Meet our Program Head Coaches
Mattia Bognolo | TDS Program & Boys Head Coach
Notable Achievements:
NCAA Scholarship holder - Wagner College
Member of the Born 2003 Australian U20’s World Championships team
2018 ACT Schoolboys Gold Medal winning team
Canberra Krakens - 2025 Australia Cup Champion & Tournament First Team
Coaching Focus:
Individual skill development, positional play, tactical understanding & high-performance athlete development
“I believe athletes improve most when they have access to quality coaching, specialised training and an environment that challenges them. My goal is to help athletes build strong fundamentals, develop their understanding of the game and give them the tools to reach their potential in water polo.”
Declan McJilton | TDS Girls Head Coach
Notable Achievements:
University of the Pacific, California - Team Captain 2025 season
Academic All-American 2023 - 2025
2024 UOP Tiger of the Year
Coaching Focus:
Athlete development, technical skills, goalkeeping & developing well-rounded athletes
“My experience as a collegiate athlete has taught me the importance of consistency, preparation and being willing to learn. As a coach, I want to help athletes develop both their skills and their understanding of the game, while creating an environment where they can challenge themselves and continue to improve.”
Matt Turnbull | CWPA Founder & Overall Program Head Coach
Notable Achievements:
Founder of Canberra Water Polo Academy
Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Scholarship holder
NCAA Scholarship holder & Team Captain – University of the Pacific, California
Former Water Polo Australia Pathways & Competitions roles
Former National Age Group Coach
Coaching Focus:
Program development, high-performance pathways, athlete development & technical/tactical coaching
“Having coached and played in Canberra for more than 20 years, I’ve seen athletes progress from trying water polo for the first time through to competing at local, national and international levels. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for athletes to develop, challenge themselves and pursue the sport as far as they want to take it.”
Ansis Eversons | Junior Dolphins Program Head Coach
Notable Achievements:
Nordek Premier League Team Captain (2024–Present)
Water Polo ACT Premier League Grand Final MVP (2023)
4x Canberra Cup Division 1 Men’s Champion
2024 Inaugural WPACT Coach of the Year
Finalist – Water Polo Australia Community Coach of the Year (2023/24)
2024 AYWPC Green Division Gold Medal – Nordek U14 Boys Head Coach
Coaching Focus:
Junior development, fundamentals, game understanding & creating a positive introduction to water polo
“I really enjoy helping young athletes build their skills and confidence in the pool. Water polo has given me the opportunity to compete, coach and travel all over Australia, and I want to help create that same pathway for the next generation while making sure they enjoy the sport along the way.”
History
In the beginning
The Canberra Water Polo Academy (CWPA) was established in 2007 with an aim to increase the participation and the level of water polo in Canberra and the surrounding regions. CWPA created the Talent Development Squad (TDS) which aimed to provide a high quality training environment for athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 years. In 2007, we hosted the inaugural Canberra Cup to raise funds to buy equipment for the TDS program.
Now
We now primarily focus on U14’s introductory programs through the Junior Dolphins program, school competitions and major water polo events like the Canberra Cup and Waterpolooza. Our focus is to expose more Canberrans to the sport and to provide pathways into the local club and school competitions.
Where we are going
The CWPA is looking to build on our existing products to ensure everyone in Canberra has access to the sport of water polo in their local community. We aim to do this through establishing partnerships and developing programs to activate new demographics of participants.
We will continue to innovate our offerings to ensure the sport stays relevant and we are always providing quality experiences.
Matt Turnbull
Founder of the Canberra Water Polo Academy
