2026 Committee
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Imogen Owen - President
Hey! I’m Imogen, a third-year JD student and this year’s President of the Melbourne Sports Law Association. Before starting law school, I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology at The University of Melbourne.
I’m passionate about all things sport and spend most of my time playing footy or cheering on Richmond in the AFL and AFLW. Beyond footy, I’ve played and coached basketball and netball, and grew up swimming. I’m also an avid supporter of the Matildas and Chelsea (proudly Sam Kerr’s #1 fan) and love following the tennis and cricket, especially during the Australian Open and The Ashes.
My interest in sports law was initially piqued by governance frameworks and their function in shaping inclusion and integrity within sport - particularly regarding the participation of women and gender-diverse athletes. This evolved through my time on the committee of my previous football club, where I observed first-hand the structural inequalities women and gender diverse people face in sport, from grass roots to elite levels. From this introduction, my passion has grown to encompass all facets of the interplay between sport and law, especially arbitration and governance.
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James Forrester - Vice President
Hi! I’m James, a third-year JD student and MSLA’s Vice President for 2026. This is my third year on the committee, and I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for us!
I love all things sport, in particular soccer and footy. I’m a proud Essendon supporter, and support Manchester City in the Premier League. I’m also an avid MMA fan, and enjoy spending my Sundays watching UFC cards.
Having spent a considerable amount of my childhood in the Middle East, I have taken a particular interest in the sudden uprise of sports-washing and the legal complexities surrounding it, especially in relation to Saudi-Arabia’s involvement in the soccer realm. I’m super keen to keep learning about sports law while working alongside the rest of the committee this year.
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Shalaaka Brahmavar - Executive Officer
Hey there! I’m Shalaaka – a third-year JD student and MSLA’s Executive Officer for 2025.
Before the JD, I completed my Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, majoring in international politics and minoring in philosophy. Outside the academic world, I’m a long-suffering St Kilda fan, and an avid follower of tennis and cricket. I love how sport can build bridges across languages and cultures, and I spend a lot of my spare time volunteering with my local tennis club.
I enjoy learning about the different litigation and dispute resolution mechanisms used across different sports, at both domestic and international levels. I’m also interested in understanding the regulatory bodies governing various sports, especially the growing privatisation of leagues and the different competing interests involved in running successful sporting codes.
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Will Bruhn - Treasurer
Hello! I’m Will, a third-year JD student at the Melbourne Law School. After serving as a general committee member for MSLA in 2025, I am delighted to serve as the Treasurer for 2026.
I have proudly represented Unimelb in the University Basketball League for four years, winning the national championship in 2023. Off the court, I’m a dedicated fan of the OKC Thunder in the NBA, though my heart truly belongs to football (the round one), where I have sacrificed plenty of sleep supporting Chelsea in the EPL. I’m also an avid follower of Formula 1 and the AFL (carn the Hawks).
Within sports law, my interests lie in the role of governing bodies, particularly in regulating competition. I’m also deeply interested in sports agency, with a focus on contracts and sponsorships.
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Julia Kent - Events Officer
Hi, I’m Julia, a second-year JD student and Events Officer for 2026! I’m honoured to return to the committee this year and am excited to aid the continued development of MSLA’s vibrant community and further its contributions to the field. Before the JD I completed my Bachelor of Commerce at UniMelb, and became fascinated by the intersection of sport, commerce and the law.
I closely follow discourse surrounding women in sport and have experience as an internal auditor, assessing the legislative compliance of major Australian sports betting agencies. This gave me valuable insight into the practical realities of regulation, integrity systems and the broader governance challenges facing the sports industry. Born and raised in Perth, I’m a lifelong lover of sport and the outdoors. I’m particularly passionate about open water swimming, tennis, distance running and soccer.
I’m looking forward to learning more about the world of sports law and meeting some more amazing people in 2026!
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Allie Vawser - Events Officer
Hi ! My name is Allie, a second year JD student, and one of MSLA’s Events Officers in 2026. After a memorable and rewarding year on the committee in 2025 as a general member, I am so excited to help facilitate events that foster a sense of community, spark curiosity and create meaningful professional connections.
Within sports law I am particularly interested in the equal treatment of athletes, commercial contracts and the commercialisation of the sporting industry. I’m excited to continue to build on MSLA’s intersectional environment which allows students to connect with professionals meaningfully across both the sporting and legal sectors.
Sport has maintained importance in my life from a young age with my weekends typically consisting of watching AFL or AFLW, marathon training or playing some sort of team sport, no matter what time of year it is! For me, sport is more than competition, it creates a community, capacity for connection and outlet amidst what can be a consuming degree. I hope to emanate sport’s ability to provide energy, belonging and balance to MSLA’s events this year.
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Lucie Tolhoek - Communications Officer
Hi there! I’m Lucie and I am excited to be one of MSLA’s Communications Officers for 2026. I am third-year JD student, having previously completed a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Politics and Asian Studies).
