The public value and social return on invest of physical activity and recreation infrastructure 

Sports and leisure facilities are too often assessed purely by their cost, rather than their value to people and society. This session explores how we can reframe the conversation—treating such infrastructure as a strategic investment in health, community, and wellbeing. We will look at practical tools to measure and communicate the full spectrum of benefits, from economic to social impact. By moving beyond quantitative, facility-based metrics to qualitative, human-centred ones, we can change the equation, demonstrate broader public value, and ensure our facilities deliver meaningful, lasting outcomes for the communities they serve.

Moderator: Prof. Dr Takanori Fukuoka, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Dept. of Landscape Architecture Science, Japan
 

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On the panel

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Emma is a strategic lead in Sport England and has held several different roles in the organisation since 2006. Her interest in data and impact analysis drove the development of Sport England’s Moving Communities service. She works closely with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Authorities and leisure operators.

Emma Bernstein Strategic Projects Lead, Sport England, UK

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Ron is the Managing Director of Torch Advisory Group and has over two decades of experience advising clients across the sports, venues and events sectors including quantifying the value of community sports infrastructure. Ron was formerly the Global Head of Sport at KPMG. Ron has expertise in leading socio-economic advisory projects, including those involving social impact assessment, economics, policy, strategy and evaluation.

Ron Zubrik Managing Director, Torch Advisory, Australia

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An experienced Architect, Matt leads the Warren and Mahoney Architects sport and recreation team in New Zealand and is a director of IAKS ANZ. Matt is deeply involved in shaping the future of sports and recreation through architecture with roles that encompass international stadia, highperformance sport and grassroots sports
venues.

Matt Body Senior Associate, Warren and Mahoney, New Zealand

Social value and return on investment of sport and physical activity
Emma Bernstein, Strategic Projects Lead, Sport England, UK
Public leisure facilities play a vital role in our activity ecosystem because of their value to the people who use them most. This presentation will explore Sport England’s Moving Communities service which includes a social value calculator that monetises the social impact of participation in sport and physical activity at leisure facilities in England.

Communicating the benefits of sports and leisure facilities: How to measure value
Ron Zubrik, Managing Director, Torch Advisory, Australia (video presentation)
Physical activity and recreation infrastructure is too often viewed primarily through a cost lens. This presentation will explore why and how we can shift the narrative from cost to strategic investment. It shares key insights and practical tools to help you understand, measure, and com¬municate the benefits and broader public value of sports and leisure facilities.

Changing the equation
Matt Body, Senior Associate, Warren and Mahoney, New Zealand
A clearer perspective on measuring success in our facilities. By focusing on the effects on people and society we can shift the focus from quantitative physical metrics to qualitative, human-centred metrics. This allows us to measure social impact in a way that drives the conversation forward, reframing our values around success and enabling us to provide greater outcomes for our communities.