About the author
James Croll
With a background in adventure tourism, events management and marketing, James Croll is a regular contributor to Australasian Leisure Management and Asian Leisure Business.
Click here to view his LinkedIn profile.
After a two-year disruption the 56th ARI (Aquatic and Recreation Institute) Annual Conference and Trade Show returned this week to the Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley.
An excellent turnout of delegates were treated on the first day to a program of fascinating speakers focussing on the conference’s key themes of Leadership and Sustainability, and how to lead and create sustainable organisations now and into the future.
Kicking off the conference, seven times World Champion Surfer and Chair of Surfing Australia, keynote speaker Layne Beachley focussed on a number of takeaways key to helping leaders elevate individuals within teams and how to enable individuals to reach their potential.
Beachley highlighted how she herself overcame a chauvinistic and sexist culture in her early days in the surfing world and was able to drive and influence pay equity in 2018. She also focussed on her new venture Awake Academy which enables people to detach from their fears and work towards their dreams.
Beachley’s keynote was complemented by a welcome and relevant presentation by Tom Scantlebury, Chief Executive at Sky Blue Customer Experience Services. Already established as an authority on experience management across the leisure and hospitality sectors, Scantlebury provided an insight into Experience Management (XM) and how it is proving critical to the success or failure of organisations. Scantlebury also provided an insight into how teamwork and inclusion prove vital to this by enlightening delegates to his latest project titles ‘the family party wave' where all of his three children ride the same wave with him.
The conference continues this week with presentations among others focussing on community engagement, wellbeing within communities, as well as a panel session on training packages and how to get the best employment outcomes.
Image: 56th ARI keynote speaker Layne Beachley
3rd May 2022 - Aquatic and Recreation Institute counts down to 56th annual conference
7th March 2022 - Aquatic and Recreation Institute announces its 2021 award winners
3rd March 2022 - Aquatic and recreation facilities pitch in to help during East Coast flood crisis
9th January 2022 - Aquatic and Recreation Institute extends annual award nomination deadline
7th January 2022 - City of Wanneroo releases concept design for new aquatic and recreation centre
16th December 2021 - New user analytics and management system in place at Sydney’s Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre
24th November 2021 - Roof repairs at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre to cost more than $2 million and close pool for more than a year
3rd November 2021 - Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre unveils new ‘Fit for Gym’ Membership
13th September 2021 - Aquatic and Recreation Institute charts sector’s roadmap to reopening
19th July 2021 - New Aquatic and Recreation Institute Board confirms strategic direction for the coming 12 months
2nd March 2021 - Aquatic and Recreation Institute NSW announces organisational and staff changes
30th September 2019 - Architects aim for highest standards in sustainability in rebuilding of Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre
23rd June 2019 - Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre sales superstar recognised at ARV Industry Awards
4th June 2019 - ARI 2019 Conference looks at ‘Creating Value in Aquatic and Recreation Facilities’
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