Don't seek to be a person of Importance.
Seek to be a person of Value.
If business, sport, technology, and making the world a better place matter to you, you're in good company.
Ned Coten is an entrepreneur, volunteer, mentor, and masters athlete. He is Executive Chair of EngageRM, Chair of the Confederation of Australian Sport and operates a number of other enterprises.
Starting with nothing, he has spent more than 35 years helping found and build successful businesses, serving on over 20 boards, and leading national sporting organisations. As an athlete, Ned was an Australian junior representative at the AIS, had a brief career in the NBL and founded the Goldfields Giants NBL1 team.
In 2026, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to sports administration and basketball.
“I have known Ned for over 25 years and in that time can attest to his professionalism, work ethic, integrity and thought leadership.”
Chris Carroll, Marketing Director, Medibank Private
“Ned's strong commercial background combined with an intricate knowledge of the challenges involved for the sporting/not-for-profit sector was invaluable.”
Marie Walters, Executive Officer, Sports Dietitians Australia
“Your experience across all levels of basketball… is a wonderful asset and strength to the position and to the sport.”
John Wylie AM, Chair, Australian Sports Commission
“I'm so impressed by how much value the retreat brought and so quickly. What a powerful investment with an incredible return.”
Viv Gibson-Thomas, Head of Strategy, The Contenders
“In my time on the Board there could not have been a person better suited to leading the sport in all of Australia.”
Ian Silk, Basketball Australia Board Member
“The students were able to connect with you through your enthusiasm, honesty and humour.”
Kristy Johnson, Year 12 Leader, Narrogin Senior High School
“It's funny when someone else can help you see it because you are so entrenched in what you do you don't see how simple it can be.”
Alice Clark, Director, Oomf for the creative
“Please know I appreciate everything you are doing and the support you are showing to what I am doing.”
Larry Kestelman, Executive Chairman, National Basketball League
“Your input is very incisive and practical. I've certainly learnt a lot from listening to your style and of course content.”
Martin Coote
“You and David are leading the way for us and putting us in a position to be as successful as we can be.”
Lauren Jackson AO, Opals player, Australian women's basketball team
“I received a High Distinction… I don't think that would have been attainable without your assistance.”
Leigh Herbert
“You are providing tremendous leadership for the organisation and I'm grateful for all you do that enables me to simply get on with my job.”
Andrej Lemanis, Head Coach, Australian National Team
“Both Fraser and I are looking forward to working with you, learning from you and excited for the positive impact your experience, energy and style will bring to our business.”
Tanya Hall, Tuff Turf
“It was great to see your presentations and energy lift the room.”
Tal Karp
“To have someone with your experience and entrepreneurial business brain together with your genuine passion for the sport is an absolute recipe for success.”
Amanda Gilbert
“You are a key person in the positive culture in the office and you are well respected by many for your positive attitude and willingness to help all.”
Ash Carey
“Thank you for going the extra mile for all of us in basketball. You are a great leader!”
David Reid, Deputy Chair, Basketball Australia
“I am ever so grateful at the effort you have made to help us with our marketing plan. So insightful, informative and professional.”
Belinda Adams, Director, OSCAR Hospitality
“I love the way you challenge the way people need to be thinking and I really like the topics you cover, e.g. time management.”
Chris Browne
“Your letter delivered a lot of inspiration and encouragement.”
Tetchie Hadfield, Raphael's mother
“I just found out I won the rebrand / web / fitout / media strat for Oasis Bakery. I don't doubt your advice helped me win that.”
Daniel Bonnadio
“I think you are doing a great job as Chairman of BA and under your leadership I believe we will make great steps forward.”
Adrian Hurley OAM, Former Australian Basketball Coach
“Your energy and passion to continually strive for bigger and better things is contagious.”
Sarah Butler, Game Plan Marketing
“Your leadership and influence in Basketball has been so refreshing and impactful.”
Matthew Favier, AIS Director, Australian Sports Commission
“You're a top mentor and we're lucky to be in your group. You go the extra mile for us.”
Jonathan Green
“You reassured our parents and students that they have not been disadvantaged by attending their local school.”
Steve Quartermaine, Principal, Narrogin Senior High School
“…it was the most comprehensive and informative newsletter from a Chair that I have ever seen.”
Mark Sinderberry, Chief Executive Officer, UniSport Australia
“This small but extremely kind gesture says everything about your good self.”
Andrew Eastwood
“The important thing is that I see you strong and optimistic.”
Horacio Muratore, Former President, FIBA
“I can walk away from our meeting feeling confident and eager to work harder from your advice.”
Daniel Augoustakis
“I have learnt and grown so much while working with you.”
Nicalyn Castro, Marketing Virtual Assistant, Emprevo
“You have enabled us to stabilise and grow to a stronger position.”
Kristie Middleton, Former CEO, Basketball Northern Territory
“Thank you for your generosity, and your enthusiasm. It's infectious!”
