Board Members

Lesek Demont – Chair
Colin Piercey – Vice Chair
Jody Nickerson – Treasurer
Ruth Roy – Secretary
Jennifer Ramsay
Andrew McFarlane
Pam Cooley
Tracy Milsom
Marcel Dupupet
Peter Smith
Craig Bethune

Staff

Brad Lawlor – CEO

Brad Lawlor is a familiar name to many within the Sport Sector, through his past roles as the Executive Director of Soccer NS, Basketball NS and Baseball NS which span the last 19 years.

Brad is a well-respected sport leader in Nova Scotia and Canada and is truly passionate about developing sport as well as people. Like TNS he is focused on ensuring everyone has access to quality and safe sport programming.

“Tennis NS is on a journey of change that will raise the organization’s profile and increase the impact they have on the game. Priority areas of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and accessibility are at the forefront of this change. We have to ensure that the systems we create are welcoming and conducive for all Nova Scotians.”

Gareth Dowdell – Director of Operations

Gareth Dowdell represented New Zealand as a junior before receiving a full tennis scholarship at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was ranked in the top 25 of singles and doubles in Division 2.

Gareth has experience coaching in New Zealand, USA, and Canada and holds a Club Pro 3 and Coach 2 qualification. Gareth is currently the TNS Director of Operations where he is focussed on: SATC planning/budget, policies and procedures, SATC court utilization/maximization, and optimizing the competitive events structure.

Marijke Nel – Technical Director

Marijke played competitive tennis on a Division 1 scholarship at the University of Texas and Kansas State University. She was then recruited to play for a club in the German summer league – and still plays in the Regionalliga in non-Covid times.

Marijke has been involved in a coaching capacity in Nova Scotia since 2008 and has served as the Technical Director for Tennis Nova Scotia since 2013.

She holds Coach 2 and Club Pro 2 certifications, and is in the process of completing the Club Pro 3 course. Some of the roles which Marijke oversees include coach training and certification, member club support, development initiatives, schools training, performance and grass roots development, and a growing wheelchair tennis development program.

Molly Pineau – Manager of Club Development & Competitions

Molly Pineau, a graduate of Humber College’s Sport Business Management program, focuses on promoting club development and enriching competition throughout the province. With a strong understanding of sport management, Molly is dedicated to assisting clubs to develop strategies that create inclusive environments for athletes of all levels, combining strategic insights with a deep passion for fostering growth and excellence.

Maxine Goldsmith Executive Associate

In September 2020, Maxine joined SATC as a dedicated member of our front desk team, bringing with her a passion for providing exceptional customer service. It didn’t take long for her talents to shine through, and within just three months, Maxine’s commitment and hard work led her to the role of Front Desk Manager.

As Front Desk Manager, Maxine continued to raise the bar, offering first-class customer service that left a lasting impact on our Tennis community. Her dedication, leadership, and positive attitude have been instrumental in creating a welcoming atmosphere at SATC.

Maxine’s journey doesn’t stop here. She will be taking on a new role as the Executive Associate to our CEO. In this capacity, Maxine will be working closely with Brad Lawlor, contributing her skills, enthusiasm, and exceptional organizational prowess to support the executive team.