New RWA Development Manager and staff structure changes

Welcoming Ellie Madin 

Rowing WA is pleased to announce the appointment of Ellie Madin as the new Development Manager, commencing on Tuesday 2 September. The position replaces the previous Member Services Manager role and reflects a broader focus on member engagement, sport development, coach and official development, athlete pathways and event delivery. 

Ellie joins Rowing WA with experience across recruitment, human resources, stakeholder engagement, project support and rowing. Her professional background includes end-to-end recruitment and onboarding, client and employee relationship management, compliance, policy and procedure support, and coordinating multiple priorities. 

Within rowing, Ellie has served as Captain and previously Secretary of Curtin University Boat Club. She has coordinated regattas and rowing camps, managed club communications and social media, supported coach development, and coached and coordinated athletes across several school rowing programs. Ellie was selected for the Australian Sports Commission’s Women Leaders in Sport Program in 2025 and is a member of the Rowing WA Competitions Committee. 

RWA CEO Daniel Tackenberg said “We are delighted to welcome Ellie to the Rowing WA team. Ellie brings a strong combination of rowing knowledge, leadership experience, community engagement skills and professional expertise in recruitment and human resources. As someone who is already deeply involved in the Western Australian rowing community, she understands the opportunities and challenges facing our clubs and members. We are confident she will make a significant contribution to the continued growth and development of rowing in Western Australia.” 

In her role, Ellie will lead member communications across the Rowing WA membership database, website, social media and OarTalk newsletter. She will also oversee coach and official development initiatives, support athlete development programs including Masters rowing, para-rowing and coxswains, and help deliver regattas and off-water events. 

Organisational Changes 

Rowing WA has also reviewed its staffing structure to ensure the organisation is well positioned to support clubs, members, stakeholders, programs and regatta delivery into the future. 

René Brovelli has been promoted from Member Services Manager to General Manager Operations following the departure of Stacey Francis-Bayman. René will oversee the Development, Pathways and Events portfolios, along with club support initiatives, marketing and communications implementation, partnership development and targeted organisational projects. 

Lara Glendinning’s role has evolved from Schools Development Officer to Pathways Manager. School rowing development remains a core focus, while Lara will now more broadly oversee pathways into the sport and performance pathways. This includes supporting transitions from school programs into clubs and managing state teams, pathways, talent identification programs and representative tours. 

Following 12 months in a casual capacity, Conall Hansford has been appointed full-time as Events Manager. Conall will lead Rowing WA regatta delivery, including season planning, entries, seeding, grading, risk and weather management, along with facility and equipment maintenance management. 

RWA CEO Daniel Tackenberg added “these appointments and role changes representan important step forward for Rowing WA. We have taken the opportunity to review our entire staffing structure to ensure we are best positioned to support clubs, members, athletes, volunteers and stakeholders into the future. Ellie joins the organisation at an exciting time and complements a talented team that is committed to growing and strengthening rowing across Western Australia.”  

Meet the Rowing WA Team 

The revised staffing structure provides clear areas of focus across governance, operations, club development, participation, pathways, events and administration. 

Collectively, these staffing changes strengthen Rowing WA’s ability to deliver on its strategic priorities and better support the rowing community across Western Australia. The revised structure provides greater clarity of responsibilities, increased organisational capacity, and a stronger focus on member services, club support, participation growth, athlete pathways and event delivery. By aligning resources more effectively across key operational areas, Rowing WA is better positioned to provide sustainable support for clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes while continuing to grow and develop the sport into the future.