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Shelley Ashton
Aquatics Outreach & Ōtaki Pool Manager at Kapiti Coast District CouncilKia ora koutou. I’m delighted to introduce myself as one of this year’s presenters, along with Dr. Terina Raureti and Kiri Winiata-Enoka. I have the very great privilege of managing Ōtaki Pool and working with the beautiful community that makes this small town what it is. This is my tenth year in the fantastic industry of Aquatics and the best one yet! I can’t wait to share the journey we have been on, and the important message that goes with it, with you all. Hei konā rā. Shelley
Mark Bates
Director of Architecture HDTMark is one of two Directors of Architecture HDT,and has been with the firm since 2001.
Mark has been involved in a wide range of project types. The last 20 years have primarily been spent on the design, documentation, and delivery of new and refurbished municipal sports and aquatic centres.
He has been instrumental in creating and maintaining positive working relationships with the community, elected representatives and other stakeholders, which in conjunction with his strong organisational ability has led to highly successful outcomes for these projects.
Mark is a nationally recognised expert in the development of Aquatic Facilities. He is currently involved with Alex Head (Architecture HDT) and Nick Yannakis (Beca) in the development of a guidebook for the Environmentally Sustainable Design of Spaces and Places for Sport NZ.
Jude Bell White
Lido Aquatic CentreJude Bell White is a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Lido Aquatic Centre and Freyberg Community Pool in Palmerston North. He’s been in the industry for more than five years, having got involved after university, and he now holds both a PLPC and first aid certificate.
Jude has thoroughly enjoyed attending WAVES for the last three years, both as a competitor in the lifeguard competition and because of the skills and knowledge gained. Just starting his Senior Pool Lifeguard Apprenticeship Jude is looking forward to sharing his learning at this years conference.
Outside of work, Jude loves tennis, snow sports, and spending time with friends and whānau.
MB
Mat Bialy
Recreation Facilities Manager at Wellington City CouncilMat Bialy is the Recreation Facilities Manager at Wellington City Council. He manages the delivery of 7 aquatic facilities which have approximately 1.2 million annual visits.
Dr Chris Button
Associate Professor at University of OtagoChris Button is a Professor of Motor Learning at University of Otago. He has been researching water safety
education in New Zealand for over a decade.
Alex Calwell
Thrive Spaces & Places- Developing your Safety Sense - The case for chronic unease
- I'm a Leader, What Do I Do Now? - Navigating leadership in aquatics
Alex been involved in facility operations and management for over 25 years across both the local
government and private environments. In this time, he has been a fitness trainer, lifeguard, swim instructor,
customer service representative, recreation manager, operations and facility manager, and aquatics
specialist. Alex’s breadth of experience has included involvement across health and safety systems and
investigations and as such, has grown a strong interest in making improvements around supporting teams
in their approaches to what can feel like a burden rather than a benefit.
In his current role he aims to support Councils and operators to continue to develop improved ways of
working and to delivery safe, inclusive, welcoming experiences in our recreation facilities.
Alex is passionate about developing people, learning, facility operations and the NZ Warriors. He is looking
forward to connecting and understanding your challenges in the recreation industry.
Josh Carmine
Aquatic Research Educator at Drowning Prevention AucklandJosh brings over a decade of Surf Life Saving experience from New Zealand's east and west coasts, in both professional and volunteer lifeguarding. Currently pursuing a Masters in Bioscience at Massey University, he combines his coastal expertise with three years of Hato Hone St John frontline ambulance critical care. This unique blend of experience enables him to offer comprehensive water safety courses in Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa. Josh's commitment to enhancing safety extends beyond personal pursuits, actively educating communities and organisations to navigate aquatic environments confidently and provide measures to respond to emergencies. His holistic approach ensures well-rounded expertise in aquatic safety.
