Badminton Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Olivia Knowles as the National Para Performance Manager.

Olivia is a high-performance leader with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and a PhD focused on the impact of inadequate sleep on athletic performance and health. She has held senior roles in elite sport, including High Performance Manager for AFLW programs at both Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs Football Clubs. Later transitioning into the corporate sector as General Manager of Performance at Marshall White. Following the completion of her doctorate, she founded Sleep-Ed, a sleep education service dedicated to helping students, parents, athletes, and organisations enhance sleep quality to support overall wellbeing and performance.

“I am looking forward to working with the Para Badminton athletes, driving elite standards and supporting them toward LA 2028 and beyond,” Olivia said.

“I’m excited to build relationships with the athletes and performance staff and work together in building an environment where each athlete feels supported, challenged, and empowered to reach their full potential—on and off the court.”