Bianca Ross
“You have really inspired me and motivated me to become stronger and made me realise that I can get over this challenge.”
Raphael Hadfield
“I found your presentation to be very informative and inspiring.”
Jo a'Beckett, SSA Education Manager, Sport Star Academy
“You have been a tower of strength for BA in 2019 (and for your whole time on the board actually!!). You as chair makes my time on the board so much more enjoyable and worthwhile.”
Brian Delaney, Former Basketball Australia Board Member
“I'm very impressed with your honesty and your valuable advice.”
Christopher Cheng, O'Life Pty Ltd
“Your help has allowed me to grow here in Australia.”
Jesica
“Your support, insights and wisdom helped us to have an enormously productive day.”
Bill Hains, Chairman, SSV Basketball Sub Committee
“Just wanted to say thanks for your valuable advice yesterday Ned. It's great to get some perspective on things.”
Dave Whitehead
“Thanks for all you give and do for the ‘game’ Ned Coten.”
Jan Stirling, Former Australian women's basketball player and coach
“Your facility has been great and I really appreciate your help over the past year or so.”
Brad Opray, BoyzToys
“I very much appreciate your assistance.”
Margot Foster AM, Olympic medal-winning rower
Can Ned help?
If one of these sounds like you, the first step is a conversation, not a contract.
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Turning Fan and Partner Data into Revenue
EngageRM is an all-in-one CRM platform for sport and entertainment, built on Microsoft Dynamics 365. It brings ticketing, memberships, sponsorship, hospitality and reporting together in one place for more than 200 clubs, leagues and venues across 14 sports on three continents. Ned is its Executive Chair and President.
Visit EngageRM
BOOK SELF STORAGE
Help with storing your goods
Need a secure place for your goods? Sunshine Self Storage offers drive-up shipping container storage at 15 Carrington Drive, Albion, in Melbourne's west. It is open 5am to 9pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Ned has owned it since 2004.
Get storage insights and pricing
BOARDS AND FOUNDERS
Help grow your business
Ned has limited capacity open at the moment. If you are seeking a director or board chair who will back you and hold you to account, you should speak to Ned. He has raised capital, taken a business into the US and UK, and founded a number of businesses.
Talk to Ned about your boardQuotes from the Stoics
“If you seek tranquillity, do less.”
MARCUS AURELIUS
“It's not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”
SENECA
“First say to yourself what you would be, and then do what you have to do.”
EPICTETUS
“If you don't regard what you have as enough, you will never be happy, even if you rule the entire world.”
SENECA
“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best from yourself?”
EPICTETUS
“Don't let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole. Stick with the situation at hand.”
MARCUS AURELIUS
“If someone succeeds in provoking you, realise that your mind is complicit in the provocation.”
EPICTETUS
“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”
MARCUS AURELIUS
“Don't be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish.”
MARCUS AURELIUS
Insights and Background
Answers, kind words, family history and Ned's book, all in one place.
Questions about Ned
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most about Ned: who he is, what he does day to day and how to work with him. The topics run from boards and Masters sport to mentoring, speaking and his basketball career.
Read the questionsWhat people say
Testimonials
Notes, letters and messages people have sent Ned over the years. They come from national team coaches and sports leaders, and from the business owners and young professionals he has mentored.
Read the testimonialsFamily history
Meg Coten Memoirs
Before she passed away, Ned's mother, Meg Coten, wrote the story of her extraordinary life. Her book is free to download, along with articles, photos and the search for his father's family in New Zealand.
Explore the memoirsNed's book
Game Plan Marketing Book
A practical guide to marketing for small and medium sports organisations, published in 2013. It offers a simple, five-step approach to building a compelling brand message, effective marketing systems and new revenue.
See the bookLessons from the court and the boardroom
Ned speaks to boards, leadership teams, sporting bodies and conferences, drawing on more than three decades in sport and business. Themes include:
• Boards and governance: chairing well, governance reform and aligning an organisation around agreed goals
• Sport as a business: commercial strategy, revenue growth and capital raising
• Data, CRM and AI in sport: how sport and entertainment organisations put technology to work
• From athlete to executive: building a career and a life after playing
• Masters sport: lifelong activity and participation
Ned also mentors sports and business leaders, executives, directors and chairs.
Ned's book
Marketing for sport
Game Plan Marketing
Ned's practical guide to branding and marketing in sport, published in 2013. Why there's never been a better time to grow your sports organisation, and what to do to make it happen.
It offers a simple, five-step approach to developing a compelling brand message, using effective marketing systems and finding revenue opportunities, for sports organisations that want to punch above their marketing weight on a smaller budget.
Get the book on Amazon
NED COTEN
Chair, director and executive leader in commercial, data and global sport.
Copyright © 2026 Ned Coten Melbourne, Australia