was born in North Sydney and is married with four daughters, and resides in Lindfield.
BILLY MOORE
Billy played 211 first grade games for the club between 1989 and 1999 and, more recently, has been involved in a volunteer advisory support role with the Bears guiding future opportunities for the North Sydney Bears.
Billy is a proud old Bear, a successful business owner and has also been involved at different times post his football career in the media, including with Fox Sports.
Having built strong foundations post his rugby league career, Billy is currently the owner of the popular Augello’s restaurant in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast and is a highly sort after public speaker in the corporate sector.
JAMES BRACEY
Known as Bears Number 1 Ticket Holder, has been a part of this great club since birth as he, and his siblings, followed in their father’s footsteps to bleed red and black. As Bracey says “Once a Bear, always a Bear” and now he has been given the opportunity to use not only his passion but his fifteen years in sports media to make a real difference to the North Sydney Bears.
“My job ensures my finger is always on the pulse of the current state of rugby league in Australia” stated Bracey which is invaluable knowledge and information as the club works to solidify the future of the Bears brand.
MICHAEL CHETNER
Michael Chetner is a born and bred North Sydney district local boy who has travelled far and wide, worked his way to the top of numerous tech companies and now leads the Asia Pacific team of communications giant, Zoom, from right here on Sydney’s north shore.
Chetner’s proven business acumen is a fantastic addition to the Bears Board of Management and opens up the club’s access to new channels of influence, financial sources and technology resources. Like many Bears Members and Fans, Chetner found it disappointing “that a league heartland like Sydney did not have a team at the top level covering a big part of Sydney, north of the Harbour Bridge” which led him to reignite his relationship to support business events with the Bears in 2018.
Chetner’s focus in his position on the board is for “the club to be a leader in adopting and using technology to increase engagement and access to the club” which will draw in more fans, members and sponsors.
MARK DOWEL
Mark Dowel was appointed to the North Sydney Board in early 2008 and has been a Football Club Member since 1998.
Mark is a Life Member of the North Sydney District Junior Rugby League, a Director and the Treasurer of the Australian Universities Rugby League, a Life Member and the Vice President of Leagues Clubs Australia as well as a Director of Hornsby RSL Club.
From 1997 to 2012 Mark served on the North Sydney District Junior Rugby League Board and served as Vice President from 2002 to 2012.
Between 1988 and 2007 Mark not only coached various age groups U/7 to U/15 in the Asquith district but was a Football Committee Member of the Asquith Magpies Rugby League Football Club including Treasurer from 1995 to 1996, Secretary between 1997 to 1998, Vice President in 1998 and President from 1999 to 2007.
Additionally, Mark Served as a Director of the Asquith Leagues Club (now known as Magpies Waitara) from 1997 to 2007 with the final eight years as President.
Between 2008 and 2016 Mark served as Secretary/Treasurer of the New South Wales Tertiary Student Rugby League and from 2008 to 2017 Mark served as Team Manager to various touring teams for Australian Universities, New South Wales Universities and New South Wales Tertiary Student Rugby Leagues.
From 2012 Mark served as Manager of the North Sydney Harold Matthews Cup Team.
In 2018 he will Manage the North Sydney SG Ball Cup Team.
MARTY LAWSON
Marty Lawson, a lifelong fan of North Sydney Bears, grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches, playing rugby league, rugby union and cricket.
He has always maintained a passionate allegiance to the Bears, supporting them personally, professionally and financially over many years.
Marty is a licensed Customs Broker and General Manager and co-owner of J. J. Lawson Pty Ltd, a family business and proud sponsor of the Bears since the early 1980s.
After leaving school, Marty travelled through Europe and the USA before studying Commerce and Japanese at the University of Canberra in the early 1990s.
He went on to become a lead Sales Manager for Unilever before joining J. J. Lawson in 2002.
Marty still lives on the northern beaches with his wife, Heather, and their three school-age children – all Bears fans, of course!
Marty is an active weekend patrol member of South Curl Curl SLSC and passionate supporter of his children’s many extracurricular activities.
He is a regular runner, occasional triathlete and one-time Gold Coast marathon finisher and a Midnight Oil tragic.
JUSTIN OWEN
Justin joined the NSDRLFC Board in 2016. He is also a Board Director of the Norths Collective which includes North Sydney Leagues Club, The Greens North Sydney, The Alcott Lane Cove, and Seagulls at Tweed Heads.
Justin was appointed by the Governor-General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC as Senior Member of the Commonwealth of Australia’s Administrative Appeals Tribunal in 2017.
He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Australia and a Solicitor of the Supreme Courts of NSW and Victoria. He previously served on the Business Law Committee of the NSW Law Society. Justin has an interest in administrative, property, employment, liquor licensing, media and defamation law.
He previously held senior roles in banking and regulation between 2007 and 2017 and was a General Manager of the Australian Hotels Association (NSW) between 1998 and 2007.
A Graduate of Sydney University and UTS, he holds a degree in Arts and an Honours degree in Law. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Justin lives in Mosman with his wife Rachel Merton and two young daughters Amelia and Alexandra who are both devoted Bears fans and North Sydney Oval regulars since birth.
Justin has a long history of supporting rugby league in Sydney, including being an active participant in the anti-Super League marches of 1999 and 2000.
Justin’s priorities are:
To continue to ensure the excellent relationship between the Football Club and the Norths Collective continues to grow and is strong, successful and prosperous for both parties; and to continue to positively contribute to the Norths Collective, our major partner and supporter.
The long-term sustainability of the Football Club through continued growth in sponsorship, merchandise and membership.
The maintenance of a professional, collegiate and mutually beneficial relationship with our NRL feeder club, Eastern Suburbs.
To work towards North Sydney DRLFC being the NSWRL’s Number One club with Premierships in both the NSW Cup and the Women’s competition over the next 3 years
To see NRL football return to North Sydney Oval.
To further develop education pathways with local schools and universities for the benefit of the Club and our players.
To continue to promote the return of the Bears to the NRL on a sustainable basis.
SEAN WILES
Sean is Partner at McGrathNicol where he helps lead the Advisory practice in Sydney.
Sean specialises in performance improvement, transactions, risk and governance, and strategy, and has twenty years’ experience in professional services.
Sean commenced his career at KPMG, where he worked both in Sydney and the UK. He has also spent time with the Private Equity firm, CVC Australia, where he was a Portfolio Manager, analyst and Board Member for various investee companies.
Sean is a qualified Chartered Accountant and member of Chartered Accountants ANZ.
Sean has been a member of the North Sydney District Rugby League Football Club for three years, and a life-long supporter of the North Sydney Bears.
He has been a Director of North Sydney District Rugby League Football Club since 2015, and since that time has helped the Club implement robust financial forecasts, reporting and cash controls.
Like many Bears supporters, Sean’s earliest memories of the red and black were of him perched in the famous Moreton Bay Fig in the early 1980’s watching the likes of Mark Graham, Don McKinnon and Paul McCaffrey ply their trade.
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