Australian Football Association of North America

AFANA announced today that new leadership has stepped forward for day-to-day operations in the organization. This follows the retirement of Rob de Santos, now Chairman Emeritus, and Ann Solomon, now Editor Emeritus, several months ago. (See announcement here.)

Kimber Smith, AFANA's marketing and PR director, will be expanding her role and will join forces with Joe Fidler to provide interim leadership for AFANA. Kimber will head up management and marketing initiatives and Joe will coordinate operations.

"I am pleased that Kimber and Joe have stepped forward to provide interim leadership for AFANA,” said Rob. “I am sure they will provide exactly what AFANA needs to begin to move into a new era. I've promised that I will make myself available to provide counsel and technical support to them throughout the transition. After 14 years, it is time for me to seek new horizons and for AFANA to get newly invigorated leadership."

"We are committed to the organization's long-standing mission to promote viewership of Australian football in North America," said Kimber. "At the same time, we will be exploring different-yet-appropriate avenues to further support the mission and raise awareness and interest in the sport in the US and Canada."

Kimber has over 20 years of marketing and management experience. While in Australia, she discovered Aussie Rules and came to love the game. For the last two years, she has spearheaded the marketing and promotions efforts for AFANA. She grew up watching American football [gridiron], and has a brother who played professionally in the NFL for years. For Kimber, who loves both sports, February is the bleakest month -- the NFL season is over and the AFL pre-season hasn't yet gotten underway.

Joe, a former engineer and now a marketing and web geek, grew up in Sydney, following footy in the days when Sydney was a rugby-only town. A fond memory of the sport is going with his Dad to watch a Box Hill vs. Coburg match in the old VFA. Now that he resides in the US, he'd like to see North America embrace the sport in the same way as his old hometown.

Kimber and Joe will assume their new roles immediately.