COURSE SUMMARY

DATES: 11th & 18th March, 2026
TIME: 9am–12pm AEST / 2 x 3 Hour Sessions
METHOD: Online via Zoom
POSITIONS: 20
INVESTMENT: One-Time Payment or Monthly Payments over 6 or 12 Months
FACILITATOR: Frank Ponissi
INFO SESSION: TBC

The Certificate in Building High Performance Culture is presented by Frank Ponissi, General Manager of Football at the Melbourne Storm. This course equips aspiring and current rugby league professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in General Manager and football leadership roles. Through real-world insights and practical frameworks, Frank shares the lessons learned from decades of experience in the NRL, providing participants with a comprehensive view of leadership, operations, culture, and crisis management in elite sport.

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR

  • Aspiring and current leaders in sport

  • Club administrators and football department staff looking to up skill

  • Coaches and recruiters interested in the business side of the game

  • Professionals from other sports transitioning into rugby league management

COURSE CONTENT

In this course, you’ll explore the complexities of leadership and operations within professional rugby league, focusing on how to build and sustain high performance. Topics include:

  • The Role of a General Manager in sport

  • Football Operations and High-Performance Management

  • Leadership, Culture & Crisis Management

  • Career Pathways into General Manager roles

  • Practical case studies and real-world scenarios from Franks career at the Melbourne Storm

COURSE OUTCOMES

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the responsibilities and challenges of the General Manager role in the NRL

  • Develop leadership and culture-building strategies that drive sustainable success

  • Learn how to manage list strategy, the salary cap, and football operations

  • Gain practical tools for crisis management and handling external pressures

  • Build a network with peers and learn directly from one of the game’s most experienced leaders

COURSE FACILITATOR

FRANK PONISSI

Frank Ponissi is one of the most respected leaders in Australian sport, with over three decades of experience shaping high-performance environments in rugby league. As General Manager of Football at the Melbourne Storm, he has been central to the club’s sustained success, overseeing recruitment, operations, culture, and leadership across one of the most decorated teams in NRL history.

With a background in coaching and player development, Frank brings a unique blend of tactical insight and people-first leadership. His career has been defined by building strong relationships, managing complex football departments, and guiding teams through both triumphs and challenges.

Frank’s approach is rooted in creating sustainable winning cultures, balancing the demands of elite performance with the importance of player welfare and long-term club success. His depth of experience offers rare insight into what it takes to lead at the highest level of professional sport.

WHAT DO I GET WHEN I ENROL?

2 x ONLINE LIVE WORKSHOPS

Complete this accelerator over 2 weeks with 2 x 3 hour live sessions. All content is recorded for you to go back and view following completion.

ACCESS TO INSTRUCTORS

During your completion of the course, you’ll have access to Stephen to ask any questions that you may have about the industry and content.

CAREER SUPPORT

During and after completing a course, you’ll recieve a free career advisory call to help you map out the next steps of your career through networking and job applications.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

Over the length of the accelerator, there will be opportunities in break out groups and discussion for you to connect with other industry professionals and expand your network

PAY UPFRONT OR 6 & 12 MONTH PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE

All our courses come with an option to pay upfront or over a 6 or 12 month payment plan to make payment easy whilst still being able to access the course.

MICRO-CREDENTIAL CERTIFICATION

You’ll receive a certificate on completion of the course which you can share online on LinkedIn and any other platform you choose.

THE INVESTMENT

ONE TIME PAYMENT : $990

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6 MONTH PLAN: $165 p/m

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12 MONTH PLAN: $82.50 p/m

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Investing in your education is one of the best decisions an individual can make, so we want to make it as accessible as possible. That's why we're offering a flexible payment option that allows you to spread the cost of your course over 6 or 12 months.

  • Monthly Payments: Break down the total course fee into manageable monthly payments with no hidden fees.

  • Budget-Friendly: Get immediate access to all course content while spreading the cost, making it easier on your budget.

  • No Interest: Enjoy the convenience of monthly payments without any additional interest or charges.

  • Immediate Access: If you choose the monthly payment option, you’ll still recieve full access to all the content immediately after first payment.

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