Paul joins DBV from Football Australia where he held the position of National Competitions Manager and prior to that he was the Facilities Manager at Northern Suburbs Football Association. New to Victoria and Dragon Boating, Paul's broad experience across Community/Grassroots sport as well as High Performance environments will ensure he adequately services DBV members and clubs whilst elevating DBV's offerings.  

 

At Football Australia Paul successfully delivered the Australia Cup, a national knockout competition featuring more than 750 Clubs and was part of the planning and execution of several Socceroos, Matildas and Asian Champions League matches. A highly organised, detailed and process driven operator, Paul will bring event management expertise to DBV regattas, manage daily operations and support the Board with strategic initiatives. 

 

We look forward to Paul having the opportunity to meet our wonderful members over the coming weeks and months. 

 

Kathryn Sanford is a seasoned leader in the dragon boating community with over 15 years of experience as a paddler, coach, and mentor. Currently serving as Senior Coach at Melbourne Flames since 2017, Kathryn has consistently led teams to high performance at both state and national levels.

 

Kathryn’s coaching credentials are extensive, with appointments including the 2024/25 IDBF World Nations Championships (Senior C – Brandenburg, Germany), and multiple terms as DBV State Coach across Senior A, B, and C categories. A three-time Aurora representative, Kathryn has competed internationally in Thailand, China, and Canada, also serving as Women’s Captain in 2019. Her commitment to excellence has earned her multiple accolades, including DBV Coach of the Year, Victorian Flag Bearer, and Female Paddler of the Year – among others.

 

Kathryn brings more than just technical expertise - she combines her elite sport background with a distinguished professional career in project and change management, having worked across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia Pacific. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Management from AGSM@UNSW, is PRINCE2 accredited, and is a qualified Level 3 Sweep and DBV Singlecraft Accreditor.

 

Known for her integrity, adaptability, and team-first mindset, Kathryn is passionate about athlete development and performance culture. Her leadership style balances structure with flexibility, ensuring clarity, respect, and accountability across the crew.

As Head Coach for VIC26, Kathryn brings together a wealth of national, state, and club-level coaching experience with an understanding of athlete needs, planning, and campaign delivery. She is committed to building a cohesive, resilient, and competitive team for the upcoming championship campaign.

 

 

Gabriela Bodnarova joins as Campaign Manager for VIC26 bringing with her a combination of paddling experience and professional expertise in program and project coordination.

Gabriela began paddling in 2013 with Naga Spirit in Sydney, where she also represented NSW State Team. After relocating to Melbourne in 2017, she joined the Yarra River Dragons and represented Victoria at three state championships.

 

Her club and international paddling achievements are significant - Gabriela has competed at five Aurora campaigns (2015–2018), racing on the world stage in Canada and China. She’s also represented her club at the 2018 Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in Szeged, Hungary, and raced internationally in Singapore and at the World Masters Games in Taiwan.

 

With more than a decade of experience working in higher education, Gabriela brings strong project management and program coordination skills.

Gabriela is able to offer a dual perspective: she understands the journey, demands, and expectations of athletes at the elite level while also being able to manage projects and programs from an operational point of view.