Amy Carter
Community Pools Manager - Karori Pool at Wellington City CouncilExperienced Community Recreation and Facilities Specialist with a varied history working in local government environments. Skilled in Leadership, Recreation, Sport, Coaching and Development, Facility and Asset Management, Event Management, and Team Building. Recreation manager with a Bachelor of Sport & Leisure Studies and a Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Waikato.
Lynn Cartwright
Swim Magic National Manager at CLM Support OfficeLynn Cartwright is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience at CLM, currently serving as the General Manager of Programmes and Community Engagement. Since joining the company in 2009, Lynn has been instrumental in fostering growth across CLM’s key business units, including Fitness by CLM, the Chill Out kids programmes, and SwimMagic swim school.
Her role involves not only increasing participation but also enhancing efficiency across these programmes. Lynn's commitment to the community is evident through her efforts to identify and implement streamlined solutions that deliver tangible benefits.
Recognized for her expertise in swim school management, Lynn has provided consultancy services across New Zealand, offering valuable insights and recommendations to optimize operations.
CC
Michael Clinton
Customer Success Manager - APAC at ActiveXchangeMichael’s background originates in aquatics and recreation management, having operated across the UK and Australia. Prior to joining ActiveXchange, Michael navigated the day-to-day operations of community aquatic and leisure centres within the City of Sydney for numerous years, ensuring compliance and delivery of industry best standards across aquatic safety and water education. Having followed his passion to the sports technology industry, Michael’s commitment to provide a flawless customer experience ensures organisations confidently utilise data driven decision making to inform key outcomes and maximise the impact on their local communities.
Kurt Cordice
The Global Swim Project- A Call to Action - Making J.E.D.I a core pillar of aquatic and water safety policy and practice in Aotearoa
- WORKSHOP Stories and Perspectives on the Future of Aquatics in Aotearoa - a discussion amoung Ethnic, Pacific and Māori aquatic professionals
Born and raised in Canada, Kurt is also a citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), West Indies. He
has resided in several countries around the world, including SVG, Sweden and South Korea. He has been a
resident of Aotearoa New Zealand for the past 8 years.
Kurt has 30 years of professional aquatic experience and has achieved certifications as a SCUBA/Freedive
Instructor, sailing skipper, CPR/First Aid Trainer and Swimming/Water Safety Instructor. Kurt is also an
educator with certifications in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages as well as a postgraduate
certificate in Tertiary Teaching.
Kurt leads multiple projects in Aotearoa spanning the fields of aquatics and youth education, with a
common focus on community cohesion and social justice. He is currently a PhD candidate in Sociology at
the University of Waikato, investigating social justice in aquatics via his African and West Indian ancestry.
Anita Coy-Macken
Senior Consultant at Visitor SolutionsAnita has been with Visitor Solutions Ltd for 5 years, after 20 years in local government in Auckland and Hamilton. She has broad experience across sport and recreation strategy, policy, planning and facility development. Much of Anita’s work is focused on comprehensive analysis and planning for holistic and sustainable facility development to deliver strong community outcomes.
Jemma Drake
Blind Sport New ZealandJemma is responsible for a number of key Blind Sport New Zealand community projects & programmes.
These are focused on ensuring blind, deafblind and low vision New Zealanders can engage in quality sport
and active recreation in their local community. Every day is different, and you’ll find Jemma leading
upskilling workshops, promoting our Accessible Sport Kits, coaching and delivering blind sports, or
supporting our partners at events.
Jemma has been a long standing advocate for sport and inclusion, and her event management and
programme experience from hospitality and in the disability sector spans over 15 years.
Emmett Feeley
Sustainability Manager at CLM Community Leisure ManagementEmmett has business management experience in both NZ and abroad, working in a variety of roles from running an eco apparel company to managing sustainability projects.
Since starting with CLM in 2016 as a facility manager Emmett has gained a solid understanding of our facilities and is now coupling this knowledge with his environmental studies to bring a sustainability focus to our facilities nationwide.
