Tracy Williams – Charity Bounce Global Ambassador

 

Former Harlem Globetrotter and Internationally Acclaimed Transformational Speaker, Tracy A. Williams is set to inspire positive change as the Global Ambassador for Charity Bounce. The Global Ambassador role has been developed for Tracy Williams to engage with organisations around the globe to expand opportunities for Charity Bounce. While in Sydney, Tracy will be participating in events and activities to support Charity Bounce programs.

 

Tracy Williams uses his experiences from his childhood, his time with the Harlem Globetrotters, his lessons learned coaching professional basketball in Japan, and all the time he’s delivered as a transformational speaker, to inform and inspire people to do more, and change more, like he did.

 

Williams performed in one of the greatest spotlights in all of basketball as a Harlem Globetrotter and said “Charity Bounce provides a great opportunity to expand the programs that are making a difference for young people. The programs are innovative and show that the organisation has been able to deliver real outcomes for young people using basketball.”

Celebrity Chef Sean Connolly- Charity Bounce Ambassador

 

One of Australia and New Zealand’s most respected and instantly recognized chefs, Sean Connolly’s wealth of experience spans the globe. Yorkshire-born Sean Connolly is a creative, a businessman, and an affable geezer with uncompromising drive and a love of rock n roll, art and fashion.

His 30 + year career has seen him win multiple awards and accolades; release his own cookbook and line of Sean Connolly gourmet products; star in 4 TV series and create numerous restaurant concepts and dining destinations across Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East.

Currently Sean heads an empire of restaurants in Australian and New Zealand: “Esther” at QT Hotel in Auckland, “Gowings Bar & Dining” at QT Hotel Sydney, “Sean’s Kitchen” in Adelaide, “Steak & Co by Sean Connolly” at West HQ, Sydney and “The Wild Flower Bar & Dining” in Killcare NSW. Sean is also the Culinary Ambassador for the Sydney Fish Market redevelopment in Blackwattle Bay, lending his expertise and culinary insights to the curation of food and beverage offerings on the site and strengthening the Market’s ability to make connections between primary producers and seafood lovers.

Sean has partnered to deliver the Eat Strong Play Strong project with at-risk youth to promote health and nutrition with a focus on improving
education and employment outcomes.

For a list of Sean’s many achievements and Milestones, please visit https://www.seanconnolly.com.au/

R&B Artist Mi-Kaisha- Youth Ambassador

 

Mi-kaisha is an R&B Soul artist and songwriter who was born and raised in Sydney’s south. Her lyrics represent hard-hitting, often political messages about being a young Blak and Pacific Islander woman in Australia.  She draws inspiration from the strong, resilient women in her community. Mi-kaisha was named National NAIDOC Week Youth of the Year in 2019 and was recently admitted to the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University.

 

As our new youth ambassador Mi-kaisha will be using music and creativity combined with sports based projects to inspire the next generation of young leaders, sharing her creativity and perspectives on culture and resiliency. With plans to launch new initiatives in the US in coming months, Mi-kaisha will have opportunities to work with young people in Bounce programs in New York as well as engaging in projects when she is back in Australia.

 

“I love that Bounce is working to build it’s program across international borders and as someone currently based out of New York, I feel that I have a responsibility to get connected with the local community here and learn about the experiences of the peoples whose communities and spaces I have entered. I love that there’s a connection with both my community back home in Sydney and also the community in which I now live in NYC, those ties are special and highly valuable to me.”

Ali “Bilyarra” Bennet – Youth Ambassador

 

Alicia Bilyara Finlay Bennett (known as “Ali or Bilyara”) is a Sydney based indigenous artist who works mainly using earth pigments and acrylic polymer. Bilyara utilises her knowledge of barkindji {grandmother country) language and Dreamtime then connects with her life experiences away and on country interpreting stories into art form pieces. Bilyara is the daughter of late renowned indigenous painter and emu egg carver Richard “crunchy” Bennett {Nuddii) and Artist Amanda Farquharson whom studied her masters at COFA, Bilyara is also the granddaughter of renowned still life painter late Constance Farquharson, Indigenous grandparents Isobel Bennett and Fredrick Joseph Bennett deceased members of the stolen generation. Though Bilyara hasn’t formally studied the arts, she has been mentored and inspired by her artist families culture and history with her art speaking for itself, inheriting the ability to present works with playful depth to a broad audience. Bilyara is currently working from her home studio in Paddington, Sydney taking on private commissions and working on exclusive collections of which she donates half to communities in need. Bilyara manages her time between full time parenting, part time work and painting exceptionally and aspires to become a full time artist/ mentor within the next three to six months. Bilyara plans to work closely with indigenous communities and the youth to give back as much as she can to the communities that inspire and support her.

 

Bilyara will be engaging with young people through our arts and infrastructure programs, using art and creativity combined with sports based projects to create a range of unique cultural artworks.

Jenni Screen – Charity Bounce Ambassador

 

Jenni is a two time Olympic Medallist (2008/2012) with one of the most successful sporting programs in Australian Sporting history, Women’s Basketball, known as “The Opals”.  Additionally, in 2006 Jenni was a member of the team that won the 1st senior World Championship for Basketball Australia on the World stage. She played professionally both in Australia and in Italy for more than 15 years and co-captained the Opals in the latter stages of her career.  During her playing career Jenni continued her educational pursuits completing two degrees, most recently, a Masters in Strength and Conditioning.

 

Jenni now finds herself working in Sport Science and passionately involved in Athlete Wellbeing and the transition from the Elite world.  She is also on the FIBA Players Commission, a voice for the players. Jenni is focused on paying it forward and assisting others find their true potential.  She is also married to former Australian Boomer and Melbourne Tiger Championship player Neil Mottram, brother to middle distance runner and four time Olympian Craig Mottram. Jenni Screen is a massive over achiever in all areas of her life, always seeking to learn & grow in this crazy world and sees every moment as an opportunity for development. Jenni is driven & passionate on assisting people reach their potential in their chosen endeavours.  She is always up for a good laugh or cry.  Loves a debate over a glass of red and her Great Dane is the apple of her eye.

Kevin White- NBL player

 

Kevin is a guard in the NBL having played for the Perth Wildcats, Illawarra Hawks, Adelaide 36ers, and Sydney Kings. He attended the University of Alaska from 2007-2010 and then began as a development player in the NBL in 2011. In Sydney, he was voted the best defensive player in 2013.

 

Kevin won a SEABL Championship playing for the Bendigo Braves in 2016 and has a career high of 20 points in the NBL against Adelaide in 2015 including 6 of 8 three pointers. Kevin has been a key player involved in the Bounce Central Australia tours.