Congratulations to Kellie Nolan who has been awarded the 2023 BHP Community Coach of the Year!

Kellie, from the Maroubra Saints Junior Football Club in New South Wales, was selected from a vast and impressive field of candidates who are playing a big role in driving the growth of female football across the country.

Now in its third year, the BHP Community Coach of the Year program recognises a person who has made an outstanding contribution to progressing football for women and girls at grassroots level.

Kellie has developed an extensive coaching CV and contributed significantly to the success of girls footy at her club and in the local community more broadly. She was the first youth girls coach at Maroubra, is currently coaching the under 18 youth girls team and is also head coach at UTS Bats and PLC in the Sydney Independent Schools competition. Off the field, she is also on the club’s committee, is the club’s ‘Umpire Ambassador’ and is credited with having had a profound and positive influence on the game in the region.

BHP President Australia Geraldine Slattery congratulated Kellie on being awarded the 2023 BHP Community Coach of the Year.

“Kellie’s commitment to coaching and advocacy for girls and women in sport is inspirational, and we are so pleased to be able to recognise her achievements with this award. Community coaching is one of many programs that BHP supports in partnership with the AFLW, as we work together to create more opportunities for women to thrive in sport and in business across Australia.”

The Community Coach of the Year program is a key initiative of BHP’s partnership with AFLW, which focusses on creating positive impact in the area of gender diversity, opportunity and equality, a shared ambition of both organisations.

Since 2019, the partnership has supported over 40 women to obtain the highest level of coaching and umpiring accreditation and a more than 2,408 community coaches have received development opportunities.

The BHP Community Coach of the Year award was announced at Monday night’s W Awards, which also saw Richmond’s Monique Conti crowned 2023 AFLW Fairest and Best.