Rowan Foley
Aquatic Manager at Christchurch City CouncilAs Christchurch City Council’s Aquatics Manager, Rowan leads a team of over 300 people who operate the
city’s 10 aquatic facilities, and 8 paddling pools.
KF
Kristine Ford
Principal Policy Advisor at Wellington City CouncilKristine has been with Wellington City Council for 7 years. Kristine has an eclectic background in health, education, and government sectors. She has worked in policy development, research, advocacy, midwifery, international development, refugee healthcare, education, aged care, and fashion. Kristine has an eye for detail, but also able to take a strategic high-level view and enjoys taking systems thinking approaches to navigate complexity. Kristine is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa.
Daniel Gerrard
Chief Executive at Water Safety New ZealandKo Rimutaka te waka
Ko Kapukataumahaka te māunga
Ko Whakaherekau to moana
Ko Gherardini da Tusca tōku iwi
Ko Gerrard to tōku hapū
Ko David Gerrard rāua ko Barbara Mclean ōku mātua
Ko Daniel Gerrard tōku ingoa
Tēnā koutou katoa
After three years in the role of CEO at Water Safety New Zealand, Daniel Gerrard brings insightful perspectives on leadership, collaboration, and community engagement in the aquatics sector but most importantly a desire for “doing better”. Driven to make a difference, Daniel has focused in on the use of data and data science experts to help drive evidence-based change, ensuring that initiatives are both impactful and targeted. Using evidence has been key to enhancing public engagement and awareness through a strong and credible media profile.
Over the last 25 years, Daniel has held diverse leadership roles including positions in National Sports Organisations, roles in Regional Sports Trusts, international aquatic consultancy and commercial roles, as well as working within government with Sport NZ. His passion for change has also led to his involvement in national governance roles.
A passionate advocate for water safety, Daniel believes that more Kiwis, especially children, should have access to lifelong participation in sport and recreation, particularly in and around water. His ultimate goal is to make such significant strides in water safety that the need for his role diminishes, reflecting his dedication to doing better and achieving lasting, impactful change.
As a father of two fishing-mad, diving-mad, and surfing-mad sons, his unwavering dedication to ensuring that all Kiwis can enjoy our beautiful environment fuels his relentless drive for improvement.
Juanita Gilbert
Kia ora, Ko Juanita ahau, the founder and Kaiako of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wahine Diving Hunters since 2022, now with a growing membership of 1.5k locals.
We are on the path to becoming a registered charitable trust, supported by a dedicated Kaiako board that helps organise and run our rōpū.
Our kaupapa focuses on teaching and encouraging our wahine to become self-sufficient and safe in the ocean.
Karla Gunby
Active Communities Manager at Christchurch City CouncilKarla is the Active Communities Manager in the Rec and Sport Unit at Christchurch City Council. She has
managed numerous disability organisations both in New Zealand, Melbourne and London. Karla is
currently on the board of the Hapai Foundation, that bought the Access Card to New Zealand and is
increasing access for people with disabilities. She holds a Masters in Community Development from
Deakin University.
Chris Harris
CoastguardChris is a seasoned fundraising professional with over 15 years of experience across New Zealand,
Australia, and the UK. Throughout his career, Chris has held key roles with major New Zealand charities,
spearheading numerous successful fundraising campaigns and events.
His passion for making a difference drives his work. Chris firmly believes in the power of communitydriven
initiatives to effect lasting positive change.
Chris's expertise lies in strategic fundraising, event management, and fostering impactful partnerships.
His commitment to leveraging his skills and experience for meaningful causes underscores his dedication
to building stronger, healthier communities. Chris is excited to share insights into The Big Swim's potential
to leave a lasting legacy across New Zealand for many years to come.
Craig Heberley
Duty Manager - Te Rauparaha Arena and Cannons Creek Pool at Porirua City CouncilCraig Heberley has been in the Aquatics industry for nearly 12years with breaks to run a Kennels and
Cattery, work at the SPCA, LifeFlight and be a specialist police first aid trainer and paramedic.
