Join us for the inaugural Football Victoria Coaching Expo with an exciting line up of speakers!
The Football Victoria Coaching Expo is designed to provide coaches with an engaging and practical professional development experience, bringing together coaches from community, advanced, and female coaching pathways.
Our full list of speakers will be announced soon—stay tuned on our website and social media channels for updates!
KEY DETAILS
- Where: The Home of the Matildas, and La Trobe Sports Stadium, Bundoora
- When: Saturday and Sunday, 3 - 4 October 2026 (9:00am - 5:00pm each day, doors open at 8:00am)
- Attendance at the Coaching Expo will contribute towards coach professional development requirements. Each day will provide attendees with 5 CPD hours, for a total of 10 CPD hours for those who attend both days.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Bev Priestman
Olympic Gold Medal-winning Football Coach and Leader in Women’s High-Performance Sport
Bev Priestman is an Olympic gold medallist and one of the most respected coaches in women's football. Born in Consett, England, she brings a grounded, "blue-collar" work ethic to everything she builds.
She began her career in youth development, becoming Head of Football Development at New Zealand Football at just 26. After assistant coaching the England Lionesses to a fourth-place finish at the 2019 World Cup, she took over as head coach of Canada's Women's National Team in 2020, leading them to Olympic gold just nine months later, the youngest coach at the tournament to do so.
Over 15+ years across three continents, four World Cups, and three Olympics, Priestman has built a reputation for empowering leadership grounded in trust and accountability, most recently guiding Wellington Phoenix to a historic A-League Grand Final.
Gemma Lewis
Northern Region Football's Federation Development Manager
Gemma Lewis is a Welsh-born coach who has become one of New Zealand's most respected voices in women's football development. A former player who represented Wales internationally and turned out for Cardiff City domestically, she transitioned into coaching through New Zealand Football's elite pathways after moving to Auckland in 2014.
She built her reputation managing multiple national youth programmes, including assistant coaching New Zealand's Women's U-17 and U-20 national teams, before being named the inaugural head coach of the Wellington Phoenix's first-ever A-League Women's team in 2021. She guided that debut squad through a difficult maiden season played entirely away from home in Australia, an achievement that earned her New Zealand Football's Women's Coach of the Year award.
Lewis later returned to Wales to take up the Football Association of Wales' first-ever Women's and Girls' Pathway Manager role, before coming back to New Zealand in 2024 to continue developing the next generation of players and coaches as Northern Region Football's Federation Development Manager.
Thalita Ziero
Assistant Coach – Australian Futsal National Team
Thalita Ziero is the Assistant Coach of the Australian Women's Futsal National Team and a youth development coach passionate about helping young athletes reach their full potential. With experience as a player in Italy's top futsal leagues and coaching across Australia, she specialises in player development through game-based learning, performance analysis, and individualised coaching. Her philosophy is centred on creating engaging environments that develop technically skilled, tactically intelligent, and confident players for both sport and life.
Besart Berisha
A legendary figure in Australian football, Besart Berisha is one of the most prolific goal scorers in A-League history. A four-time A-League Champion and two-time Golden Boot winner, he enjoyed an outstanding playing career with Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory and Western United, winning multiple domestic titles and setting numerous league records. Since retiring, Besart has transitioned into coaching, bringing his wealth of elite playing experience, winning mentality and passion for player development to the next generation.
Peter Sturgess
Peter Sturgess is a globally respected coach educator and youth development specialist. He is the former National Lead for the Foundation Phase (players aged 5–12) at the English FA and the former Head Coach of the England Futsal National Team. With decades of experience in coach education and player development, Peter has been instrumental in shaping the FA's approach to grassroots football, creating engaging, game-based learning environments that foster creativity, decision-making, and a lifelong love of the game. He is an internationally renowned presenter who has delivered coach education programs across the world, inspiring coaches to rethink how young players learn and develop.
Boris Kubla
Boris Kubla is the Head of Coach Education at the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), where he leads the development and delivery of coach education programs across Croatia. A UEFA Instructor and UEFA Pro Licence Coach, Boris has extensive experience in coach development, football methodology, and elite coaching. He plays a key role in shaping the education of coaches at all levels, promoting modern coaching principles and best practice aligned with UEFA standards. An experienced international presenter, Boris is passionate about developing coaches who can create effective learning environments and positively influence player development.
SESSION OVERVIEW
- Presentations from leading Australian and international coaches and football experts
- Practical on-pitch sessions and off-pitch classroom learning
- Tailored learning streams for coaches across all levels of the game
- Access to industry partners, exhibitors, and football service providers
- Networking opportunities with coaches, Club Coach Coordinators, Coach Education Tutors, and football stakeholders across Victoria
- Actionable resources and insights to immediately apply in your coaching environment