As Community Programs Manager within the Club’s community team, Annie Lietzau’s career journey is one of care, compassion and fearlessness.
Following her university graduation, Annie always wanted to work in sport, but she just wasn’t sure in what capacity.
“I graduated with a Bachelor of Sports Science at Federation University and I wasn’t really sure where I was going to go from there,” she said.
“But within my studies, I did an internship with the Collingwood Football Club and that relationship continued, so I got a casual placement for five months.
"I was then lucky to get a part-time position as a Fan and Community Liaison and have since done all different roles within my time at the Club.”
Annie has since progressed into a management position, overseeing three staff members and is responsible for oversight of all the community programs.
When asked if working in the community department was always an area of interest, she said it was a pleasant surprise.
“I knew I always wanted to work in sport, so during my time at university I did a lot of volunteering at Melbourne City, helping with their Australian citizen ceremonies and being a part of their youth programming.”
“I then got a role in Collingwood where I started out by giving away posters at the MCG and looking after fan zones. From there, I continued my work in the community department.”
But working in this space runs deeper for Annie, as she shares her family connection to the industry.
“Community plays a big role in my family. My mum worked in the multicultural space and my dad worked at Workways, so giving back is something I value a lot.”
When asked what her favourite part of her job is, Annie instantly replies that it’s the opportunity it brings.
“It would be the opportunity of giving back. When I first started my role we would work closely with the Latrobe Valley, so it was always nice to give back to the community that I grew up in.
“Now I feel that’s grown to also working closely with the homeless and disadvantaged and it makes a difference to know you are changing someone’s life.”
The ability to have a positive impact on people is also one of the reasons why women empowerment is an important value to her.
“Growing up I loved playing soccer, but I’d find it hard to enjoy because sometimes I’d be the only girls in an all-male team.
“I’m lucky that I have a supportive family who loved to watch me run out even if I was only one of only three girls playing – but I know that’s not everyone’s experience.
“Representation is so important in sport for everyone to feel they belong, so by empowering more females to do the thing they love, even if they are the only girl, is so important.”