In aquatics he started as lifeguard, twice, and has worked up through to Duty Manager, via Swim school
coordinator, at Te Rauparaha Arena Aquatic Centre, and Cannons Creek Pool, in Porirua.
Training is one of his core skills as well as coming up with ideas that will make things, easier, better or just
more fun.
Community engagement and listening to every voice is important, often the small, simple things will make
a huge change for someone, and that is what working with recreation in council can be about.
Outside of work Craig tries to spend as much time in the outdoors with family, fishing, camping,
adventuring or just chilling out.
Rob Hewitt
WSNZ and Kia Maanu Kia OraRob (Ngāti Kahungunu) is the Kaihautū of Tangaroa Ara Rau and has a wealth of knowledge and experience with 20 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy, sailing double hull Waka and, his epic story of survival and supporting organisations at a local community, hapū, iwi, and national level.
Tracey Hickman
National Learner Advisor - aquatics at Te Mahi AkoTracey is deeply passionate about the aquatics industry, having been involved in one way or another for 35 years – which makes her a perfect fit for her role as national learner advisor for the aquatics industry at Te Mahi Ako. She gained her first qualifications with Kiwi Swim, Lotto Take the Plunge, and the National Pool Lifeguard Award. Since then, continually upskilling she has gained many workplace qualifications and held various roles at not-for-profit, private, and local government organisations. Tracey is a strong advocate for workplace qualifications and the vibrant careers they empower.
Tomairangi Higgins
Healthy Families East CapeHe uri tēnei no ngā kokorū o Ngati Porou o Ngati Uepohatu i tipu ake ki roto i ngā wai o ōku mātua tīpuna.
He mokopuna au i whāngai ki te reo māori me ōna tikanga ki roto i te Kohanga Reo, i te Kura Kaupapa
Māori me te Whare Wānanga hei tikitiki mo tōku māhunga. Rarau atu ana ki ngā kupu ā tōku tipuna a
Apirana - E tipu e reo mo ngā rā o tou ao!
Tomairangi Higgins (Ngati Porou, Ngai Tai ki Torere)is the manager of Healthy Families East Cape based
in Te Tairawhiti. Educated in kohanga reo, kura kaupapa, whare wānanga and graduating at Waikato
University in 2018 with her Masters in Māori and Indigenous studies. Tomairangi is passionate about the
wellbeing of whānau, hapu and iwi.
Healthy Families is a nation wide movement based on systems change creating healthier environments
where we live, learn, work and play. Tomairangi has swam since the tender age of 5 years old. Tomairangi
and her husband James had their first pēpi Hunter Ray Pakaurangi Higgins in 2023 when Tomairangi
dreamt of Taurikura.
Tomairangi has been brought up in and around wai her whole life, she now sits on the Comet Swimming
Club board of trustees in Gisborne and utilizes her relationships and experiences to further support the
growth of māori health prevention frameworks.
Esther Hone-Moore
Water Safety New ZealandKo Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka
Ko Whiria te maunga
Ko hokianga te awa
Ko Kokohuia te marae
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
No Ōtepoti ahau
No Whangarei te kāinga
Ko Esther Hone toku ingoa
Tena Koutou, Katoa
Esther is a prominent figure in the swimming and water safety industry with over 25 years of experience,
primarily in New Zealand. Known for her charismatic and unique approach to water safety education,
Esther has delighted many with her entertaining presence.
As a dedicated advocate for holistic water safety learning, Esther imparts her extensive knowledge and
passion to support others in this field. Her leadership skills have been honed through various roles in the
aquatic industry, both nationally and internationally.
Esther brings a fresh perspective to the table, with her out-of-the-box thinking, creativity, and unwavering
enthusiasm. She is committed to ensuring that the NZ aquatic industry strengthens and expands its
knowledge in water safety, providing numerous opportunities for growth.
