Chris Henderson is a premiership coach, social entrepreneur, and founder of Freedom Sports Foundation — a leading inclusive sport organisation in Victoria. Drawing on his lived experience and passion for leadership, Chris has inspired over 8,500 students through school programs like Let’s Get Wheelistic, empowering young people to “See. Believe. Dream. Achieve.”

A coach at Essendon FC and former Richmond FC premiership coach, Chris brings deep insight into teamwork, resilience, and inclusion. His work continues to create pathways where people of all abilities can connect, grow, and thrive through sport.

Nic Paramanis is the Founding Director and Board Secretary of Freedom Sports Foundation. With a strong background in governance, community engagement, and inclusive sport, Nic has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s vision and growth from day one.

Driven by a deep commitment to equity and access, she brings extensive experience in board leadership, advocacy, and strategic planning. Nic plays a vital role in ensuring the Foundation continues to expand its reach and impact, strengthening pathways for people with disability to participate, connect, and thrive through inclusive sport and recreation.

Kat Barlow is an empowerment strategist, holistic counsellor & neurodiversity advocate with over a decade of experience supporting families navigating disability and diversity. As the founder of Empowerment Ethos, she brings professional expertise & lived experience to the board.

Kat’s passion for inclusive sport is personal - her son, Noah, has played multiple wheelchair & powerchair sports, and helped inspire the creation of junior wheelchair AFL opportunities. She’s committed to breaking down barriers & creating pathways where every child can belong, connect, & thrive through sport.

Elle Steele is a Paralympian, inclusion advocate, and mindset mentor passionate about making sport accessible for all. As a former elite athlete, she represented Australia at the 2000 Paralympic Games and later made history as the first woman to play wheelchair rugby for Victoria.

With over a decade of experience in leadership, mentoring, and inclusion projects, Elle brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the Freedom Sports Foundation board. She’s dedicated to shaping programs that champion diversity, visibility, and empowerment through inclusive sport.

Michael has spent most of his adult life working in education and sport across Victoria, Melbourne, the Northern Territory, and overseas. With a lifelong passion for creating opportunities through sport, he’s found immense fulfilment working with young people with disabilities and supporting inclusion in action.

He believes that early education and awareness are key to breaking down stereotypes and building a more inclusive community. Michael is thrilled to be part of the Freedom Sports Foundation team - helping make physical recreation accessible to more people, and championing inclusion on a growing scale.

With over 30 years of leadership experience in retail across Australia and the Middle East, Matt Temby brings expertise in people development, strategic partnerships, and operational excellence. He understands the power of teamwork, inclusion, and community connection.

Passionate about creating opportunities for all, Matt is deeply aligned with Freedom Sports Foundation’s mission to make sport and recreation accessible for everyone. He brings business acumen, governance insight, and a people-first mindset to the board - helping strengthen partnerships and create meaningful impact through inclusive sport.

Andrew Keen is a purpose-driven executive leader with extensive experience across the private and government sectors. A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and alumnus of the Williamson Community Leadership Program, he brings strong governance and leadership expertise to the board.

Andrew has served on several not-for-profit boards and is passionate about driving inclusion and accessibility in sport. At Freedom Sports Foundation, he contributes strategic insight and a commitment to creating opportunities where people of all abilities can thrive.