Netball NSW umpire Jordan Kiss, fresh off officiating the high-stakes Suncorp Super Netball derby between the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball, is in Jeonju, South Korea, to umpire at the 13th Asian Youth Netball Championship.
The tournament, taking place from June 27 to July 4, is organised by Netball Asia in conjunction with the South Korean Netball Association (SKNA), and will see 12 nations from across the region—including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan—compete for the Asian title.
At just 26 years old, Jordan has held the All Australia Badge since 2023, the highest accreditation in the sport and has been part of the SSN umpiring pool since 2022. She is also a trailblazer, having become the first First Nations woman in NSW to receive the honour. Her second international appointment and second time umpiring in South Korea is a remarkable milestone in a career that’s only just beginning to hit its stride.
Jordan will be part of the neutral pool of umpires for the event, joined by fellow Australian official Taylah Bennett from Victoria. The pair will represent Australia on the global stage, while remaining impartial in officiating games across the competition.
What makes Jordan’s journey even more impressive is the dual path she walks. When she’s not on court making high-pressure calls, Jordan is a full-time lawyer —balancing a demanding professional role with her elite sporting commitments. Two weeks ago, she was centre court at Ken Rosewall Arena, presiding over one of the biggest domestic clashes in Australian netball in front of a capacity crowd.
Jordan’s umpiring journey has been nurtured through Netball NSW’s Umpire Pathway Program, with her early days as a member of Gosford Netball Association on the Central Coast laying the foundation for her national and international success. Now based in Newcastle, she continues to inspire the next generation of umpires, especially young women and First Nations participants.
Also travelling to Jeonju is Sharon Kelly OAM, a NSW stalwart, 14-time Australian Umpire of the Year, and current Head of Netball Australia’s Umpiring Program. A global leader in the officiating space and a member of the World Netball International Testing Panel, Sharon will be on hand to coach and mentor umpires throughout the tournament, sharing her expertise with Jordan and her peers.
As she swaps the courtroom for the court lines, Jordan Kiss’s appointment is a testament to her professionalism, drive, and dedication—on and off the court.
Frances Cordaro, Netball NSW
