Meet Our Leaders
Board of Directors
Executive & Senior Management
Clayton Glenister
President
Clayton Glenister
Clayton completed a Bachelor of Laws Degree and was admitted as a Solicitor in New South Wales and Queensland in February 2002. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors (GAICD) and holds a Diploma in Financial Services (Dip FS). Clayton serves on numerous boards including Southport Sharks. He was elected President in February 2023.
Dean McMahon
Vice President
Dean McMahon
Shaun Stephens
Treasurer
Shaun Stephens
Shaun has been Treasurer of Southport Sharks since 2012. His qualifications include Diploma of Financial Services, Diploma of Accountancy, Fellow NTAA and Registered Tax Agent Shaun has been a Company Director since 2009 and is Principal of an Accountancy Practice.
Chris Sacre
Secretary
Chris Sacre
Royce Enders
Director
Royce Enders
Royce is a Southport Sharks Hall of Famer, Best & Fairest winner (1991) and premiership player (1992). Royce has been heavily involved in Southport Junior and Youth football development on the Gold Coast and has been player-manager for several young Queenslanders who have progressed to AFL level. Royce has been a Company Director since 2016.
Adam Garton
Director
Adam Garton
Adam holds a Bachelor of Architecture and has been a company director since 2001.
Dennis Perry
Director
Dennis Perry
Dennis brings a broad base of commercial knowledge to our Board, courtesy of his rather unique blend of large-corporate and small-business experience acquired during his 36 year career in the Financial Services profession. Dennis owned and managed a local Gold Coast based financial advice firm for nearly 20 years, before his decision to merge with other likeminded high-performance firms to create one of the largest financial advisory businesses in Australia (he is still on the Board of Directors of Invest Blue). Prior to his time in private practice, Dennis held various domestic and international executive roles for one of Australia’s oldest and largest financial services organisations, with one of his most treasured experiences being a Director role which required him to live and work in Tokyo.
Kim White
Director
Kim White
Rick Fankhauser
Director
Rick Fankhauser
Rick's qualifications include Commercial Cook and has experience as a company director since 1995.
Dean Bowtell
Chief Executive Officer
Dean Bowtell
Dean has more than 20 years’ experience in the Hospitality and Leisure industry, with over 10 years at the helm of Southport Sharks. Dean holds a business degree and notable achievements include the successful partnership with the AFL and GC SUNS, the introduction of diverse service lines and the development of a $25m ‘Mantra at Sharks’ accommodation project.
Adam Paterson
Chief Operating Officer
Adam Paterson
Adam has over 12 years experience in hospitality with extensive international experience, including the General Manager for a comedy club, live music venue and 1200 capacity bar.
Adam holds a Diploma of International Business and a Diploma of Leadership and Management. Adam recently completed the 2016 Club Leadership Institute program where he received the award for “Passion for the industry”.
He is a member of the CMAA for 2 years and is currently on the committee for the Gold Coast Region
Tim Lilii
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Lilii
Tim has an Audit background, is a Chartered Accountant and has commercial experience in the FMCG and Manufacturing Industry.
Tim's experience includes both ASX listed and medium-sized companies and he has a strong focus on streamlining processes and using data analytics to improve the bottom line.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law.
Jane O'Connor
Executive Assistant
Jane O'Connor
With over 25 years in hospitality administration, Jane's career has included 18 years at a five-star international resort as an Executive Assistant. She has been with Southport Sharks since 2013 and works closely with the CEO, COO and Board of Directors. Jane was a key stakeholder on the Mantra at Sharks project, influencing the planning and design stage, pre-opening. and launch.
Paul Van Zijl
General Manager- Memberships & Business Technology
Paul Van Zijl
Paul has over 18 years experience in Casinos and Clubs, is multilingual, and a member of Club Managers Association Australia (CMAA). Paul holds a Diploma in Front Line Management and is experienced in Information Systems.
Courtney Tahu
General Manager- Hotel
Courtney Tahu
Courtney has over 8 years’ experience in the hotel industry including Accor, a world leading hotel group. After previously managing the central reservations team for Mantra Head Office, Courtney joined the team at Mantra at Sharks. Due to her success in leading the team out of the pandemic, Courtney was promoted to General Manager.
