Football Victoria (FV) is pleased to announce the appointment of three key regional football staff members as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening regional football.
This follows the recommendations of the Regional Football Review last year triggering the transition of the delivery of all Discipline & Tribunal Processes, and the annual Country Championships in 2025.
FV CEO Chris Pehlivanis welcomed the additions to the regional team.
"Football Victoria is more committed than ever to supporting and strengthening regional football. The Regional Review highlighted the importance of providing greater resources and expertise to our clubs and participants, as detailed in the Our Football Strategy, and these appointments are the first of several key steps forward in that journey. We are excited to welcome Lauren, Chris, and Adam to the FV team and look forward to the positive impact they will have on the game across Victoria.”
These appointments mark another significant milestone in FV’s commitment to enhancing regional football governance, competition management, and overall support services – ensuring a consistent and high-quality football experience across all regions.
These new appointments will play a crucial role in implementing FV’s unified vision for regional football, enhancing service delivery, relieving volunteer burden, and supporting clubs and participants across Victoria. New Appointments
Lauren Stevens – Regional Development Manager
Lauren joins FV after eight strong years as General Manager of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League, leading extensive growth in participation across all aspects of the Association – particularly female football. FV celebrates her appointment as a strong commitment to ensuring the vision for regional football is led by regional people at the forefront. With extensive experience in regional football across Victoria, including her role as Vice President of the Country Leagues Football Association, Lauren brings a deep understanding of the unique needs and opportunities in regional communities. Lauren’s leadership both in the Regional Department and across the broader organisation will ensure the delivery of positive outcomes for our regional football family.
Chris Phillips – Regional Competitions Coordinator
Chris joins FV from Football Queensland, where he spent three years leading key community football programs in the Wide Bay Region. His experience in competition management and grassroots development will help enhance and streamline FV’s regional competitions.
Adam Wing – Regional Discipline Coordinator
Adam brings a wealth of experience in the industry, having worked across multiple English County Football Associations. His expertise in a high volume of disciplinary investigations and misconduct case management, coupled with experience leading programs at professional clubs including Chelsea FC and Fulham FC, will ensure FV continues to uphold fair and consistent discipline processes in regional football.
These appointments complement FV’s existing Regional Development Coordinators – Lachlan Simpkin, Simon Wrench, and Jackson Landy – further strengthening the organisation’s capacity to support regional clubs and competitions.