AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) is excited to announce that local leader and Tiwi woman, Rosanna De Santis has been appointed as the Manager of Community Football and will begin in the role on Monday 1 October.
De Santis is the current General Manager of the Tiwi Islands Regional Council (TIRC) and is a former police sergeant with the Northern Territory Police Force.
They are positions that have afforded her more than 30 years of experience in culturally diverse, multi-disciplinary teams as well as urban, regional and remote work locations.
She is also an avid supporter of Territory football, first as a player and then as an administrator and volunteer.
De Santis first started playing as a 12-year-old, and in 2001 she joined the St Mary’s Football Club women’s team before switching to Darwin Buffaloes Football Club.
She represented the NT as part of the NT Kites team and captained the Territory side when the NT hosted the national women’s carnival in 2003.
More recently, she became involved with the Darwin Buffaloes in 2016 as a committee member, and until her appointment as AFLNT Manger of Community Football, she has been responsible for overseeing and supporting the club’s female teams, which have enjoyed great success in recent NTFL seasons.
Last season De Santis was Head Coach of the Under 18 Buffettes side that took out the TIO NTFL premiership, and in 2017 she was also the co-coach of the NT Kickstart team that went away to Byron Bay as part of the AFL Female Kickstart and All Nations Championship.
AFLNT CEO Stuart Totham said De Santis impressed right throughout the selection process and had the experience to back her up.
“We had some very capable applicants for this role, but three things stood out about Rosanna and left us feeling like she was the best fit.
“Firstly, she has established solid connections with communities right across the NT, and this role is about overseeing community football throughout the whole of the Territory.
“She also demonstrated a sound understanding of our organisation as it stands today and had put a lot of thought into how she would get to know our people as well as the community and stakeholders involved so that she could lead and manage effectively.
“And thirdly, her background in the NT Police Force highlighted that she has a strong understanding of the importance of process, which will be valuable in her new role and working with her fellow AFLNT executive,” Totham said.
Ms De Santis said she looked forward to returning to Darwin and getting stuck into the role.
“I am thrilled with being offered this position and am happy to be making a return to my hometown.
“I am excited about the opportunities and new experiences I may have in this role, and that my work will be with community and stakeholders Territory-wide,” she said.
