Australia (Commonwealth Union)_ Indian-origin community leader and long-time diversity champion Molina Asthana has been elected to the Vicsport board, joining two other new directors chosen during the organization’s 2025 Annual General Meeting. Asthana will serve alongside Matthew Duck, CEO of Athletics Victoria, and Melinda Jacobsen, a senior consultant with MosaicLab. Both were elected by Vicsport’s affiliate members. Current board members Ruth Holdaway MBE and Adam Crameri also returned for another term. Asthana has built a strong profile in the sports sector through her work, promoting inclusion and equal access.
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Asthana is the founder of Multicultural Women in Sport, an initiative created to help women from culturally diverse backgrounds take part in organized sport. She currently chairs Handball Victoria and is deputy chair of Table Tennis Victoria. In the past, she has led Gymnastics Victoria and the AFL South East Regional Advisory Council, giving her broad experience across multiple codes. Her influence also extends into national roles. Asthana holds ambassador positions with Cricket Australia, the AFL, the Commonwealth Games, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. She is also a member of the Australian Sports Commission’s Play Well Leadership Group, which focuses on improving participation and community connection through sport. Outside the sporting sector, she has held senior legal roles within the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and major firms, including Clayton Utz and MinterEllison.
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Reflecting on her appointment, Asthana said her work has shown her “how sport can help address issues like discrimination, social isolation, and family violence,” particularly in multicultural communities. Fellow new director Matthew Duck brings more than a decade of leadership across three sporting organizations. Since taking over at Athletics Victoria in 2022, he has overseen strong governance reforms and improved financial performance. Duck said he is keen to strengthen Vicsport’s role as a connector across the sporting landscape and to build collaboration among industry leaders.
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Additionally, the other director Melinda Jacobsen adds two decades of experience in governance, advocacy, and cross-sector partnerships. She has worked extensively on gender equality, road safety, and women’s cycling, holding senior posts in start-ups, national bodies, and statutory authorities. The trio joins existing board members Jason Hellwig (Chair), Rochelle Eime (Deputy Chair), Rayoni Nelson OLY, Allana Sharman, and Andrew Skillern. The AGM also marked the end of service for Louise Ayres, Ayden Shaw, and Fabio Serpiello, who were thanked for their contributions. Vicsport, the peak body for sport and active recreation in Victoria, supports local clubs, promotes participation, and works to build more inclusive sporting communities.
