Netball Northern Ireland (Netball NI) is delighted to announce the appointment of Helen Alfano as its new Head of Performance, following an internal staffing review and an intensive recruitment process.
Helen brings extensive experience in high-performance sport, with a strong track record of leading interdisciplinary teams and delivering athlete-centered programmes. She has held senior performance leadership roles across sporting environments, and possesses an expert understanding of high-performance systems, pathways, and the demands of preparing athletes and teams for international competition.
Her expertise spans performance strategy, planning, athlete wellbeing, and the development of high-performing cultures. Recognised for translating strategic vision into operational delivery, Helen has successfully led interdisciplinary teams and programmes in complex, high-pressure environments, supporting athletes from talent development through to major championship performance.
With a PhD in Elite Performance, Helen combines evidence-informed practice with a collaborative and values-led approach to leadership. She is passionate about creating environments in which athletes, coaches, and interdisciplinary teams can thrive, fostering strong relationships, shared purpose, and a culture of continuous improvement to enable sustained performance success.
Helen will take up her position on a part-time basis in August, transitioning to four days per week from September.
Karen Rollo, Chief Executive, Netball NI:
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Helen to Netball Northern Ireland as our new Head of Performance. This appointment to our senior leadership team follows a thorough internal review and an extensive recruitment process, ensuring we secured the right individual with the appropriate skills, experience, and leadership qualities for such a critical role. As we navigate a pivotal stage in our performance cycle and public investment process, it was essential that we identified a candidate who, working closely with our Warriors Head Coach, Sheonah Forbes, and wider performance support team, can drive forward our ambitions and strengthen our high-performance environment. Helen’s expertise and proven track record make her an ideal fit for this role.”
Helen Alfano:
I’m delighted to be joining Netball Northern Ireland at such an exciting point in its journey. The opportunity to work alongside athletes, coaches, staff and the wider performance community to build on the strong foundations already in place is one I’m really looking forward to.
I’m passionate about creating high-performing environments where people can thrive, and I look forward to bringing my experience in performance leadership to help shape and deliver Netball NI’s ambitions. Together, I believe we can continue to develop people, strengthen systems, and create the conditions for sustained success on and off the court.
This appointment marks an important step forward for Netball NI as it continues to strengthen its high-performance structures and deliver sustained success throughout it’s performance pathway and on the international stage.