Donna Hooper
Te Mahi Ako- WORKSHOP Trainers Toolkit - Growing the pool lifeguard trainers resources
- WORKSHOP Trainers Toolkit - continued
Te Mahi Ako: Specialist in Work-Based Learning for Active Recreation, Leisure, and Entertainment
Industries
Te Mahi Ako is a leading tertiary education organisation dedicated to providing specialized work-based
learning programs for individuals working in the active recreation, leisure, and entertainment sectors. Our
mission is to empower professionals with the practical skills, knowledge, and expertise required to excel in
their respective fields.
Richard Hutchinson
RSL ConsultancyRichard is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the Sport and Recreation sector. He has a diverse background, having worked in commercial organisations, local government, and not-for-profit entities. His consultancy journey began in 1998 in the UK, and he has continued this work in the sector in New Zealand since 2005.
Throughout his career, Richard has played a significant role in the development of various National and Regional Facility Strategies. He specialise in understanding the changing demographic and trends analysis and has expertise in sport business and financial modelling, facility demand analysis and utilisation modelling, sport, recreation and open space planning and feasibility.
Before joining his current position at RSL, Richard was Director at Global Leisure Group since 2015 becoming Managing Director in 2023. Notably, he has taken a leading role in shaping critical strategies such as the National Aquatic Facility Strategy and the National Indoor Active Recreation and Sport Facilities Strategy.
Kirsty Knowles
CLMKirsty is a Director/General Manager of Operations at Community Leisure Management (CLM), Trustee of Community Leisure Charitable Trust, Board Member of Recreation Aotearoa and Director of Skills Active Aotearoa. Kirsty is directly involved in business development, governance, and strategic planning. She is also skilled in operations, health and safety, human resources, and facility management. She oversees a number of facilities and works closely with Councils across the motu in her role with CLM. Kirsty won the Recreation Aotearoa Emerging Leader in 2010 and the Paul Stuart Memorial Award in 2019
Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis
Hutt City CouncilTui has always been involved in the community in one form or another and through this involvement, she was introduced to the local government. For three terms now Tui has represented and advocated for the Harbour Ward and is proud to be doing so again this triennium along with being Deputy Mayor.
Tui has been self-employed for 20 years before becoming a Councillor and has experience in hospitality and retail, her last role before going full-time on Council was supporting her husband in his contingency planning business.
Tui's happy places are long walks in Belmont regional park, enjoying the solitude of a beach walk, the garden, and sharing a meal with friends and family.
Stella McGann
Data Scientist at Water Safety New ZealandStella McGann is a recent graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, where she completed a degree majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. For the last year of her degree, she worked at Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) as a data science intern. During this time, she worked on fatality and accident data modelling and analysed the data using R and SQL - the former being an open-source statistical coding language. Upon completion of her degree she accepted a role as a fulltime data scientist within the Data and Insights team at WSNZ where she provide insights to internal and external partners and stakeholders on the demographics and causes of New Zealand's drownings.
Glenn McGovern
Spaces & Places Consultant at Sport New Zealand- A Refreshed Strategy - Findings and recommendations from the review of the National Aquatic Facilities Strategy
- WORKSHOP Sustainable Facilities Guide - Futureproofing your facilities
Glenn worked for 30 years in the parks, sport and recreation sector in Local Government. Since 2019 he
has been working for Sport New Zealand, where he now leads the Spaces & Places team.
Glenn is a keen tramper, ocean swimmer, cyclist and tennis player. He is also actively involved in pest
control and is an active backyard trapper.
Jack Milford QSM
Managing Director of OPSECAs Founder and Managing Director of OPSEC Solutions Ltd, Jack offers experience across all aspects of security, crisis risk management and training in the personal safety for our people.
In 2005, Jack formed OPSEC as a risk management company providing security risk reviews, frontline staff safety consultancy and situational safety training to manage conflict and instil resilience in times of crisis, violence, robbery, or disaster.
