BRENDEN KOH
TWA President and Chairperson
Brenden Koh is a senior management leader with over 17 years of experience in professional roles spanning Risk, Human Resource Management, Operations management and Health & Safety. He holds a degree in Health Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety, and a Master in Business Administration as well as AICD qualification in Advance Governance and is currently employed as Senior Health & Safety Business partner with an ASX100 listed company.
Brenden completed his first Triathlon in 2008 and has always been an active member of the UWA Triathlon Club, including the role of President from 2010 until 2018 and is a strong advocate for triathlon clubs and the role they play in this sport. He has previously raced in the Age Group Championships for Australia, completed the Busselton Ironman and also completed 11 Ironman 70.3 races. His other hobbies include rugby, diving, fishing and camping.
He is a father of two young daughters, and is extremely keen to see this sport continue to develop and flourish in Western Australia for the benefit of all our members.
HENRIETTA FARRELL
Elected Member, Vice President
Henrietta is a senior executive leader with over 20 years of experience in high-profile project delivery and she recently graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. With a focus on delivering outstanding customer experiences, her career has focused on commercial sports and communications projects in both the public and private sectors in Perth, Melbourne and London.
Henrietta is currently working in the WA State Government, leading a team focused on whole-of-government outcomes. Prior to this, she was a key member of the Optus Stadium team, managing communications, media, marketing and tourism activities from the commencement of construction through to the initial two years of operations.
Henrietta has also held senior commercial roles within global event teams, specifically the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and Telstra Rally Australia plus leading sponsorship programs in the UK for multi-national brand Stella Artois and BSkyB.
Henrietta began her triathlon career later in life and was instantly hooked. She is an active club member and participant and has tried her hand at all race distances. She relishes the positive mental and physical experience our sport provides plus the connections and friendships she has made. As a TWA Board Member, she wants to give back to the sport that has given her so much by ensuring its long-term sustainability and success by encouraging new faces to embrace and participate in everything triathlon.
RICHARD BURNELL
Treasurer, Elected Member
Richard has a broad and deep experience and skill set developed in a variety of commercial positions with organisations in Australia and overseas. His most recent role was Executive Director of Fire and Emergency Services WA (DFES) where his responsibility covered all corporate functions (Finance, Media and Communications, Procurement and Contract Management, ICT, Fleet and Property Management, Human Resource Management and Cadet and Volunteer services) for 1,200 staff and 28,000 volunteers.
He is a Board Member of both the Fire & Emergency Services Superannuation Fund and Yourtoolkit.com, a not-for-profit organisation which provides support to women experiencing family and domestic violence. He also sits on the Audit and Risk Committees for both these organisations and chairs the IT and Communications Committee for Yourtoolkit.com.
Richard’s triathlon experience is extensive, having competed since 2000, and representing Australia at 14 age group World Championships. He is a current Technical Official and Assistant Age Group Manager for AusTriathlon (supporting athletes at Townsville, Pontevedra and Wollongong World Championships). He was a committee member of Fremantle Triathlon Club and EFS Triathlon Club and has served on the ITU/World Triathlon Age Group Commission.
STEVE NORTON
Elected Member
Steve has been involved in triathlon for many years, having served on the TWA Board previously from 2014-2019, and the Technical Reference Panel from 2015-2022. As a Senior Technical Official for AusTriathlon and World Triathlon, Steve brings a unique skillset and wealth of behind the scenes event experience with him.
Professionally, Steve works for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. He has completed certifications including the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AIOCD) course on Governance Foundations for the Not-for-profit Director, the AIOCD Advanced Governance Course, and an Advanced Diploma in Management.
EDDIE OLDROYD
Appointed Member
Eddie has been a part of the Triathlon WA community for many years, as both an athlete and a club committee member. Along with community knowledge, his experience as a Senior Risk Manager at Bankwest will be an asset to the Board.
LEIGHTON COOK
Elected Member
Leighton has a strong blend of academic, professional, and sporting skills to bring to the TWA Board. He has a degree in economics and business law and is a provisional member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. He has experience in tax advisory, consulting and compliance, working with a range of clients across different industries and sectors. He has a strong understanding of financial management, risk assessment and reporting. As a swimming coach at the Western Australian Institute of Sport, he has first-hand experience in high performance sport.
Leighton has been involved in triathlon for over 10 years, competing in various events from sprint to half-ironman distances and was a member of the Triathlon Excellence Program in 2013/14, racing the junior ITU triathlon series in Australia. He has a keen interest in promoting the sport of triathlon to a wider and more diverse audience, as well as supporting the development and retention of talent within the state.
MEL NEWCOMBE
Appointed Member
Mel is a communications specialist with more than 10 years’ experience in strategic corporate, consumer and crisis communications, issues management, community engagement and stakeholder management.
Mel has experience in providing strategic advice on complex projects across multiple sectors, including property and construction, health and aged care, and retail, and a proven track record in successfully creating and implementing communications strategies. She has proactively navigated through many high-profile situations, managing front-page issues, and a range of stakeholders and audiences.
Understanding people is at the heart of her approach to her work, which is balanced by strong business acumen to ensure the advice she provides is pragmatic and commercially sound.
Anastasiia Ploshkina
Appointed Member
Anastasiia is a passionate and motivated leader with over a decade of Australian and international experience across the mining and FMCG industries. She has worked in diverse environments, including head offices, shared service centres, and operational sites, bringing a well-rounded perspective to business challenges.
With a strong ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively, Anastasiia excels in solving complex business problems through investigative analysis, critical thinking, and strategic planning. Her consultative approach, combined with exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills, allows her to drive meaningful outcomes and foster strong stakeholder relationships.
Committed to health and safety, sustainable business development, and innovation, Anastasiia is dedicated to creating an inclusive and productive work environment where teams can thrive.
Kristy Cameron
Appointed Member
Kristy is a dynamic and intuitive leader with a passion for people leadership and a proven track record in the medical device industry.
With expertise in sales, clinical leadership, and commercial training within orthopaedics, she thrives on building strong teams, developing a positive culture, and implementing sales strategies that achieve impactful results.
A consultative and strategic thinker, Kristy excels in fostering relationships with key stakeholders and delivering positive outcomes. She is also committed to giving back, actively contributing to industry projects for not-for-profit organisations.
Beyond her professional career, Kristy serves as a Petty Officer Musician in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve, engaging in ceremonial and community performances across Western Australia.