About Mark

For almost two decades, Mark Ryan has worked predominantly in the sporting world in the areas of media, communications, digital and marketing.

His passion for using sport as a tool for developing healthier lives and brighter futures can be traced back to his upbringing in a public housing estate in Redcliffe, north of Brisbane. For many years, he and his twin brother, Andrew, used a front yard, a fence and a roadway as a makeshift tennis court. Despite having no access to coaching, the pair led their primary and secondary school tennis teams to District and Brisbane Metropolitan titles. Also on the sporting field, he played cricket semi-professionally in England and twice lined up at the Australian National Indoor Cricket Championships.

Since returning to Australia in 2009, he has worked for the likes of Queensland Rail, Tatts Group and Tourism and Events Queensland. He was also part of the executive team at the Gold Coast Suns AFL club, where he was the General Manager of Communications and Content.

After being supported by nationwide charity, The Smith Family, as a teenager, Mark now acts as a keynote speaker and media spokesperson for that organisation. He currently leads a marketing and communications team at Mater Foundation; one of Queensland’s largest not-for-profits.

He lives in Brisbane with his wife Marissa and three sports-mad sons: Kai, Rio and Cade.