louise (weaver) laing

Louise gained her first experience in project management over 10 yeaers ago as Events and Operations Manager for Super League (Europe). As part of as small, commercially focused team she gained a good grounding in the different aspects of running a sport business and managed a series of complex, multi-stakeholder events, including the Grand Final. At this time she also learnerd to manage relationships with sporting clubs form other codes, sponsors and broadcast partners.

On moving to Australia in 2003 to complete a Masters of Management (Sport Management) Louise joined the National Rugby League. Over the next four years she worked on a number of strategic projects. She took responsobility for developing and managing relationships with the other rugby league bodies in Australia and working toward the creation of a new startegic plan that would see the game working toward a shared vision for the first time since the early 1990s. Other projects included the competition analysis that resulted in the introduction of the Gold Coast Titans, the introduction of the Player Agent Accreditation Scheme, competition benchmarking, and the development and communications of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Louise managed relationships with government, developing operational planning documents, and developing and acquitting funding agreements.

Having developed a passion for community engagement during her time at Super League, Louise was instrumental in the inception and development of Rugby League's One Community program, the first comprehensive whole of game community relations program in Australian Sport.

In 2007 she started Corporate Conscience and has been working at the cutting edge of community relations within sport since, helping organisations develop their knowledge in this area and building capacity for long term results.

Louise is passionate about corporate responsibility and community engagement and believes communication and the development of strategic partnerships are key to success in this space.

michael mcdonald

Michael brings with him more than 15  years experience within sports marketing and administration. Michael is marketing qualified and began his career in the wine industry before working in a variety of marketing and commercial roles for the Cronulla Sharks NRL team, managing relationships with organisations such as Reebok, Telstra and Coca-Cola.

He was headhunted to the UK where he led the Castleford Tigers Super League Club through a period of marketing and commercial growth that was unrivalled by its competitors. This culminated in the Tigers being acknowledged as Club of the Year.

On his return to Australia in 2001 Michael took up the role of General Manager of Marketing for the St George Illawarra Dragons. Over the next five years he developed strategies for all areas of the business, putting together one of the most effective marketing and communications teams in the competition. Michael recently developed, project managed and delivered the Centenary of Rugby League. He is on the National Executive of the Australasian Sponsorship Marketing Association (ASMA).

Michael's sponsorship background and clear understanding of the value and importance of CSR, adds another dimension to our business as we recognise the growing synergy between sponsorship and CSR objectives.