Phone: 02 6652 1112

Mobile: 0410 576 198

Email: rick@sportsmarketing.com.au

Rick Sleeman - Managing Director

Rick has a media background as a Director of APN News and Media Educational Division. He embarked on an industry change in 1994 when he became Director of Rugby with IMG. Some say that was the perfect job for a diehard Wallabies fan, but his long suffering wife and kids would beg to differ. After the Wallabies won the Rugby World Cup in 1999, Rick moved their base camp to Coffs Harbour. It was here that The Sports Decentralisation Program was created, fine-tuned and developed into the extraordinarily successful business model that it is today.  Now with other silos in the business such as the Sports/Events Placement Program, OSM database management system, a state of the art ticketing system and a host of consultancy to State and Local Government and sporting organisations, SMA has become something that Rick is extremely proud of. As the Founding Director, Rick thrives off the challenge of a multi-faceted business and he enjoys being surrounded by enthusiastic, can do people.  Known around the office for never wearing shoes, Rick has worked to ensure that; although it’s a fast paced environment, it’s a place that all of the team genuinely enjoy coming to work.

Phone: 02 6652 1112 Mobile: 0414 186 200

Email: craig@sportsmarketing.com.au

Craig Gibson - Director

Craig has been a Director of Sports Marketing Australia since 2004 and has been at the heart of the company’s growth and success. Prior to joining SMA, Craig had more than 15 years’ experience working in a variety of key sports administration, event and facility management and commercial roles.

One of Craig’s career highlights is working with the international promoter of Nitro Circus Live, where he co-ordinates multi show, stadium tours across Australia, NZ, the UK, USA and Canada. Using his commercial and event management skills, Craig sources venues, negotiates key commercial outcomes and secures financial and marketing support from local and city governments across the world. Prior to working with Nitro Circus, Craig enjoyed similar roles with the promoter of Crusty Demons and Australasian Super X, where he also managed ticketing operations, sold sponsorships and negotiated media partnerships.

In conjunction with IPC, SMA’s software development partner, Craig developed the OSM Sports Administration system, which is used by a number of national sporting associations and venue operators in Australia and the US.

Since 2006, Craig has been contracted as a casual lecturer/academic at Southern Cross University in the school of Business and Tourism, teaching Special Event Management, Business Event Management and Sales and Promotions in Tourism and Hospitality, a role which he loves. Lecturing, he says, provides a unique opportunity to pass on some of his professional experience and expertise to students while also researching new event outcomes and directions within the sports, leisure and tourism industry.

Craig is passionate about all sports, but particularly soccer, water polo and swimming. When not working, he enjoys all the trappings that the beautiful Coffs Coast has to offer like surfing, boating and fishing with his family.

Phone: 02 6652 1112 Mobile: 0401 359 537

Email: jason@sportsmarketing.com.au

Jason Sleeman - National Events Director

Fresh from University and having completed a Bachelor of Business Degree at Southern Cross University (majoring in Marketing and Management), Jason joined Sports Marketing Australia in 2007 and well……. hasn’t left since. 

Having a passion for all things sport/events and a keen interest in business, Jason has helped build SMA over the past 10 years from a small business with 2 employees, 3 contracted Councils and 45 events placed annually to a national organisation with 20+ staff, 47 contracted Councils and in excess of 490 state, national and international events placed annually. Now managing a team of 5 sales staff, Jason has developed a unique skill set required that involves a balance of leadership, management and hands on involvement in a fast paced, can do environment. Having recently promoted to Director level at SMA, Jason has now branched out into other areas of the business including business development and how SMA can best leverage off its strongest asset, being the extensive relationships SMA hold with State and Local Government Bodies and event owners across the country. 

Outside of work, Jason has a strong passion for water sports (in particular fishing, diving and surfing) and Rugby League (through his allegiance to the mighty Manly Sea Eagles which at times seems more like an obsession).

