Reflecting the Network’s rapid growth in South Australia, Minervais pleased to announce the appointment of respected business leader and former high-performancetennis player Debbie Sterrey as its South Australia Co-Chapter Lead.
Debbie joins inaugural SA Chapter Lead Nicolle Rantanen-Reynolds to lead Minerva’s continued growth across the State. She also joins Minerva's National Council with the other state chapters leaders, supporting Minerva’s community of more than 1,100 sportswomen and 480 business and professional women across Australia.
Minerva Network Co-Founder and Chair Christine McLoughlin AM said Debbie's unique combination of business leadership, governance experience and sporting background made her an outstanding addition to the network.
“We’re delighted to welcome Debbie Sterrey to Minerva’sleadership and our South Australia chapter,” Christine said.
"She brings an exceptional track record of leading organisations, building partnerships and delivering impact, combined with a genuine understanding of the opportunities and challenges experienced by high-performance athletes.
"Working alongside Nicolle Rantanen-Reynolds, Debbie will play an important role in expanding Minerva's reach and ensuring more South Australian sportswomen can access the mentoring, leadership development and career opportunities they need to thrive both during and beyond their sporting careers."
Since launching Minerva in SA in September 2025, with the support of the South Australian Government through the Office for Recreation, Sport andRacing, Minerva's local athlete community has grown by 43 per cent and is well on track to reach its goal of supporting 100 high-performance sportswomen in the State by 2027.
Minerva is also grateful for the warm welcome received from the Governor of South Australia. Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC has generously hosted two events at Government House to acknowledge the Minerva Network and its positive impact in supporting SA’s high-performance women athletes.
Debbie says she’s excited to help build on the strong momentum Minerva has established in South Australia.
“Sport has helped shape my life and I’m honoured to join Nicolle in leading Minerva Network in South Australia.
"Minerva is making a genuine difference by helping women athletes maximise both their sporting ambitions and their future careers. Every high-performance female athlete deserves access to the guidance, networks and opportunities that can help them succeed on and off the field.
"I'm excited to help more South Australian sportswomen benefit from Minerva's mentoring, leadership and career development programs, while also welcoming more of our State's outstanding women leaders into the Network as mentors, advocates and champions for our women in sport and the next generation of leaders in the state."
In taking up her new Minerva role, Debbie brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across sports administration, business development, and financial services to this voluntary leadership role.
A highly accomplished tennis player, she represented South Australia on multiple occasions, including selection in the prestigious Wilson Cup squad as one of the State's leading players. She competed for many years in South Australia's premier competition and was a consistent finalist at State and interstate level across both junior and senior competitions.
Alongside her playing career, Debbie coached for a decade, strengthening her understanding of athlete development, performance pathways, and the demands of elite sporting environments.
Debbie commences a new appointment on 23 July as Chief Operating Officer for the Department for Housing and Urban Development. Previously as CEO of Tennis SA and General Manager of the Adelaide International, Debbie led the organisation through significant evolution, strengthened commercial performance, elevated the Adelaide International into a globally recognised event, and championed participation growth across South Australia.
Her executive career also spans financial services including with Statewide Super (now Hostplus), Adelaide Bank, ING, and ANZ Bank across roles in stakeholder engagement, business development, and strategic execution.
Debbie’s governance career includes Board positions with Tennis SA, Westminster College, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (SA), and advisory roles across the financial planning sector.
Debbie and Nicolle will work with Minerva’s South Australia Program Manager – former elite tennis and AFL athlete Janelle Cuthbertson – to continue growing athlete engagement across all sports, expanding the mentorship program, and delivering impactful events and opportunities for SA’s female athletes.
