Orienteering Australia is delighted to announce Aston Key as our new Manager, Athlete Development. A former elite athlete and recent JWOC and WOC coach, Aston brings a unique blend of international competitive success, high-performance coaching experience and a deep understanding of what athletes need to thrive on the world stage. He will be working within the High Performance Management Group (HPMG), along with Fredrik Johansson (HP Admin) and Tash Key (Head Coach).
Aston is one of Australia’s most successful orienteers. His achievements include becoming Junior World Orienteering Champion (Sprint 2019), placing 5th at the 2022 World Orienteering Championships—the highest result ever by an Australian male—and winning two European Youth Championship titles. His long involvement in JWOC and WOC campaigns gives him first-hand insight into the demands of elite performance.
In recent years, Aston has taken on influential coaching roles, serving as JWOC Coach/Assistant Coach (2024–25) and WOC Coach/Assistant Coach (2024–25). He has also delivered school coaching programs and has been active in developing junior and senior athletes through training camps, targeted preparation, and ongoing mentorship.
Beyond coaching, Aston brings event organisation and mapping experience, along with a strong commitment to athlete-centred communication and collaboration.
Aston’s appointment strengthens OA’s high-performance pathway, and we are excited for the expertise, energy and athlete-focused leadership he will bring to supporting Australia’s next generation of international competitors.
Please join us in welcoming Aston to Orienteering Australia. He can be contacted on athletedevelopment@orienteering.asn.au
The Manager, Athlete Development is responsible for:
- Publishing and maintaining the Orienteering Participant Pathway in collaboration with Manager, Participation
- Monitoring and development of HP coach pathways in collaboration with Manager, Coaching Development
- Supporting compliance with the National Integrity Framework for coaches and athletes
- Collaborating with the HPMG to develop athletes through the orienteering participant pathway
The role aims to support athlete improvement at the Talent, Performance and Excellence stage. This aligns with OA’s strategic plan to strive towards Great Performances by achieving results on the international stage with a high-performance program connected to the orienteering community via a commitment to juniors and development squads.
