The Sports Network | Beyond the Game: The Strength of Sport in the Community
Description
Join The Sports Network and LIV Golf for an exclusive networking breakfast in Adelaide, designed to explore how the power of sport can be harnessed to drive economic growth, community wellbeing, and youth opportunity in South Australia.
Sport brings people together, strengthens communities and creates life-changing pathways for young people. The Strength of Sport in Community will highlight how sport — combined with philanthropy, government leadership and corporate partnership — can help shape a more connected, confident and opportunity-rich South Australia.
In a moment when SA is leading the world with bold action on reducing social media harm for young people, this event positions sport as one of the most powerful, healthy and unifying alternatives to screen-based behaviours.
We can take that a step further, with other opportunities to lead nationally — even globally — in reimagining the role of sport in community wellbeing.
Sport, when paired with strategic investment, can:
Offer positive alternatives to hours spent on social media
Boost mental health, confidence and resilience
Strengthen social connection and belonging
Create pathways to education, training and employment
Support young people experiencing disadvantage
Encourage participation across diverse and regional communities
Build community pride and state identity
As SA charts a future less reliant on digital consumption for young people, sport becomes not just beneficial — but essential.
Event Overview
Keynote Presentation from LIV Golf: How LIV Golf is impacting communities through golf.
Showcase the global impact of LIV Golf’s community and game initiatives, including detail on how to build a sustainable sports organisation through its suppliers and partners
Highlight how LIV Golf has created pathways for young people into education, training and employment
Elevate diversity and access across golf and related careers
Demonstrate how global sporting brands can deliver local community benefit
Announcement: LIV Golf Adelaide Impact Partnerships.
Panel Discussion: Sport as a catalyst for community impact
The Panel will explore how South Australia can harness sport to strengthen community wellbeing and youth opportunity.
Facilitator: Kay Burton | Founder | SA Philanthropy Network.
Panellists:
Jake Jones | Senior Vice President of Impact and Sustainability | LIV Golf
Theresa Brown | Founder | Play it On
Casey Grice | Executive General Manager Community and Foundation | Adelaide Football Club
There will also be plenty of time for networking and enjoying a hot breakfast!
Why attend?
Be part of a major announcement: Hear firsthand from LIV Golf as they unveil new charitable commitments that will make a real impact in South Australia.
Shape the future of sport and community: Join leading voices from sport, philanthropy, government and community sectors exploring how sport can drive positive social change.
Discover new partnership opportunities: Connect with like-minded organisations and leaders to collaborate on programs that support young people and strengthen communities.
Learn from success stories: See how investment in sport is transforming lives—building confidence, mental health, education and employment pathways.
Showcase South Australian leadership: Celebrate how the state is pioneering sport diplomacy and social impact through strategic investment.
Contribute to measurable impact: Discover ways your organisation can play a role in delivering outcomes that build stronger, more connected communities.
Speakers
Kay Burton | SA Philanthropy Network
Kay Burton founded the SA Philanthropy Network with a simple yet powerful goal: to unlock South Australia’s potential for community giving. With over 15 years of experience across the US and Australia, her work spans government, education, health, and philanthropy. In 2018, she co-founded the Burton Foundation with her husband, Julian, gaining firsthand insights into the challenges donors face and the opportunities for making generosity more impactful. That experience sparked the creation of the SA Philanthropy Network — a movement to make giving easier, more accessible, and more effective across South Australia.
Theresa Brown | Play it On
Theresa is an experienced Community Manager with over 25 years in both not for profit and local government sectors. Play it On was born from Theresa’s extensive work in disadvantaged communities, where the high cost of club fees means children participate in sport at half the rate compared to other areas. To address this challenge, Theresa began selling donated sports equipment at local markets and from a tennis club room on Saturdays. After years of dedication and fundraising, Play it On has recently opened its first retail store—a significant milestone in its journey. Since 2018, Play it On has prevented more than seven tonnes of sports equipment from ending up in landfill, provided subsidies to 48 children, and sold over 3,000 items. Notably, 75% of its customers are new migrants, with Play it On playing a crucial role in enabling these families to participate in sport and become part of South Australia’s vibrant sporting communities. In addition, Theresa holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Enquiry and an MBA in Entrepreneurship. She was a founding member of the South Australian Social Enterprise Council (SASEC) peak body and was the inaugural Chair until December 2023.
Casey Grice | Adelaide Football Club
Casey Grice oversees the Adelaide Football Club’s ESG agenda, building government and philanthropic partnerships that position sport as a powerful platform for community impact, economic development and improved opportunities for children and young people.
Jake Jones | LIV Golf
Jake Jones is the Senior Vice President for Impact & Sustainability at LIV Golf. He is responsible for ensuring that LIV Golf delivers more than just golf events; specifically, creating more opportunities to work and play the game across the globe, positively impacting young people through the values of golf, and ensuring that all LIV Golf events have a strong sustainability footprint. Prior to working at LIV Golf, Jake helped create and became COO for a purpose driving sports agency Maikai – helping athletes and sports rightsholders create value through purpose driven strategies. Jake has a long career in sports, which include working on the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, working across Formula 1, the English Premier League, Horse Racing, Triathlon and Rugby Union. Prior to sports, Jake spent a 16-year career in the energy industry.
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