Home 9 About AFLUA 9 Our Team

Our Team

Executive

Rob Kerr

Rob Kerr

CEO

Dr Rob Kerr joined the AFLUA as CEO in March 2020. Rob brings with him significant experience in both the AFL industry and Corporate consulting world, where his work focused on Leadership and Organisational Development. Having played AFL football and been an Assistant Coach to Kevin Sheedy at Essendon, Rob’s sports administration career began when in 1999, he was appointed Executive Director of Player Development by the AFL Players’ Association.

Shaun Ryan

Shaun Ryan

President

Former field umpire Shaun Ryan has been appointed President of the AFLUA for 2025. Shaun umpired 350 AFL matches, including an impressive 8 grand finals. He has been the recipient of one of the Association’s highest honours – the Bishop Shield in 2005, 2018 and 2019, was awarded All-Australian Field Umpire in 2010 and 2019 and is a life member of both the AFL and AFLUA. Shaun also brings his experience as a barrister of 20 years to the role, advising and appearing in matters involving insurance law, domestic building, consumer law, property law and general contractual issues.

Andrew Stephens

Andrew Stephens

Vice-President

Field umpire Andrew Stephens returns for his fourth year on the Executive Committee, and first as Vice-President. Andrew began his career in Brisbane in 2014, moving to Melbourne in 2015 before returning to Brisbane in 2022. He has umpired 232 AFL matches, including thirteen finals.

Rob O'Gorman

Rob O'Gorman

Executive Representative (Field)

Field umpire Rob O’Gorman joins the AFLUA Executive in 2026 as the representative for field umpires. Rob has umpired 229 AFL games, including 2 finals and was awarded AFLUA life membership in 2023.

Josh Furman

Josh Furman

Executive Representative (Boundary)

Boundary umpire Josh Furman returns to the Executive Committee in 2025. Josh umpired his first AFL match in Round 1, 2019, and in 2023 umpired his 100th AFL Match. He umpired the 2018 AFLW Grand Final and received the Bill Sutton Medallion for Most Promising Boundary Umpire in 2020.

Simon Plumridge

Simon Plumridge

Executive Representative (Goal)

Simon Plumridge joins the AFLUA executive committee for 2025. Simon debuted in Round 1 of 2020 and has since goal umpired 71 AFL matches.

Taylah Parker

Taylah Parker

Executive Representative (AFLW)

Boundary umpire Taylah Parker joins the Executive Committee in 2026 as the AFLW Representative. Taylah began umpiring in South Australia through the SANFL Academy in 2018 and progressed to the senior SANFL list in 2022 before being appointed to the AFLW umpiring panel in 2023. She is currently a member of the SANFLUA Executive Committee and previous work within the SANFL Umpiring Department. Outside of football she works in diagnostic and interventional radiology. 

State Representatives:

Michael Barlow

Michael Barlow

New South Wales

Matthew Bridges

Matthew Bridges

Queensland

Brodie Kenny-Bell

Brodie Kenny-Bell

South Australia

Justin Power

Justin Power

Western Australia

Administration

Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly

Manager, Operations and Member Engagement

Peter joined the AFLUA office in 2016 in a newly-created position of Marketing and Communications Coordinator. A former AFL goal umpire, Peter has an extensive understanding of umpiring and football issues. He held the position of Executive Officer with the Victorian Football Umpires’ Association (VFUA) from 1993 to 2020, and has worked in various local leagues in Melbourne.

Mark Piccolo

Mark Piccolo

Umpire Wellbeing and Support Manager

Mark joined the AFL Umpires Association in 2025 to fill the newly created role of Umpire Wellbeing and Support Manager. Mark brings impressive professional experience to the role, having spent over a decade in high-performance environments. His Master of Applied Psychology (Sport & Exercise) and extensive work with athletes, emergency services personnel, and corporate leaders made him an ideal candidate.