Jack’s expertise comes from 35+ years serving in the NZ Defence, NZ Police, and specialist operations in high-risk environments abroad. He was awarded the Queens Service Medal in 2000 for his work with the United Nations in East Timor and for organising donated goods from NZ to aid their vulnerable citizens and villages.
Devon Murphy-Davids
Inspiring StoriesDevon is Māori- Irish and is an expert in thought leadership, Youth Development and community empowerment, with over 18 years of experience. Devon has 10 years experience in senior management teams, building workplace culture. She is known for leadership that is focused on a balance of strong interpersonal skills, problem-solving and results oriented. Devon believes that great leadership is not having the answers, but having the right questions. She is passionately driven to see every person in this nation feel valued, having an equal opportunity to flourish into their full potential.
Sarah Murray
Recreation AotearoaSarah is our Kaiwhakahaere Matua Chief Executive. Her role is to lead Recreation Aotearoa towards Te
Pae Tawhiti / our mission Te Whai Oranga – enhancing wellbeing through recreation. Her focus is to
ensure we deliver quality programmes and services that support, empower, and inspire our members and
stakeholders, and that Recreation Aotearoa is a strong voice for recreation in New Zealand.
Sarah joined Recreation Aotearoa in March 2023. Prior to this she worked for central and local government
in roles that saw her working across parks and open spaces, outdoors, community recreation, sport and
play. She has held several sector governance roles. She was a founding trustee of the Shift Foundation,
and a Board member of Recreation Aotearoa and WORD Youth Adventures. She is also a long-standing
committee member for Revolve, a (mostly) non-competitive cycling club focused on getting more women
on bikes.
A keen swimmer, cyclist, kayaker and tramper, in her spare time she loves getting active and connecting
with our natural environments.
Tamsin O'Sullivan
Drowning Prevention AucklandTamsin O’Sullivan, Marketing & Engagement Manager, BA (Hons) International Public Relations and French
Tamsin has 17 years’ experience in marketing and project management roles. As a keen open water
swimmer, she is passionate about encouraging people to enjoy the water safely.
Her professional career has been largely spent in the education sector – with UK and NZ experience
1
leading teams in the marketing, recruitment and development of international business programmes. Prior
to joining DPA in 2022, she worked in the Clients & Marketing team at Deloitte NZ with roles in both the
corporate and private business space.
Tamsin has supported campaigns and events for charitable organisations in the UK, New Zealand and
Peru and is a British/Peruvian New Zealander.
Katie Owen
Recreation AotearoaKatie is passionate about enhancing opportunities for people with disabilities to be active across Aotearoa. As Recreation Aotearoa's Disability and Inclusion Programme Manager, she leads a national initiative to develop and champion standards, guidelines and advice to the active recreation sector, to ultimately improve access to recreation places and spaces for people with disabilities. Katie has a Bachelor of Physical Education from the Otago University, and Masters in disability coach education at the University of Waikato. She is also a recent Alumni of the Global Sports Mentoring Programme delivered by the University of Tennessee Centre for Sport, Peace and Society.
Andrew Quinn
Hutt City CouncilAndrew Quinn is the client project manager for Hutt City Council and responsible for the rejuvenation of
the Naenae Town Centre. Named Whakatupu Ngaengae, the project aims to bring sustainable growth to
the area, through capital investment in social infrastructure.
The catalyst for this growth is the new Naenae Pool and Fitness Centre which has been designed with
efficiency of operation in mind, using the environmental (Greenstar) targets set by the Green House
Building Council.
Holly Ramsay
Clutha District CouncilHolly Ramsay is the Aquatic Services Team Leader for the Clutha District Council, where her aquatics career started more than twenty years ago as a lifeguard at 16. She currently runs a year-round facility in Balclutha and a seasonal summer pool in Milton.
