While Australia’s top judoka take to the tatami at the 2025 OTP Bank World Judo Championships in Budapest, two highly respected figures from the Western Australian judo community are also making an impact behind the scenes.

Mr Carlo Knoester is serving as an IJF Referee Supervisor, contributing his deep refereeing expertise to ensure the event upholds the highest standards of officiating. Meanwhile, Mr Simon Read is attending the 2025 IJF Congress as the Chair of Judo Australia, representing our country at one of the most important governance forums in the sport of judo.

Held alongside the World Championships, the IJF Congress brings together national federations, continental unions, and key stakeholders from across the globe. This year’s Congress included the formation of a new IJF Executive Committee, including the election of its President — a pivotal process that will shape the strategic direction of international judo for the next four years.

Throughout the week-long event, Mr Read will also engage in high-level meetings with IJF and OJU stakeholders, focusing on the growth, governance, and future direction of judo in Australia.

Both Carlo and Simon are long-time contributors to the WA judo community, having each served as President of Judo WA. They also continue to support grassroots judo through their clubs: Kano Judo Schools in Joondalup (Carlo Knoester) and SouthWest Judo Academy in Rockingham (Simon Read).

Judo WA is proud to see our leaders shaping the sport at the highest levels and remains committed to supporting strong representation from Western Australia across all levels of judo — from grassroots to global governance.