Phone: 02 6652 1112 Mobile: 0460 630 438

Email: dave@sportsmarketing.com.au

Dave Szumowski - Business Development Manager

Dave possesses a Master of International Sport Management and brings to SMA over 16 years’ experience as a sport business professional ranging from local to state and international sports organisations.

Learning about life and people through travelling the world that culminated in a few years as the National Cricket Coach of France, Dave led transformational growth serving Cricket NSW as the North Coast Regional Development Manager, and demonstrated savvy commercial and negotiation skills earning him a promotion to Development Leader for Australian cricket’s Northern NSW region. In 2018 the International Cricket Council offered Dave the newly created role of Global Participation Manager, located at their headquarters in Dubai, where the fast-paced and politically sensitive environment accelerated his event management, stakeholder engagement, and project management skills driving growth to support 104 national sporting organisations worldwide.

Dave brought his young family back to Australia in 2020 with a rejuvenated passion for leveraging the power of sport to deeply connect with people and positively change lives, starting up the digital home of grassroots sport on the Coffs Coast that aimed to help all sports inspire a healthy and happy community. It wasn’t long after reconnecting with the natural beauty and people of the region that Dave soon joined the SMA team.

When he’s not amongst nature or at the beach sharing quality time with his wife and kids, Dave can be found dreaming of their next travel adventure or simply chilling out with some live music, fine food, and a glass of red.

Phone: 02 6652 1112 Mobile: 0408 582 011

Email: peta@sportsmarketing.com.au

Peta Howard - Business Development Manager

Peta is an Event Management specialist with over 20 years of experience including her role as Event Manager for the infamous Sydney Royal Easter Show – the largest event in Australia. She is just as passionate and detail orientated about new, emerging events as she is for the large established ones.

She brings to this role a diverse skill base covering Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Event Management and Coordination, as well as Marketing. All the essential skills required to identify opportunities, negotiate proposals and deliver solid results. With a background in both the events industry and local government, Peta is uniquely positioned for this role, specifically her understanding of the internal operations of local government to drive positive outcomes.

Peta is a “hands on” manager with a positive, “can-do” attitude. She describes herself as a chronic list maker and note taker, which is her way of ensuring every detail is just right. Peta continues to engage in the event industry by working with other Event Managers on boutique events each year.

In her free time you will find Peta mountain biking, camping, at the beach, wandering the local markets or enjoying a long lunch with friends. She also loves giving her girls an encouraging shout out from the side lines at weekend sport. A mad Richmond Tigers supporter, Peta loves watching most sport (in moderation!), is an animal lover and enjoys marching to the beat of her own drum. Never a dull moment!

Phone: 02 6652 1112 Mobile: 0414 953 332

Email: steffan@sportsmarketing.com.au

Steffan Jurd - Business Development Manager

Steffan has joined Sports Marketing Australia after a comprehensive and diverse career in the event management industry. He has more than 14 years of experience in events, having worked in a wide range of dynamic roles encompassing both the public and private sectors. Steffan has serviced clients like SLSA, Swimming Australia, AFL, AOC, Telstra, NAB, NIB and Jeep, as well as record labels, touring companies and some of Australia’s premier artists.

He has planned, developed and managed a broad scope of high-profile sporting, music, community and civic events, pulled together festivals and concert tours, coordinated marketing activations and product launches and played integral roles organising Olympic homecoming parades and national promotional tours.

With a Bachelor of Business, majoring in management, Steffan has also managed businesses in the concert staging and hospitality industries and led a variety of large and diverse teams throughout his career.

Steffan loves working with people and forming strong productive relationships, being involved with exciting, new events and experiencing the many, distinct regions of this beautiful country. He believes all of these elements have now come together in his role at SMA.

Chasing what matters in life, Steffan left the big smoke and moved to paradise five years ago, where he feels he has landed on his feet amongst his awesome teammates at SMA. These days when he’s not placing great events with our Council partners, you’ll find him in the ocean, out in the bush or hanging with his boys.