IAKS ANZ showcased the benefits of an IAKS membership through an exhibition booth and a successful IAKS network event. IAKS members had the opportunity to connect, network and create new ties to both local and international members, during the IAKS network event held in conjunction with Australasia’s leading community sport and recreation convention, at the 2022 National Sports and Physical Activity Convention held on 11-13 July.
The IAKS network event held on Tuesday 12 July 2022 at the Melbourne Convention Centre, was a welcomed addition to Australasia’s leading community sport and recreation convention, attracting many existing members from across Australia and New Zealand, as well as internationally.
The network event was designed to create an opportunity for current members to meet and connect with like-minded professionals, promote cross-sector exchange and valuable networking. Our members continued to develop new ties with other local and international members, exchanging ideas and in turn supporting the growth of the sport and leisure industry.
Feedback from members detailed the event as being an excellent opportunity to meet others who share an interest in the development of the sports industry. Highlighting, the value of their fellow members, “I’ve made some new valuable networks from attending this event and I’m looking forward to the attending other events coming up” said Richie Williams from Stadia Arena.
Australian IAKS member, Brett Diprose (Warren and Mahoney Architects), attended the event, saying “It’s fantastic to see the Australian sports industry engaging and understanding the value that IAKS brings to the Asia Pacific region and vice versa. Shared knowledge and experience should never be undervalued.”
(from left to right) Michelle Noland, Richie Williams, Tania Fountain, Yvette Audet
IAKS provided a consistent presence within the Sport and Recreation Expo area which was free to enter during the NSC on July 12 and 13. The exhibit, supported by IAKS members, Michelle Nolland, Tania Fountain, Richie Williams and IAKS Vice President Yvette Audet, offered prospective members the ability to gain further insight into the benefits of becoming an IAKS member. They were also able to experience and demonstrate firsthand, the networking, knowledge sharing and event opportunities available to them. The IAKS ANZ membership base has grown by 25 % over the last month and after this event has continued to expand.
The new potential members went into a draw as part of the exhibition, with the winner gaining a free one-year subscription of the IAKS “sb” magazine. We would like to congratulate Charles Bellamy from the City of Greater Bendigo on winning this competition!
There was extra cause for celebration at the IAKS networking event, celebrating the NSC’s Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Award Winners that were announced at the NSC Oration on Monday 10 July 2022. IAKS members George Devenish from iDwala took the win for the Sports Surfaces category and their Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve project; Jarrod Hill from SPORTENG was a joint winner of the Sport and Climate Change category featuring their Recycled Glass Sand for Natural Turf Fields of Play initiative; Andrew Tripet from NBRS / Donovan Payne Architects accepted the award for the Sport and Leisure Facility Design category and the Bay Pavilion Arts + Aquatic project. These three IAKS members were all successful winners within their respective categories as part of the NSC Awards – A true testament to the caliber and quality of the members forming within the ANZ membership base.
2022 has been a great year for industry best practice and networking events held by IAKS ANZ. Following on from the networking event, there will be a webinar in conjunction with RLSS Australia and Myrtha pools to share the learnings of the International IAKS Vancouver Aquatics Study trip and a Christmas function in later in the year to cap a successful 2022.
A special thanks to our sponsors: George Devenish from iDwala, and Matthew Cohen from Trackmaster International along with the team from the National Sports Convention.
