Board of Management

The University of Tasmania Athletics Club Board and Executive comprises of individuals with experience in the areas of business, finance, law, commercialisation, sports strategy and governance.

Chairperson
Though still in her mid 20’s, Mikki’s involvement with athletics began close to 20 years ago when she joined Hobart Districts Little Athletics Centre in the U6 age group. Mikki’s talent for throws events was evident and at the age of 11 she began training with coach Evan Peacock. With a background in dancing, Mikki quickly developed the skills required to throw hammer and progressed to be one of Australia’s best junior throwers.

Mikki represented Australia at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games where she won a bronze in the Hammer before making her second national team the following year for the World Junior (U20) Championships in Spain.

Mikki retired from competing in 2018 and joined the UTAS Athletics Club Board, replacing Evan Peacock as Chair at the 2019 AGM. Recently, Mikki has gained her coaching accreditation and has taken on a role within the club as a throws coach in addition to her paid job with the Cancer Council of Tasmania where she works in event management.

Patron
Evan is the Director of a world class University Research Infrastructure facility and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also brings with him more than 15 years of coaching experience, specialising in throws and strength & conditioning; from Little Athletics through to Olympic level. In addition to coaching his sons Hamish and Huw, Evan has coached numerous other athletes to the podium at State, national & international competition. Evan has been a multiple recipient of the Athletics Tasmania Coach of the Year, and a previous winner of the Athletics Australia Coach of the Year for junior athletes.

Some could argue that his rock climbing background has given him a distinct advantage in holding the unofficial record of hauling up the hammer cage in Hobart faster than anyone else. Away from the track, Evan is a two wheel enthusiast who, when not puttering around on his Triumph, enjoys going down hills on a mountain bike, much more than going up them!

By day, Stuart is a University of Tasmania academic specialising in physical and ecosystem modelling at the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem Co-operative Research Centre, investigating the likely impacts of climate change on the Southern Ocean food web, after work (and sometimes during) Stuart is a passionate athlete and coach. Before his involvement in athletics Stuart was a keen multi-sport athlete, achieving top 5 placings in both the Freycinet & Winter Challenge and completing a couple of marathons.

Stuart is now involved in the coaching of a squad of athletes that include his two teenage daughters. His interest is skewed towards longer events where mental preparation and toughness are just as important as speed, but thinks anything 800 m or longer is a great event. Oddly, he also knows a bit about pole vault.

Stuart joined UTAS AC because of the club’s focus on participation and enjoyment of athletics, and the desire to build a team culture in what is often seen as an individual sport. He is particularly interested in assisting athletes making the transition from junior to senior ranks and developing a lifelong involvement in sport.

Stuart started athletics starting as a sprinter and jumper under the watchful eye of Peter Turnock. Having suffered from shin splits, Stuart hung up the spikes and picked up a pair of throwing shoes and a hammer. Under Evan Peacock’s coaching, Stuart’s highest achievement was a bronze medal at the U20 National Championships for hammer at the age of 18.
Since then a lack of training has seen a more social Stuart more involved with officiating then competing. Stuart can be found upstairs managing photo finish at most Hobart interclub meets and state championship events. Stuart officiates at many National Tour Meets & Championship events and in 2018, he was appointed as a Technical Official for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Stuart’s interests outside athletics are soccer, AFL, ten pin bowling, Scouts and spending time with his wife Claire & son Oli. Stuart sits on the Scouts Tasmania Board of Management and Finance Committee and recently received the Rover Service Award for outstanding service to the Rover Scout section of the movement.

As an athlete Hamish needs little introduction. A World Youth silver medallist, 5th at the World Juniors, member of the Australian Flame, competed at three World Championship events, numerous Diamond League meets and a dual Commonwealth Games medallist. And, in 2016 he added the title of Olympian to his bio, making him Tasmania’s all time most successful field athlete. In addition to javelin, Hamish holds several Tasmanian junior records in shot put and discus and has achieved national medals in those events.

At interclub meets you will often see him competing in various events, where he is encouraging of athletes of all ages and abilities. When not competing you will still find him at the track, either at site setting up, officiating, or often assisting young athletes at various coaching clinics.

Hamish is a UTAS Engineering graduate, and away from the track (yes, he does leave it occasionally), Hamish enjoys hanging out with the family dogs, listening to music and watching sport.

Ben has a keen interest in endurance sport and is a level 2 recreational running coach, working with runners from a range of backgrounds and experience levels. By day, he works as an Exercise Physiologist, helping clients with chronic health conditions or injuries improve their health through exercise prescription.

Ben competes primarily in distance running events, with a particular fondness for the marathon. He joined the UTAS AC in 2018 before competing in the Christmas carnival series, considering this a must-do experience for anyone with an interest in sprinting to middle distance running. Ben has a particular interest in bridging the gap between “recreational running” and “athletics” that seems to exist, encouraging more people to take an interest in both in and out of stadium athletics. Ben is the founding Event Director for Devonport parkrun and is a parkrun Event Ambassador for North West Tasmania.

Nadine has become involved in Athletics through her teenage daughters involvement in Little Athletics and now the UTAS Athletics Club. Her daughter competes in a range of track, field and jumping events and over the years has made many friends through the supportive environment that athletics provides.
Nadine is happy to lend a hand during competition meets and is keen to support the younger athletes in their progression with their chosen events.

Nadine works at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research in the area of data linkage. This involves bringing data together from different sources for approved research studies. Outside of work Nadine enjoys running her daughter around to all of her sporting commitments which also includes basketball, family trips away (often for sport!), listening to music and gardening.