Board Members
Colin Piercey – Chair
Ruth Roy – Vice Chair
Jon Gaunce – Treasurer
Jeff Jones – Secretary
Peter Smith
Don Forgeron
Pam Cooley
Deidre Taylor
Jim Ritcey
Ted Graham
Simone Tosoni
Rob Boone
Staff
Andrew Oxner – Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Oxner brings more than 40 years of involvement in tennis in Nova Scotia to his role as CEO of Tennis Nova Scotia. A highly accomplished player, Andrew has won 17 Nova Scotia Open titles and represented Canada internationally. He has also dedicated many years to the growth of the sport as a volunteer, serving on the TNS Board for 15 years, including as President from 2007 to 2012.
Outside of tennis, Andrew brings extensive experience in business management, consulting and technology, most recently serving as Manager of Business Analytics at NSCC. In his role as CEO, Andrew leads the TNS team and works with clubs, volunteers and partners across the province to advance the organization’s strategic priorities and grow tennis throughout Nova Scotia.
Gareth Dowdell – Chief Operations Officer
Gareth Dowdell is the Chief Operations Officer of Tennis Nova Scotia and the Sobeys Atlantic Tennis Centre, where he leads the strategic growth of tennis across the province while overseeing one of Atlantic Canada’s premier tennis facilities. Since joining the organization, Gareth has helped drive significant growth in participation, programming, and operational performance through a focus on innovation, financial sustainability, and exceptional participant experiences.
Originally from New Zealand, Gareth represented his country at the junior level before earning a full tennis scholarship to Rockhurst University in Kansas City, where he was nationally ranked in NCAA Division II singles and doubles. He has coached in New Zealand, the United States, and Canada, and combines his international tennis background with a passion for developing players, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the sport.
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 – Director of Competitions and Communications
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.
Hilda LaPierre – Finance Manager
Hilda has been working with Sport Nova Scotia for the past 8 years in Finance and Payroll where she has been an important part of the Finance and Admin team. Most notably, Hilda has been supporting over 30 Provincial Sport Organizations with a variety of financial and payroll services throughout those years.