The PAA Team

It is with excitement that we announce the appointment of our first full time employee.  We welcome Brendan Lee to this role and look forward to working with him to establish and implement the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and as we strive for pickleball to be recognised as the ultimate sport for competition, community, family, fitness and fun.

Brendan currently resides in Hervey Bay, Queensland. He has spent much of his time working all over the east coast of Australia for organisations such as Tennis Australia, PCYC Queensland and as a small business owner. With over 10 years of sports administration experience, Brendan's thorough knowledge of the sporting landscape in Australia and the key relationships he has built nationally and internationally will be of huge benefit to our organisation.

Although Brendan has only known about pickleball since late 2020 he has worn many hats in his short time. He has had the opportunity to compete at the highest level nationally and also was invited to attend the IFP Bainbridge Cup in India in 2022 where he played and commentated. Brendan was also Tournament Organiser of the 2022 Queensland Pickleball Championships and Queensland Pickleball Tour events. 

As the first appointed Executive Officer of the Pickleball Association of Australia, Brendan hopes to ensure that pickleball is embraced by a large amount of Australians, young and old, and that our sport is thriving so future generations can enjoy this sport as much as he is. 

With 25 years as a PE teacher and sports coach, Jen immediately recognised the value of pickleball as a highly inclusive activity to be embraced by participants of all ages and ability levels, and developed into a sport for life. 

To enable the development of others, Jen attained IPTPA Level 1 certification to supplement her coaching knowledge, and enjoys regularly running coaching sessions and introductory clinics.  Jen also values the competitive opportunities this sport has to offer, and has coordinated the establishment and running of the Brisbane Doubles Open, the Australian Pickleball Championships, and the Queensland Pickleball Championships over the last couple of years.

Jen was a founding member and Secretary of Brisbane Pickleball Club, established the Pickleball Association of Queensland and held 3 terms as Presiednt and as a founding board member of Pickleball Australia Association Ltd., is keen to build the presence of Pickleball across Australia for school students through to those participants in the 90+ age bracket. 

Appointed Board Chair in Oct 2021, Jen works to support State Members with development and implementation of programs and policies to drive pickleball growth across Australia while also looking outward and creating connections with the International pickleball scene.

Tina Bianchi has worked in the health sector as a senior audiologist for 23 years, predominantly within the elderly community. She has also coached tennis, beach tennis and provided personal training to people of all ages and sporting abilities. Tina’s work passion is motivating and coaching people through sport and fitness to reach their potential in a holistic sense. The fun, friendships, inclusiveness and connections that pickleball offers is the added dimension Tina believes makes this game unique to other sports. As soon as Tina had her first hit in February 2022, she was hooked as a player and as a promoter of the sport. Within a week Tina booked herself into the level 1 Pickleball Global coaching course to learn as much as possible about this highly addictive sport.

Nick Cooper was introduced to Pickleball 6 years ago in Colorado, USA by his father-in-law. Having a tennis and squash background, it did not take long before Nick was addicted to Pickleball and the culture surrounding the game.

Nicks passion for this sport has seen him involved in tournament organisation, coaching players, and supporting all and any pickleball events where possible.  He is also setting a standard for others to follow having won a number of titles in both Singles and Doubles Events in various tournaments.

Enthusiasm to grow the sport of Pickleball and Nick’s passion for business, led to him to become a member of the Pickleball Australia Association board. 

Kaden started his Pickleball journey in 2018 becoming an IPTPA Level 2 certified coach.  After retiring from professional tennis in the early 2010’s, Kaden immediately noticed the differences between the 2 sports in regards to both culture and inclusivity.  Kaden also found that the warmth and encouragement felt towards players who aren’t aspiring to be champions, along with the well documented health benefits for all ages, makes Pickleball an obvious choice for one of the fastest growing sports in the world.  

Kaden currently competes in Pickleball tournaments around Australia and is the current Australian Doubles Champion as well as the current Pan Pacific Masters Games Singles and Doubles Champion.  Kaden’s goal is to compete against many of his former tennis colleagues and friends in the US who have also embarked on a career in Pickleball.

With Pickleball expanding at such a rapid rate across Australia, Kaden is passionate about shaping both the social and competitive landscapes to maximise inclusivity.

I’ve played tennis for as long as I can remember.. I’ve been coaching it now for almost 40 years.

Never did I think I would find a sport  to equal my love of tennis. 

Then 6 months ago I was told about Pickleball and thought huh? So I too googled it. 

What can I say except I’m hooked on this sport! I can’t wait to see it develop and grow in the years to come. I hope I can lend a helping hand to bring Pickleball into the spotlight and watch everyone join this already amazing community.

I was introduced to pickleball late 2020 and have found the sport and its community to be amazing. Having played squash as a social weekly event in my thirties it was great to find a game that I was able to play and be competitive in.

After selling our business in 2016, and being out of the workforce by choice, early retirement, I used my time and energy and became an active member of the Yeppoon Tennis Club Inc, PICKLEBALL. I took a leading role in the development of the Pickleball facilities at Yeppoon. From engaging with Local Government, to securing the site, Grant writing and sponsorship to raise funds to progress development of 8 permanent dedicated courts.

I bring to the association experience from an employer’s, business manager/owners prospective, 10 years and 22 years in a public service role. My personal profile is best described as a completer finisher with tendencies for ideas and thinking outside the box, energetic and goal orientated. I have a specific interest in facilities and club development.

Like most, I googled Pickleball and found an indoor venue in my next door suburb of Coorparoo. Went to watch and the enthusiastic welcoming players soon had me on the court. Loved the game since.  Play regularly and have introduced many family and friends to Pickleball as a great social and healthy activity.

Pickleball, what else could I play that provides for my ten-year-old granddaughter and me to have fun on the court.  I have played in tournaments and Championships, but I am no threat to medals, I love the healthy activity and the social nature of our Pickleball.

I have been playing in Brisbane since 2017.  I joined the PAA Inc Committee in 2018, then President of Brisbane Pickleball Club for 2019-2020.

Now serving on the Board of PAA Ltd in January 2020.

We are very appreciative of the following board members for their committment, time, and efforts in helping with the establishment, growth and development of pickleball in Australia.  More importantly they are recognised for contributions to the Pickleball Australia Association Board.

Bob Mendelsohn: Board Member and Board Chair;  Jan 2020 - Oct  2021

Tobias Copeland: Board Member;   March 2020 - Feb 2022

Tony Morgan: Board Member;  Jan 2020 - Feb 2022

Melissa Carlton: Board Member;  May 2021 - Oct 2022

Mitchell Dun: Board Member;  Jan - Oct 2022

Anup Takle: Board Member;   Feb to Oct 2022

Kay Stocks: Board Member, Secretary; Oct 2022 - March 2023

Ian Daniels: Board Member, Secretary, Finance Director; Oct 2021 - April 2023