Our Team
Coaches
- Bobby Jovanovich
- Daniel Sainsbury
- Hiromi Barnett
- Tom Noblett
- Alex Fenton
- Lizzie Jackson
- Sophie Pidcock
- Lara Ponsi
Bobby Jovanovich
Director of Swimming Club and Head Coach
Bobby Jovanovich moved from Western Australia to join the BGS Swimming Club in 2016. Bobby has been a part of the swimming world for over 20 years as a professional swimmer and is now a renowned Australian coach in the high-performance space. After retiring from a professional swimming career of 18 years, Bobby was able to swim for Australia on multiple occasions successfully and is still ranked in the top 10 all-time for backstroke.
Bobby utilises his passion for swimming by passing on his knowledge and experience to coaching. Over the previous decade, Bobby has been able to produce multiple Australian National Champions who have gone on to represent Australia at Junior and Senior levels.
Daniel Sainsbury
National Development Coach & Middle School Swimming Coordinator
Daniel has been a swim coach for over 10 years now and not only brings an outstanding level of experience but also comes across with a high degree of knowledge, having completed both a Bachelor of Coaching Science and a Masters in Exercise Science specialising in Strength and Conditioning.
Originally from Canberra, Daniel previously worked under high-performance coach Shannon Rollason before taking over as head coach and developing one of the most robust programs in the ACT region.
Daniel is a highly passionate coach who will drive high standards across the program and deliver the highest quality program to ensure all swimmers reach their full potential and achieve their goals within the pool.
Hiromi Barnett
Assistant Head Coach
Hiromi is currently the assistant coach with the National Performance Squad, commencing January 2021. She runs the Masters Squad and also assists with Micro, Junior and State Performance.
Hiromi started teaching swimming in 2008 and has experience teaching babies, toddlers, primary/secondary school, and university age athletes. Hiromi started at BGS in 2015 as the Junior Squad coach. She worked with the Junior Squad until 2018 where she transitioned into coaching State Performance Squad.
Swimming has become a treasured part of Hiromi’s life. She hopes to pass on her knowledge to younger generations and for BGS swimmers to enjoy all aspects of the swimming experience. Hiromi's experience extends to coaching for Brisbane Swimming Association with up-and-coming talented athletes including Patron Shield and Brisbane Big Camp.
Tom Noblett
State Development Coach & Assistant Coach
Tom Noblett is a passionate and professional swim coach. Tom recently moved from the Northern Territory to further his professional swimming coaching career at BGS, joining the coaching team in August 2022. Having previously led and managed swimming pathway programs, Tom has gained valuable experience implementing and delivering swimming programs that promote and drive performance. He has had the opportunity to work alongside some of Australia’s leading coaches and with athletes at all levels.
Tom’s coaching philosophy is to ‘leave a legacy’ and to accomplish this he creates environments within training where athletes are encouraged and driven to reach their ultimate potential. As a facilitator of success, he creates long-lasting athletes who are resilient, persistent and seek performance. Through the delivery of high-quality programs, Tom strives to give every athlete the opportunity to excel and find enjoyment in our much-loved sport.
Tom looks forward to sharing his passion for swimming with the BGS community.
Alex Fenton
Junior Squad Coach & Assistant Coach
Alex has been a member of the Brisbane Grammar School Swimming Program since 2013. During this time, Alex has achieved multiple top 3 placings at a State level as well as a number of top-10 placings at a National level. Alex attended Brisbane Grammar School from 2015 to 2020, winning numerous GPS titles in both freestyle and backstroke events in this time.
In August 2021, Alex joined the BGS Swimming Coaching team and is excited to share his knowledge and passion for the sport with younger generations in order for them to exceed in the aquatic arena.
Lizzie Jackson
Assistant Coach
Growing up in rural Northern Queensland, Lizzie enjoyed representing her swim club and region at both local and State competitions. Since 2012, she has taught both learn-to-swim and junior level swimming with kids ranging from one to 13 years. As a former competitive swimmer, she is passionate about teaching children of all ages the importance of developing good training habits both in and out of the pool.
Having joined the BGS Swimming Club in 2018, she has further developed her coaching skills and knowledge, allowing her to advance professionally within the industry. Her goal at BGS is to ensure all students are provided equal learning opportunities at all levels and abilities and to see them acquire core skills and knowledge that allow them to view swimming as an activity or sport for life.
Sophie Pidcock
Strength and Conditioning Director
For nearly a decade, Sophie has worked in high schools, facilitating and developing Long Term Athletic Development programs. Currently a Performance Development Coach at Brisbane Grammar School, she leads injury rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols while delivering S&C programs for various sports and age groups. Her experience in this space stems from multiple roles within high schools, from S&C and injury management to Head of Department roles. Sophie has also worked extensively within rugby union, being the lead S&C coach for schoolboy First XV teams, QLD Reds Super W and assisting with various academies and teams at a State and National level.
Lara Ponsi
Performance Development Coach ‑ Strength and Conditioning Assistant
Lara is a Performance Development Coach at Brisbane Grammar School, who has recently completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences (Honours) at The University of Queensland.
Throughout her time as a strength and conditioning coach, Lara spent time providing exercise services to a range of age groups and athletes and has also had considerable experience in programming and managing swimming athletes. Lara thrives in a sporting environment and is continually seeking new ways to challenge the strength and abilities of her students.
Her goal at BGS is to provide athletes and students with the knowledge and skills to improve their athletic performances both in and out of the water, while also encouraging the importance of a long-term, positive outlook on physical activity and sport.