Troy’s experiences with bullying, adversity and personal struggles led him to discover the positive influence of streetball culture. For Troy, it became far more than a sport, it became a community that built resilience, confidence and purpose. Those experiences continue to shape his commitment to creating opportunities where others can discover the same sense of belonging, connection and potential.
As Founder of Next Play Collective, Troy brings an exceptional level of drive and passion to supporting people who may be facing challenges across different areas of their lives. Through the powerful combination of sport, technology, mentoring and community connection, he is focused on creating opportunities that engage, inspire and empower people to move forward.
With hands-on experience in designing, developing and delivering programs, community initiatives and events, Troy is committed to creating inclusive, engaging and welcoming environments where people of all abilities and backgrounds can participate, have fun, feel safe and be themselves. His vision is to build spaces and experiences where everyone feels valued, supported and encouraged to believe in what they are capable of achieving.
Matthew’s journey through elite sport has given him a deep understanding of performance, resilience and the challenges that can stand between people and their potential. A former Australian Boomer and National Basketball League player,
Matthew spent more than a decade as a professional athlete, representing Australia, attending preseason with the Dallas Mavericks and winning championships across multiple countries. Significant injuries and life’s unexpected challenges also reinforced for him the importance of perseverance, connection and having the right support around you.
Throughout his career, Matthew became increasingly focused on understanding what enables people to perform at their best. He went on to study psychology at postgraduate level and has spent more than two decades learning from and working alongside Olympians, World Champions and elite athletes across a variety of sports. These experiences shaped his understanding that the principles behind high performance extend far beyond the sporting arena.
Matthew brings this experience into an environment focused on helping people build confidence, resilience, self-belief and greater awareness of what they are capable of achieving. Through sport, mentoring, education and meaningful connection, he is passionate about helping young people and communities overcome barriers, recognise their strengths and develop the mindset and skills to take their next step forward.
Danielle brings almost three decades of experience across disability, aged care and community services, beginning in special education in 1997 before progressing through frontline support, administration and senior service management. Her leadership experience has spanned diverse community and centre-based programs, supported accommodation, staff and volunteer teams, community initiatives and fundraising.
More recently, Danielle expanded her work into the assistance dog sector, becoming a government-accredited assistance dog trainer and assessor.
Her professional experience is complemented by her perspective as a parent, carer and person with lived experience of disability, giving her a deeply practical understanding of accessibility, inclusion and the barriers individuals and families can face.
At Next Play Collective, Danielle brings these perspectives together to help create inclusive opportunities where young people of all abilities can participate, connect, build confidence and feel they genuinely belong.
Leah’s career has been driven by a commitment to creating positive change for people, communities and organisations. With extensive leadership and management experience across the community services, disability, aged care, education and not-for-profit sectors, she brings a strong understanding of the systems, support and opportunities people need to participate, develop and thrive.
Her experience spans senior and specialist roles including Quality and Safety Coordinator, Manager of Hume Region Disability Intake and Response, Team Leader in Disability & Aged Care Case Management, Head of Student Success & Retention, Community Services Manager and Chief Executive Officer. Across these roles, Leah has led teams, strengthened service delivery, supported people experiencing complex barriers and worked to improve quality, inclusion, safety and outcomes for individuals and communities.
In 2019, Leah was recognised as the Victorian For Purpose and Social Enterprise winner at the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, acknowledging her leadership, impact and commitment to creating meaningful social change.
As part of the leadership of Next Play Collective, Leah brings this depth of experience to the development of inclusive, safe and sustainable programs and opportunities. She is passionate about ensuring people are not defined by the barriers they face and that programs are designed around the individual, creating environments where people feel heard, supported, included and empowered to build confidence, develop their potential and take meaningful steps forward.
Damian brings nearly 40 years of involvement in cricket, contributing as a player, captain, coach, official and umpire, alongside 15 years of service on his club committee. His longstanding commitment to the game and its community was recognised when he was named Club Person of the Year.
Beyond sport, Damian brings expertise in computer engineering, technology and innovation. He is passionate about encouraging people to explore programming, engineering and emerging technologies, demonstrating how curiosity, creativity and problem-solving can open new pathways and opportunities.
At Next Play Collective, Damian brings together his experience in sport, community leadership and technology to help create engaging opportunities for young people to learn, participate and discover new possibilities.
Tom brings a blend of martial arts, Qigong and mentorship. Through Wing Chun, mindful movement and personal development, he supports confidence, resilience, discipline, respect, physical wellbeing, mental focus and lifelong learning.
Pjay brings a strong connection to streetball culture, youth engagement and community connection. His ability to build genuine relationships with young people and create welcoming environments reflects the values at the heart of Next Play Collective. President of Laidley Falcons Basketball Club and owner of Swish Basketball Academy.