Damen is a qualified media and communications professional with 12 years of industry experience and an extensive association with regional sport.
Born and raised in Hobart, Damen moved to Gippsland in 2010. He has established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders across the sporting and wider communities, initially through his role as sports journalist at the Latrobe Valley Express and later as media and marketing manager for non-profit organisation AFL Gippsland.
Following a stint as Sports Editor at the Shepparton News, Damen joined AFL Gippsland in a wide-ranging role that encompassed communications, sponsorship and event management. Notable undertakings included the development and delivery of an annual Gippsland football/netball publication, project management of the 2019 AFL Community Camp with Collingwood Football Club in Sale and the coordination and execution of a host of themed rounds and initiatives including Gippsland Mental Health Round, Gippsland Pride Cup and the AFL Gippsland Coaches and Community Awards. Through such work, Damen developed a keen interest in the broader social impact and responsibility of community sport and a passion for the importance of participation at all levels.
In late 2019, Damen joined GippSport to oversee the delivery of the Increasing Access to Sport Project, which aimed to identify and address barriers to traditional sports participation among youth in the Latrobe Valley. Following the conclusion of this project, Damen took on a broader role on the GippSport Community Solutions team.
A former national-level middle distance track and cross-country runner in his youth, Damen remains active in community sport as a MiniRoos coach and social player at Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club and an occasional parkrun participant.
Damen holds a Bachelor of Arts, with majors in journalism, media and communications and history.
