Simone Bellears

Head of Communications

Simone is a people-centred communicator with 15+ years leadership experience and a proven record of delivering outstanding outcomes. Her leadership roles have focused on building teams and inclusive frameworks within organisations, including the highly successful AFL club Geelong Cats and some of regional Australia’s not-for-profit agencies.

 Simone has general management experience across all business functions, including strategic and stakeholder communications, planning, culture, people, finance, and governance. She is a transformational trailblazer, leading cultural change within teams and organisations. Simone’s core belief centres around strengthening communities by empowering diverse voices to contribute to conversations that matter. Simone also encourages the belief that we are only working at our very best when we are helping others to succeed. 

Qualified

  • Harvard Business School - The Leadership Development Partnership (series 3)

  • RMIT- Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations

Connected

Simone is an innovative communications leader who has built a successful career by being future-focused and having the ability to identify and nurture clients’ potential. She excels in creating environments that produce empowerment, guaranteeing high-performing deliverables for clients.  

After an extensive career in consulting and leadership, Simone is well-connected in the public and private sectors and is committed to building collective momentum for change.

Technical Experience

  •  Foundation member of the Executive Leadership Team for Leisure Networks, managing the NDIS service delivery and Sport Rec and Health teams and driving the 2020 growth strategy for the organisation.

  • Identifying and making recommendations to various Boards in relation to an organisation’s corporate governance practices and various related governance responsibilities; including regular assessment of the overall skills, experience, diversity, demographics and knowledge required to competently discharge board duties.

  • Leadership of the Women’s football and pathways strategy at Geelong Football Club including funding, vision, strategy, resourcing and governance; resulting in a high-functioning inaugural AFLW team; membership growth, increased brand recognition and improvement in performance

  • Development and sustainability of multiple community programs for the Geelong Football Club through a partnership foundation, evidence-based model

  • Development of pathways for underrepresented communities in the AFL, researching and addressing barriers to participation and performance at all levels of the sport through the Next Generation Academy program

  • Successful lobbying at federal, state and local government positioning multiple businesses in the region to pitch future project initiation and delivery to effect meaningful change