Head of Sydney Swans HQ, Liz Ponitka, has been named the third Dean Moore Award nominee for 2025.
Each quarter staff are invited to submit a nomination for a colleague who best embodies the club’s values of respect, discipline, courage, and conviction. Speaking to Sydney Swans Media, Ponitka said she was “grateful” to be recognised in this way.
Ponitka spent four years leading Sydney Swans Hospitality & Events department between 2012 and 2016 before returning to the club in 2022. She was tasked with leading the transition between the old SCG facility, and the club’s new home - the Sellers and Colles Centre - at the Royal Hall of Industries.
She brings over 20 years of experience to the role, leading a team of people who keep the facility running in all aspects of the business.
“I have worked across the public and private sector in production, events, tourism, marketing, sport and the cultural sector,” she recalled.
“Before returning to the Swans, I was Head of Commercial and Tourism at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
“Previous to that, I lead an agency in experiential production for big brands like Coca Cola, Toyota, Westpac and L’oreal in my Director of Production role at Maverick Marketing.”
Most recently, Liz supported the curation and build of the Peter Weinert Museum, which was opened earlier this year. During the season, Ponitka also oversees the activation of the foyer and plaza outside of Swans HQ.
“Roles here are always evolving just as our requirements evolve to maintain high performance. No two days are ever the same.”
To be presented annually at the Sydney Swans’ AFLW Club Champion Dinner, the Dean Moore Award is a peer-nominated award that will recognise a Sydney Swans staff member who has best embodied the club’s values of respect, discipline, courage, and conviction. Harry Hoysted was nominated for the award in Q1, Meg Rogers was nominated in Q2, and Pat Perriam Frisch in Q4.
