Company Profile

Sports Marketing Australia was formed in 1999 when the founding Directors combined their wealth of knowledge and relationships in the sports  and entertainment industry, to successfully implement a number of commercially driven projects in regional Australia.  

The company's strategic vision was based on the philosophical change in the sports and entertainment industry that revolved around the emergence of decentralising events into regional Australia. 

The first of these projects involved Rick Sleeman, Sports Marketing Australia's Managing Director and former Director of Rugby with IMG, successfully luring the Wallabies to set up base camp in Coffs Harbour. It became obvious quite quickly that the economic and branding benefits provided to the Coffs Harbour region through hosting the Wallabies were desirable. The project also provided a significant benefit to Australian Rugby Union. News of these mutual benefits spread quickly within national and state sporting organisations as well as key Local Government bodies. All parties showed a unified interest in supporting the development of a 'Decentralisation Program', to identify events that can be beneficially relocated into regional Australia, to identify regional centres suitable for this relocation and to bring this relocation to reality. 

During the past 18 years, Sports Marketing Australia has fully developed the program to achieve their desired outcomes. SMA is the only sports marketing organisation which operates in this space. 

SMA's successes have lead to unsurpassed relationships being developed with sporting organisations, promoters, the business event industry, the entertainment industry and government bodies. These relationships have in turn lead to SMA broadening its business base to include other services requested by its customers. These include the development of the OSM (24/7 Online Sports Management) registration, administration and database management system for sporting organisations and a state of the art ticketing system for sporting organisations and Local Government's regional sports facilities, performing arts centres, theatres etc.

Company Directors

Phone: 02 6652 1112

Mobile: 0414 186 200

Email: craig@sportsmarketing.com.au

Craig Gibson - Managing 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.

Jason Sleeman

Phone: 02 6652 1112

Mobile: 0401 359 537

Email: jason@sportsmarketing.com.au

Jason Sleeman - 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).

Staff

Rick Sleeman

Phone: 02 6652 1112

Mobile: 0410 576 198

Email: rick@sportsmarketing.com.au

Rick Sleeman - Special Projects

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.

Dave Szumowski

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.

Steffan Jurd

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.

Caitlin Sebbens

Phone: 02 6652 1112

Email: support@sportsmarketing.com.au

Caitlin Sebbens - OSM National Support Manager

Caitlin is our OSM support management super star with the ability to solve all your Sports Administration Service queries, quickly and efficiently. Omni Sports Management (OSM) Software is the most innovative Sports Administration Service ever developed. OSM provides a complete solution to managing your sport and providing leading edge technology to your associations, clubs, event directors, teams, coaches, members and volunteers. Caitlin has a Bachelor of Sport and Tourism Management allowing her to work effectively in local, national and international arenas in diverse areas, such as sports management, event management, tourism operations and management and adventure tourism.

Caitlin’s expertise enables clients to operate and market their sport effectively, increasing the ability to reach current members and attract new members. Using the key features, Caitlin can reduce the time involved for your staff and volunteers to create leagues, camps, events and other competitions and will increase your opportunities for revenue and service. Using integrated components such as online stores, Caitlin can also assist your sport to generate revenue. The iPhone and Android apps can be dynamically configured with the ability to send messages to all of your members.

Caitlin has also worked as a coordinator for ARL Development, Cricket NSW, the Soccatoos program and was an integral part of the Active After Schools Program to increase children’s participation in sport where access may be hindered. Her complete love of sport also encouraged Caitlin to volunteer at her local soccer club for more than four years, as well as playing for twelve years. In addition to Sport, Caitlin has worked in Real Estate Property Management ensuring superior communication and organisational skills to arrange inspections and the successful liaison between tenants, landlords and tradespeople.

Caitlin started at Sports Marketing Australia in May, 2016 and has formed strong relationships with all of our OSM customers. Her great strengths are her attention to detail, tenacity, her total reliability and diligence. Caitlin has also demonstrated exemplary Event Management skills while overseeing the ticketing operations for SMA at a number of key events for the A-League and the AFL demanding strong organisational skills and superior problem solving abilities.

With sport, there are no boundaries and if there is any sport on over the weekend, especially Cricket or the NRL, Caitlin is a happy camper.

Brett Eagles

Phone: 02 6652 1112

Mobile: 0418 452 629

Email: beagles@corporationone.com.au

Brett Eagles - Accounts Manager

Brett started accounting in 1988 with a chartered firm in Sydney, dealing with the entertainment industry ranging from actors, musicians, singers, models and media. In 1998, Brett took a different direction with a firm in West Ryde where he managed a team and took a more comprehensive business adviser role looking after corporate businesses. After 7 years at West Ryde, and at that point with a young family, Brett decided to change the environment for the family and moved to Coffs Harbour in order to bring the kids up in a more relaxed coastal town. He continued as a contractor to the firm in West Ryde for another 5 years. During the past 10 years in Coffs harbour, he has been developing his own business in taxation and business advising which led to an association being developed with SMA over the last 5 years. This brings us to where we are today……except the kids have moved back to Sydney!

Deborah Gibson

Phone: 02 6652 1112

Email: deborah@sportsmarketing.com.au

Deborah Gibson - Content Management

With extensive experience in journalism, PR and corporate communications, Deborah is a skilled content writer. She has worked for a variety of employers including national newspapers like The Sun Herald, Fairfax Community Newspapers, government departments including the NSW Department of Education and Training, TAFE NSW and in private enterprise for large corporations such as Integral Energy.

Major career achievements include the successful delivery of media content for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As the Information Services Manager for the Sydney games, she led a team of more than 20 specialist editorial, design and print management staff. 

For more than a decade, Deborah managed a successful freelance career working from an established home studio developing content for a variety of clients nation-wide.

Deborah loves the ocean and her new home on acres, precious time spent with her husband, four fabulous children and her Border Collies. Her favourite places are the Yasawa Islands in Fiji and Iluka in NSW.

Phone: 02 6652 1112

Email: teela@sportsmarketing.com.au

Teela Sleeman - Graphic Designer

Teela Sleeman is SMA’s designer whizz/styling guru/photographer. Teela is responsible for all our stylish proposals, advertisements, flyers and print work. She loves her work and always has a smile on her face.

Teela's worked in the graphic design industry for numerous years. Her knowledge and experience has been a valuable asset to SMA. We think she secretly has a magic wand tucked under her desk because she transforms hand written scribble into absolute masterpieces in minutes and if you want some wrinkles ironed out or a bit of a nick & tuck she’s a whizz in photoshop!

OSM

Mobile: 0424 955 332

Email: Jo@sportsmarketing.com.au

Jo Parker - Senior Analyst

Jo joins the team with an extensive experience in Event & Business Management. Her many years working in the Corporate Sector before taking up the role as Business Manager with Education QLD has provided a wealth of knowledge across multiply business practises. Jo’s passion to support sporting organisations both as a social player and providing leadership in committee roles across various sports lead her towards Event Management.

She has dedicating the past 5 years delivering Mountain Bike events from the 2016 World Cup to multiply National Championships and working on the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Jo’s love of engagement with stakeholders and creating new opportunities provides the perfect match as a Senior Analyst with SMA.

OSM

IPC

Meet the dedicated team from IPC, the brains and creative pool behind the OSM Database Management System. Their tireless efforts ensure that our client’s systems are customised to suit their unique business rules, rather than our clients needing to change their rules to suit the system. Discussing technology issues can sometimes be challenging for the team, but our account managers take the time to communicate with clients every step of the way.