I’m a longtime fan of the Melbourne Vixens in the Netball (but with a soft spot for the Sunshine Coast Lightning) and also an avid fan of Collingwood in the AFL and AFLW.
Coming from a Politics background in my undergraduate degree, I have a particular interest in sports diplomacy and how sport is used as a tool of national power to create and sustain Australia’s regional partnerships (especially in the Indo-Pacific region) ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. I also find the legal liability of large-scale sports events incredibly interesting, especially in relation to ultra-endurance events.
I am very excited to be joining MSLA in 2026 to continue building on the committee’s success in 2025.
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Romy Mesfin - Communications Officer
Hi I’m Romy and I’m one one of the MSLA Communications Officers for 2026. I come from an arts background majoring in Anthropology and French Studies at Unimelb.
Outside of uni you’ll find me madly (but exhaustedly) supporting the Western Bulldogs in the AFL and AFLW, working on my status as an allrounder in the field of armchair sports expertise and running around the eastern suburbs.
Coming from an anthropology background, my interest lies in how, particularly in a sports mad country like Australia, sports law doesn’t just affect the field but actually ripples through society— trickling down into amateur local level sports, shaping fan behaviour and influencing the way we engage with each other in the everyday.
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James Thiele - General Committee Member
Hello! I’m James and I am so excited to be one of MSLA’s general committee members for 2026. I’m a third-year JD student at Melbourne Law School, having previously completed a Bachelor of Arts with majors in History and Criminology. I have a strong passion for all kinds of sport, but particularly love cricket, tennis footy and golf. Originally from Brisbane, I am a proud Brisbane Lions supporter hoping for a three-peat this year. I also closely follow test cricket and all the major tennis and golf tournaments throughout the year.
In sports law, I am particularly interested in the emergence of rival competitions and leagues such as LIV golf and R360. My interests lie in how players’ contracts and their future careers are affected by participation in these alternative circuits. I am also fascinated by recent doping scandals in tennis and swimming and their broader legal and reputational consequences. I am very much looking forward to learning more about sports law and working alongside some incredible people this year!
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Catherine Leung - General Committee Member
Hey there! I’m Catherine and I’m thrilled to be joining the MSLA committee in 2026 as a General Committee Member. I’m a third-year JD student with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Neuroscience.
Outside of law school, I am a die-hard Richmond supporter and avid social netballer, and have been involved in competitive sports such as swimming, netball and dragon boating throughout my life.
Shaped by my competitive experience in sport and background in STEM, I have a strong interest in sports law, particularly at the intersection of intellectual property in sports, as well as contractual and commercial negotiations. Having competed at the World Championships in Dragon Boat in 2023 and experienced anti-doping procedures firsthand, I am also especially interested in governance and policy within sport.
I’m looking forward to sharing my passion for sports law by helping to deliver engaging events and promote the exciting world of sports law to other students!
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Lexy Demetriou- General Committee Member
Hi! I’m Lexy — a second-year JD student, having finished my Bachelor of Arts.
Living in Melbourne makes it almost impossible not to love sport, and it has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve been involved in running, rowing, netball, and basketball, and now channel most of that energy into supporting Geelong — a welcomed break from the North Melbourne/Essendon household I grew up in.
My interests in sports law lie in media and broadcasting issues, and in the disputes that arise in professional sport.
I’m really looking forward to the year ahead with MSLA and am excited to combine my love of sport with my developing career in the law.
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Jackson Benson - General Committee Member
Hi! I’m Jackson, a third year JD student and one of the General Committee Members for MSLA in 2026. I am really excited to be part of the committee and to contribute to a community that brings together students who share a genuine passion for sport and the law.
My interest in sports law comes from the way it brings together many different areas of legal and commercial thinking. I am particularly drawn to issues of player welfare and human rights, and I enjoy learning about how clubs and governing bodies create supportive and ethical environments for athletes. I am also interested in the commercial side of sport, especially the financial and contractual structures that sit behind major competitions.
Outside of university, I am a proud Collingwood supporter and a very loyal, yet long suffering Manchester United fan. I follow both the AFL and the EPL closely and love the way sport brings people together and creates shared experiences.
I am looking forward to contributing to MSLA’s work this year, connecting with sports law professionals, and helping create opportunities for students who are exploring this growing and exciting field.
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Ashlyn Foster - Masters Representative
Hi! I’m Ashlyn, an LLM candidate and the MSLA Masters Representative for 2026! Before commencing the LLM, I completed an LLB and BA (International Relations) at Curtin University in Perth.
I am big netball fan, having grown up playing the sport in both women’s and mixed competitions. Besides playing, I have also been a Netball Australia accredited umpire and served on the committee of my club in Perth. Coming from Western Australia, I am a dedicated West Coast Fever supporter (still recovering from the 2025 SSN final).
With an International Relations background, I am particularly interested in the intersection between sport, history and politics, and the role of the law in this nexus. I am also passionate about advocating for underrepresented sports, including netball, especially in the context of major events and player contractual rights.
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First Year Representative (TBA)
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First Year Representative (TBA)