Volleyball WA today announces the election of Darren Beltman as President, following Ian Phipps stepping down after ten years of dedicated service at the conclusion of his tenure. We extend our deepest thanks to Ian for his outstanding contribution over a long period. Ian remains passionate about our sport and will continue to give back to volleyball in Western Australia.

Looking back on his time as President, Ian shared:

“I feel incredibly grateful for the privilege of serving this passionate volleyball community I deeply care about. Working alongside so many dedicated people to grow and strengthen volleyball in Western Australia has been a true privilege. Thank you to the wider volleyball community, my fellow Board members, and the amazing staff teams — your support and commitment have meant more to me than words can express. As I step down in line with the Board’s charter term limits, I do so confident in Volleyball WA’s future and excited to continue celebrating the sport we all love.”

We welcome Darren into the role of President.  Darren brings a deep and diverse background to the role. A long‑time indoor volleyball player whose journey started at high school, he has coached club teams and state junior teams and contributed to club administration. Professionally, Darren has led community recreation across Australia for over 15 years and, in recent years, moved into local government with a focus on corporate strategy and planning. Initially Darren joined the VWA Marketing & Sponsorship Committee ten years ago, shortly followed by the Risk Management Committee before being elected to the VWA Board in 2022 where he became involved in other aspects of the organisation such as Places to Play, and the Reconciliation Working Groups.

As President, Darren will continue to work closely with the Board, clubs, and affiliates to grow volleyball across Western Australia and deliver outcomes aligned to our recently launched Strategic Roadmap 2026 – 2029.  The new Strategic Roadmap sets out to strengthen advocacy and partnerships with Government and Industry while supporting grassroots participation and pathways.

“On behalf of the Board and our community, I thank Ian for his decade of service and unwavering passion for volleyball. I’m honoured to become the new President of Volleyball WA and look forward to working with our new CEO, Sophie Row, in continuing to grow and elevate volleyball in WA to become a top-tier sport by 2030.” — Darren Beltman, President, Volleyball WA