Jake Jenkings
General Manager- Marketing & Creative
Jake Jenkings
Over the past 15 years Jake has honed his skills in multiple industries, including hotels, design agencies, and management in the retail sector, combined with university degrees in Business & Design. Jake’s customer service background extends beyond our shores with an enriching stint at Disney World in Orlando, where he specialised in Guest Experience. Eventually switching lanes into the creative industry to combine it with his affinity for marketing, Jake's expertise in graphic & communication design allows him to create visually compelling marketing materials that resonate with diverse audiences.
Jarrod Field
General Manager- Football Operations
Jarrod Field
Jarrod has been with the Sharks since 2015 and previously was at the helm at Labrador FC as Senior Coach and Football Management. Jarrod also has an Event Management background with GCCC running major sports venues including Carrara Stadium.
Megan Lawton
General Manager- Health & Fitness Centre
Megan Lawton
Megan brings a rich background spanning 12 years in the fitness, health, and wellness industries. This time includes 7 impactful years at the renowned St Michaels Resort in the UK, along with 3 years in strength and conditioning where Megan was able to collaborate with diverse range of athletes. Beyond her fitness expertise, Megan is also a skilled surf photographer, infusing her unique creative flair into every project. Megan's broad skillset and innovative approach are invaluable assets to the future of our fitness centre.
Nichole Watson
General Manager - People & Culture
Nichole Watson
Nichole is a commercially focused senior HR executive with expertise in leading transformation, driving performance, and aligning people strategy with business goals.
With over 20 years’ experience across large scale and fast-paced environments - hotels, hospitality, education, publishing and FMCG her focus has been partnering with senior executives to deliver change, build capability, and lift culture.
Nichole specialises in strategic HR, executive coaching, and organisational development, with deep experience in complex change, talent planning, and employee engagement. Holding qualifications in HR, executive coaching, and neurolinguistics, she brings a clear, people-first approach to executive leadership.
The Southport Sharks Game Changers
Much of the club’s success today is due to the Sharks off-field team and namely ‘the big three’: Dr Alan Mackenzie, Wally Fankhauser and Gerry Carmody.
Each has played a pivotal role in the club’s success and have been recognised individually with the naming of the club’s outlets and the oval.
Dr Alan Mackenzie
Club President 1974 – 2022
Dr Alan “Doc” Mackenzie’s life at Southport began early in the 1970s when he started his medical practice on the Gold Coast. He was elected Southport President in 1974, and held the position for 49 years until his passing in 2022. That, in itself – an unequalled longevity at the helm of a sporting organisation – perhaps best explains why the Sharks have been powerful for so long. In 2012 he was recognised by the AFL and awarded the highly prestigious Jack Titus Service Award. Mackenzie’s Sports Bar is named after Dr Mackenzie.
Wally Fankhauser
Club Vice President 1974 – 1976/ 1978 – 1995
The late Wally Fankhauser is one of the main reasons why Southport Sharks enjoy being the envy of sporting clubs nationwide. It was his $2 million donation that set up the move of the club from Owen Park in Southport to a group at Musgrave Hill, one which now bears the name of Wally Fankhauser Sports Reserve. Aside from his generous donation to establish Fankhauser Reserve, Wally put in plenty of hard work. He personally bulldozed the mounds in place for what was originally to have been the headquarters of the Gold Coast District Rugby League and turned the area into a full-sized Aussie rules oval. Fankhauser served as Vice-President under Dr Alan Mackenzie for 23 years up to his untimely death in 1995.
Gerry Carmody
Treasurer 1975/1985 – 1988/1993 – 2011, Finance Director 1976 – 1984 & Secretary 1989 – 1991
One night in 1974, the late Gerry Carmody was enjoying a beer at the Down Under Bar of the Pacific Hotel, minding his own business, when he somehow became elected as Treasurer of the Southport AFC. He had nothing to do with Aussie Rules up to then and the rest is history. Gerry had been associated with the Southport committee, mostly as Secretary and Treasurer for close to 20 years and his impact on the club has been recognised by the naming of Carmody’s Restaurant. Gerry sadly passed away in 2011.
