Garnduwa welcomes Will: Our Partnerships & Strategy Manager

We sat down with Will to learn about the journey that led him to the Kimberley, and what his aspirations are for the regions sport and recreation programming.

Where is home for you?

Born and bred from Perth, but I spent my first few years abroad in Ghana (West Africa) and Singapore following my dad and his work. Outside of that, Western Australia has always, and will always be home.

Tell us about your sport and recreation history?

I grew up with sport as my lifeline to community and to Australia. Playing every sport possible before locking in on my love for Swimming.

I was fortunate to swim at a semi-professional level, getting to travel the world and see some of the best beaches, oceans and lakes taking part in some of the most incredible events.

From there I fell in love with the machine that goes into producing world class events and experiences.

And what about in the professional space?

I have worked in sport for the entirety of my professional career, starting as a volunteer whilst still competing as an athlete. I've had the privilege to be truly entrenched in both the administration of Swimming and Football.

I am still involved with Swimming as the Lead Commentator for World Aquatics, broadcasting Open Water Swimming around the world, a true passion of mine sharing the stories of the incredible athletes and tactics that bring the sport to life. In addition, I'm the Vice President of the Rottnest Channel Swim, an iconic event that showcases Wadjemup and the triumph of human spirit.

During my time at the WA Football, I helped introduce WAFL Wonderland, a concept that worked closely with all WAFL stakeholders to reinvigorate the premier state league. WAFL Wonderland was developed to reduce barriers of entry for fans, creating memorable experiences through great entertainment, great food and great footy. The concept saw crowds flock back to the footy with the biggest average attendance since 2019 and a year-on-year increase of 11%. This success as well as a rejuvenation across the football landscape led to a number of commercial victories including the first Naming Right Partner of the WAFL since 2021.

What has motivated you to join Garnduwa?

The outcomes that Garnduwa achieves are unmatched across Western Australia and unique to the Kimberley. Once I became aware of the vision and mission of the organisation I wanted to align my skills to assist in the further development.

Sport and recreation play a special part in community and the power it has can't be understated. It is my dream to work with the team to share that story and enable communities to achieve more.

What do you hope to achieve in your work with Garnduwa?

I hope to assist the organisation in further developing its revenue streams, particularly the commercial and philanthropic portfolios. If I can make it easier for the organisation to achieve outcomes and align with the strategic plan, specifically around community capacity building, I have no doubt that we will be able to further our footprint throughout the Kimberley.

With that in mind, if you are interested in partnering with Garnduwa or would like to know more about donating, feel free to reach out to partnerships@garnduwa.com.au