About
Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board
The Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board (Board) regulates professional boxing and combat sports in Victoria on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events.
The Board’s primary purpose is to promote safety, reduce the risk of malpractice and uphold industry integrity. It does this through:
- Issuing permits for promotions.
- Supervising weigh-ins, promotions and exhibitions.
- Assessing all applications for contestant registrations and officials’ licences.
- Assessing all proposed match-ups.
- Appointing judges, referees and timekeepers to promotions.
- Enforcing rules, requirements and conditions of all registration and licence holders.
- Continuous assessment of the emerging scientific and medical evidence and applying best practice approaches to promote contestant safety.
The Board is supported by a Medical Advisory Sub-Committee that provides advice and recommendations about key health and medical issues associated with the sport and the Combat Sports Team in the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions that facilitates the regulatory requirements of the Board.
Contact details
Email: combat.sports@sport.vic.gov.au
Telephone: (03) 9623 1183
Victorian Government’s Statement of Expectations
The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Statement of Expectations is the key mechanism through which the priorities and directions of the government are formally outlined to the Board.
As the regulator of the professional boxing and combat sports sector, the government expects the Board to continue to ensure that regulatory standards are upheld, community expectations are met, and the safety of contestants is prioritised.
The Victorian Government’s priorities and expectations of the Board for the 2025-2027 period are outlined in this statement from the Minister.
Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board Report
Download: Board Report 2024-25 Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board Report 2025 (PDF 555.39 KB) 
Download: Board Report 2024-25 Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board Report 2025 (DOCX 1885.73 KB) 
Board policies
Download: Respect in the Workplace Policy PBCSB Respect in the Workplace Policy (DOCX 171.93 KB)
Current Board Members
- Chairperson: Alan Clayton PSM
- Member: Wayne Cheesman (Victoria Police nominee)
- Member: Daniel Cairnes
- Member: Stephen Bunce
- Member: Uyen Ha
- Member: Christopher Shen
Alan Clayton PSM - Chair
Mr Clayton is Chair of the Professional Boxing and Combat Sport Board. His prior roles include Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Greyhound Racing Victoria, inaugural CEO of Court Services Victoria, Executive Director (Department of Human Services) and Deputy Secretary (Police, Emergency Services and Corrections). He was first appointed to the Board in May 2023.
Wayne Cheesman – Victoria Police, Board Member
Wayne’s 38 year career with Victoria Police has included roles with St Kilda Uniform, Prahran Criminal Investigations Unit, Drug Squad, Homicide Squad, Echo Taskforce and as Staff Officer to (retired) Victoria Police Executive Command members, Shane Patton and Ross Guenther. Mr Cheesman was recognised as the Victoria Police Detective of the Year in 2013. He holds a Master of Business Leadership and Graduate Certificate in Applied Management (Policing and Emergency Services). He was first appointed to the Board in September 2025.
Daniel Cairnes – Board Member
Mr Cairnes currently works in the commercial construction industry and is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He holds both a trade qualification and has completed an MBA (Exec). Mr Cairnes served in the Australian Defence Force for over a decade where he fulfilled a variety of regimental, training and operational appointments as an Army Officer. His interest in combat sports is derived from military service where he instructed in defensive tactics that are based on BJJ techniques. He was first appointed to the Board in August 2017.
Stephen Bunce JD BBus GDLP GAICD MIPA – Board Member
Stephen Bunce is a barrister at the Victorian Bar. Prior to this he worked for over a decade as CEO of a non-profit medical research institute and has also worked in various consulting and regulatory affairs roles. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Information Systems), a Juris Doctor and is currently completing a Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne.
He is on various boards and committees including the Medicolegal Society of Victoria, the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board of Victoria and the Western District Health Service. Stephen is a member of the Victorian Bar, the Institute of Public Accountants and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Stephen has a lifelong passion for combat sports and has trained and competed in various combat sports at the amateur level. He was appointed to the Board in April 2023.
Uyen Ha – Board Member
Ms Ha is a retired professional MMA athlete, former Australian National Team wrestler, fight coach, and lawyer. With Ms Ha’s firsthand experience as a contestant, she brings a passion about progressing combat sports in Victoria. She was first appointed to the Board in March 2024.
Christopher Shen – Board Member
Mr Shen is a psychologist, wrestling coach, and has been a licensed combat sport referee. Mr Shen has partnered with organisations across the private, public, educational, and sport sectors to deliver psychology solutions, executive coaching, leadership development, resilience programs, and mental health treatment and support. He has represented Australia in freestyle and greco-roman wrestling and officiated for the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts sports league. Mr Shen holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Monash University. He was first appointed to the Board in June 2024.
Medical Advisory Sub-Committee
The Medical Advisory Sub-Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Board about key health and medical issues associated with the sport.
Current members
- Chairperson: Alan Clayton
- Member: Christopher Shen
- Member: Associate Professor Chris Barnes - Paediatric Haematologist and ringside physician.
- Specialist support: Dr Vinh Nguyen – Lecturer Psychology, La Trobe University and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Page last updated: 26 November 2025