North Coast Clubs Building Stronger Leaders

With this in mind, on the NSW North Coast a powerful idea is reshaping how clubs support their people.

What began in 2019 as a simple CEO wellness initiative has evolved into the North Coast Compliance Forum, a collaborative network which recognises that leadership can be isolating but no one should carry that burden alone.

It is a natural complement to ClubsNSW’s Clubs Helping Clubs initiative, where larger clubs partner with smaller venues to share ideas and industry expertise—ensuring no club is left behind.

In 2019, Phil Kelly — who now runs Murwillumbah Services Memorial Club — attended a Black Dog Institute workshop in Yamba, which focussed on better mental health for leaders.

“I thought to myself, we get all these tools to look after our staff and members but who looks after the CEO?,” says Phil, who was then-CEO of Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club.

It was that question that led Phil to act. 

“On the way back from Yamba, I was thinking about it,” Phil says. “I sent out an email to the managers and within one hour, I had 17 positive responses.”

The appetite was immediate and together with the now-Ballina RSL CEO Guy Diven, the Forum launched.

The group meets every two months, rotating venues to showcase local clubs, and attendance sits at an extraordinary 95 per cent. CEOs prioritise the sessions as a vital part of their calendar.

The format is simple but effective, with guest speakers such as psychologists and licensing experts, and a strict ‘Chatham House Rule’ approach that allows leaders to speak freely.

Nothing is off limits, from boardroom tensions to staffing challenges.

“It’s a safe place,” Guy says. “CEOs can’t talk to directors (because) they’re their employers. They can’t talk to staff as they don’t want to appear weak.

“Being able to talk openly amongst peers is really beneficial.”

What has developed is an environment where experience is shared, not guarded.

“It’s not a competition anymore,” Phil says. “We’re all in the same boat.”

That spirit has now expanded into compliance, one of the most complex and fast-moving challenges facing the industry.

With increasing regulatory pressures such as anti-money laundering obligations, licensing and workplace safety, smaller clubs in particular can struggle to keep pace.

So, the solution has been to bring everyone together.

The Forum pairs CEOs and some general managers with compliance officers, which means a common approach to navigating regulations.

“Regulation is outpacing what smaller clubs can manage,” Guy says. “This is about making sure no club is left behind.”

Across the North Coast, clubs of all sizes — from volunteer-run venues to major operations — are working side-by-side.

Leaders, who were once isolated, now have a network at their fingertips.

“It's about supporting each other as human beings,” Phil says.