Board

PRESIDENT 

Craig Watson

MBA, B.Ec(Acc), Grad Dip Property Development, FCPA

Craig has over 25 years experience in property, finance and investment.  He was a key driver in transforming a local South Australian business into a diversified national operation that has delivered over $1 billion of property developments and investments.  Craig has extensive experience across all facets of business including corporate governance, finance accounting, legal, operations, marketing and strategic planning.  He is currently a director and company secretary of two public companies and a number of private companies.

Craig has been part of the volleyball community as a player, coach, referee, and administrator for over 30 years.  He joined the VSA board in 2007.

VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCE

Bevan Roberts

Bevan is a South Australian who began his working life with the Shell Co.  A stint in marketing with fine paper producing APPM led to an eleven year engagement with Volkswagen and ultimately Kawasaki Motorcycles. Returning from interstate after six years away, he established his own family business which he ran successfully for twenty five years.  The business supplied products to 150,000 South Australian homes. Consultancy led him in 2005 to Dale Wood Business Sales.  A business which he has owned since 2007.  This widely respected consultancy firm has brought him into contact with hundreds of businesses throughout Australia.   His understanding of what creates business success has proven invaluable for many. Bevan sat on the Business Development Council for three, two year terms and chaired its Economic & Finance Sub-committee. He has been a member of a number of Boards in business, education and sport and currently sits on the Boards of both Volleyball SA and The Glenelg Golf Club. A graduate member of the AICD, he is an accredited Family Business Adviser and a member of the Chicago based Exit Planning Institute and writes and speaks on business ‘Sale Ready’ & ‘Succession Issues’. 

Whilst grown children and grandchildren occupy large chunks of his time, sport of all kinds still remains a passion. 

MEMBER

Shannon Emrick

Shannon Emrick has been a director with Volleyball SA since 17 August 2009.  She has over 25 years of legal experience in both private law firms and publicly listed companies and is currently General Counsel, Asia-Pacific for Boart Longyear.  She received her Economics degree from the University of California at Davis in 1984 and her Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University in 1988.

Shannon is also a volunteer for Make-A-Wish Australia and is an executive committee member of South Australia’s Association of Corporate Counsel.   Her hobbies include playing golf, hiking and travelling. 

MEMBER

Jason Nelson

Jason comes to VSA with a broad background. After spending 10 years in the construction supply industry, Jason founded Nelson Group of Companies (NGOC) which he remains CEO of today. NGOC is a multi-disciplined firm with global investments in varying industries including construction, manufacturing, distribution and retail.

With interests in Australia, Asia and the USA, Jason has broad experience in international trade and management. His passion for Volleyball stems from playing State League in South Australia, club volleyball in Western Australia and Premier Volleyball League (PVL) in Queensland. Today, Jason now enjoys playing social volleyball after returning to Adelaide with his wife and 2 young children.

MEMBER

Merrilyn Tinsley

Merrilyn Tinsley is currently the Head of Safety Health Environment BAE Systems Australia. Merrilyn has been in this role for two years, however has been with BAE Systems for almost 7 years where she started with the Aerospace Division in 2010. Merrilyn has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Occupational Health and Safety and a Graduate Certificate in Industrial Hygiene. Prior to BAE Systems Merrilyn worked for Global Mining Organisations BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto in senior Safety Leadership roles across rural and remote parts of Australia. Merrilyn is passionate about ensuring leadership understands the need to get the balance right between reducing risk and delivering other key business performance indicators. Merrilyn’s strengths are in development of strategy, building leadership capability, risk reduction and culture and engagement. Merrilyn’s hobbies are travelling, snow skiing, scuba diving, watching Australian Rules Football and Rugby Union. Merrilyn is an independent member of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sports Risk Committee and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Merrilyn is married with two teenage children and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

MEMBER 

Ra'ed Alaraj