Adam is a skilled National and General Manager with accomplishments in the Finance and Insurance Sector as well as the Human Resources space. Adam's articulate communication and lateral thinking has developed valuable corporate and business relationships as well as strong industry networks. Adam joins the PFA from Drake International where he's held numerous management roles and was on the Executive Committee for multiple businesses under the Drake umbrella of companies. Adam reported directly to, and was mentored by, Drake’s co-founder and Global Chairman of the Board, Bill Pollock. As a key leadership position within the PFA’s management structure, Adam's role as General Manager will ensure the PFA delivers its strategic promise in an effective manner especially through the delivery of commercially sustainable events, partnerships and programs.

Nalisha has a background in marketing, events and administration gained from five years within the sporting industry.  She moved to Melbourne at the beginning of 2012 from Auckland coming off the back of working on the Rugby World Cup 2011 Tournament for IMG the commercial agents of RWC Limited. 

Nalisha will be responsible for running the PFA office to ensure the management team is well supported in all areas of administration, events, membership and executive reporting.

Brianna started with the PFA in 2009 as Assistant to the Chief Executive, coming from a background as a Production Coordinator in Film and Television.  In her current role as Programs and Events Executive, Brianna is able to utilise her skills from her background, playing an important role in coordinating PFA Key Events and managing the PFA office and operations.

Brianna will commence maternity leave from mid May 2013.

Nathan plays a key role in implementing the PFA’s player relations and development activities.  He is responsible for organising and educating PFA members and liaising with delegates on collective bargaining negotiations and issues. Nathan played for Northampton Town in the UK before moving to the USA to begin a Bachelors degree in International Business as part of an athletic scholarship, organised by the English PFA.  During this time, Nathan was called up to represent St Kitts & Nevis throughout their qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.  Nathan has an MBA from the University of Liverpool, and has spent recent years working with clients including Nike, Adidas and Red Bull, as well as clubs such as Liverpool FC in his role as Commercial Manager at UK agency Soccerex.  He joins the PFA from Drake International in Melbourne, where he was responsible for managing sponsorship relations, activations and ROI frameworks through Drake’s partnerships with organisations such as Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Football Club.

Kliment will play a key role in the player relations activities of the PFA and is currently completing a Double Degree of Law and Business at La Trobe University. He is the 2012 PFA Kimon Taliadoros Scholarship holder, the reigning Victorian Premier League U21 Player of the Year, an A-League player and member of the leadership group for two seasons at Melbourne Heart FC, a Victorian Premier League Champion with Altona Magic, a Jimmy Rooney Medalist and a former Young Socceroo. Kliment joins the PFA off the back of playing season in the Victorian Premier League after being released by Melbourne Heart FC at the end of the 2011/12 season.

PFA Special Counsel
FIFPro Board Member
Chairman, FIFPro Asia/Oceania
Member FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber

Brendan is the Director of International Player Relations (IPR), a boutique legal and consultancy firm that specialises in the employment, regulatory and industrial relations aspects of professional team sports.

As the PFA’s Special Counsel, Brendan and IPR lead the PFA’s collective bargaining negotiations for Socceroos, Matildas and A-League players and oversee the PFA’s extensive player advocacy, representation and legal services.

In 2009, Brendan became the first person from Asia or Oceania to be elected to the Board of FIFPro, the world footballers’ union which represents 56 players’ associations and 65,000 professional footballers.  He was elected as the inaugural Chairman of FIFPro Asia/Oceania in 2007 and has sat on the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber for two terms (2001 – 2005 & 2009 – 2013).  He has extensive experience in representing players throughout the world and in especially difficult environs such as Eastern Europe and Asia.

Brendan has 20 years experience in the collective representation of professional athletes.  In addition to co-founding the PFA in 1993 as its original lawyer and working as PFA Chief Executive (1996 – 2003 & 2006 – 2012) and Chairman (2005 – 2006), Brendan represented the Rugby League Players’ Association in the negotiation of a five year National Rugby League Collective Bargaining Agreement (2013 – 2017) and was the lawyer in the 1998 review of the Australian Football League Players’ Association that transformed that body.

In 2011 and 2012, he served as Chairman of the Australian Swimmers’ Association.  In 2007, he co-founded the Australian Athletes’ Alliance (AAA), which now represents eight players’ unions in Australia and over 3,000 of Australia’s elite athletes.  He presently serves as the AAA’s part-time General Secretary, with IPR providing the AAA’s secretariat.

Brendan is a member of the Steering Committee of UNI Sport PRO, which represents over 100,000 elite athletes throughout all parts of the world.  Founded in 2012, UNI Sport PRO aims to provide a global voice for the world’s athletes to advance issues of common concern and promote best practice in the collective representation of professional athletes.  Its stakeholders include FIFPro, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), the International Rugby Players’ Association (IRPA), EU Athletes and major US players’ associations including the National Football League Players Association, the National Basketball Players Association and the National Hockey League Players Association.

Brendan holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Business Administration.  He is married with four children and resides in Melbourne, Australia.

Frederique is the SG of FIFPro Division Asia/Oceania and also the right hand of the SG of FIFPro World Player’s Union. Although she is based at FIFPro’s headquarter in Hoofddorp the Netherlands she is on a regular basis travelling to the member organizations  in Asia/Oceania.  Frederique is holding a MA in  Communication, Organization Development and Policy. After working as an advisor for the National Trade Union (FNV) in Holland, she started in 2002 working for FIFPro. She is a so called generalist and is speaking Dutch, English, German and understands Spanish and French.

Shannon has had a fantastic career with the PFA, assisting Brendan Schwab in building the organisation since the late 1990’s.  Shannon has had a number of breaks from the PFA in that time to have her family (her and her partner Justin have three young children) as well as enjoying a successful stint as Deputy Chief Executive of Hockey Australia.

Shannon is highly qualified with a Master of Business Administration and qualifications in legal studies and will be working closely with Brendan Schwab in his capacity as Chairman of FIFPro Asia and PFA Special Counsel.  In her current role as Advisor, Player Relations and FIFPro, Shannon will be advising Brendan in relation to the political, industrial and commercial aspects of our work.