Intro
Photo: Robyn Kuhl with former President VWA Ian Phipps
Stepping down as CEO in October 2025, Robyn’s tenure saw the sport grow exponentially in both membership and participation, with the support of the Volleyball WA Community.
With experience across hockey and gymnastics, including high-performance roles in the UK, Robyn was drawn to volleyball due to its global reach and power to connect communities.
“Volleyball has 222 member nations, more than football and basketball,” she said.
“It’s a sport that transcends language, culture and religion, and that really resonated with me.”
When Robyn joined Volleyball WA, research found thousands were playing the sport informally, be it on beaches, parks, and backyards, but largely invisible to the formal system.
“Rather than creating players, we needed to find them,” she explained.
This served up the Discover Volleyball campaign, showcasing the game’s versatility from social to Olympic level.
One of Robyn’s proudest achievements is the growth of Adaptive Volley, providing opportunities for people with disability and older adults.
In 2024, Adaptive Volley has created more than 1,600 participants across 94 programs and activities, with an almost 38% increase in disability involvement.
“We wanted to do more than pay lip service,” she said.
Support through inclusion grants and partnerships with Paralympics and Invictus Games, Volleyball WA fielded its first sitting volleyball team at a national competition in 2024, winning bronze.
Sitting volleyball has expanded into aged care, helping residents improve mobility and social connection through modified volleyball activities.
Schools are playing a pivotal role in volleyball’s rise, serving as the largest sport at Country Week and continues to grow across public and private schools.
Formal partnerships with School Sport WA and targeted funding have strengthened pathways for young athletes, while social formats keep the game accessible for all.
“This isn’t just my story, it’s the Volleyball WA story,” she said.
“The board, staff, clubs and volunteers have embraced change and built a community that reflects our values of inclusion and collaboration.”
Volleyball WA now enters an exciting new chapter under CEO Sophie Row, who is leading the next phase of growth with a bold strategic roadmap for 2026–2029.
“I’m excited to build on the decade of growth that has occurred during Robyn’s tenure and take volleyball to new heights,” Ms Row said.
“ Our 2026–2029 roadmap is bold and ambitious, designed to elevate the sport’s profile, strengthen pathways, and ensure volleyball continues to connect communities across Western Australia”.
This plan sets a clear direction for the future: to elevate Volleyball WA’s profile, amplify its impact and share the story of next steps.
The roadmap focuses on four key pillars:
Sophie and the team are committed to making volleyball a top-tier sport by 2030.
This ambition will see the team work to diversify formats, deepen school-to-affiliate pathways and embed social impact across everything volleyball.
The WA Government has provided around $2.8 million to Volleyball WA across the past five years, helping boost regional growth, inclusion initiatives and major events, including the Australian Volleyball Super League and National Youth Championships.
To find a club or competition near you, all you need to do is visit Volleyball WA’s website.