She’s a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, and it’s not unusual to find her in the plant room tinkering, in the water swim-teaching, lifeguarding poolside, or in the office (where she’s supposed to be) trying to get her day-to-day work completed. She also enjoys getting out and about around the Otago/Southland area working as a senior assessor mentor for Te Mahi Ako and mentoring/assessing the new lifeguard assesors. As well as having completed the Senior Lifeguard Apprenticeship, she’s also been assessing it for the last few years.
When not working, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and seeking out new adventures ... normally in a warmer climate.
Terina Raureti
University of OtagoMy name is Terina Raureti and I am from Ōtaki. I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow funded through Coastal People Souther Skies Centre of Research Excellence. I am based in Te Koronga, in the Centre of Indigenous Science at the University of Otago, but live in Ōtaki working with my own whānau, hapū and kura to achieve our wai aspirations. Currently, I am working towards delivering Kura Kauora, a whānau lead swimming initiative that will be incorporated into Te Kura-ā-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano with the potential to have uptake in Kura-ā-iwi and Kura Kaupapa Māori across Aotearoa. I am also a member of Tangaroa Ara Rau, a collective of Māori water safety practitioners and researchers where I lead out on our kauora and swimming stream. We work together to achieve the aspirations of whānau, hapū and iwi in relation to the wai.
Christopher Rivera
Symbiotic ConsultancyAn aquatics expert who has been successful in creating and leading several successful teams, and
mentor and empower others to continue the journey.
Witnessing and being a part of numerous emergencies and critical incidents, his life experience has
assisted in creating in-service trainings with meaning and purpose.
Mentoring leaders to steer away from the norm, and create stronger onboarding processes to allow teams
to become connected and be more confident in their roles.
Matthew Stockton
Te Mahi Ako- WORKSHOP Trainers Toolkit - Growing the pool lifeguard trainers resources
- WORKSHOP Trainers Toolkit - continued
Matt has been working in the aquatics sector for 16 years, starting as a lifeguard and working his way through many roles including team leader, operational support, lifeguard trainer and assessor.
Matt is passionate about training and is enjoying bringing his years of practical experience into his role as a Regional Learner Advisor at Te Mahi Ako.
Liz Van Deventer
Group Health & Safety Manager at Belgravia Health & Leisure GroupStarting out as an Occupational Therapist Liz quickly found her path into Health and Safety, gaining Masters Qualifications in Ergonomics Safety and Health. After working in a variety of industries, Liz’s role as the Group Health and Safety Manager at Belgravia has returned her to her early passion of learn to swim and human movement.
At Belgravia Liz leads the consistent implementation of the Belgravia ‘Think Safe Act Safe Be Safe’ methodology. Whilst ensuring compliance to both legislated and Organisational expectations, Liz has a passion for optimising business outcomes by incorporating psychosocial factors in the creation of a great safety culture, whereby the wellbeing and safety of all people is prioritised’.
Shayla Whaiapu
Operations Manager at Hamilton City CouncilMy Name is Shayla Whaiapu. I have been a part of the Aquatics Industry for 14 years. Like many I have
grown up in the industry. I have tried almost all roles that you would normally come across when visiting
an aquatics Centre. From Lifeguarding, Learn to swim instructing, group fitness, customer service, pool &
plant, training & assessing and now leadership & management. I have to say I'm a lifeguard at heart and
still to this day where my whistle every day. Unfortunately, I grew up with a lot of hardship and didn't get to
enjoy aquatic facilities and the opportunities that come with it because my family couldn't afford it.
Thankfully through getting to work in the industry I I've experienced it all. I have had a great career to date,
with many things I can celebrate as success, and I feel this has been the result of key people & skills
invested in making that all possible for me. I am dedicated to providing the same for my team and the
generations to come.
Dr Tina van Duijn
University of OtagoDr Tina van Duijn is fascinated by the unconscious: Her research investigates information processing and memory processes that affect motor skill learning and performance. Her initial work focused on implicit learning paradigms and their effect on a learner’s brain activity. Recently, Dr van Duijn has been applying skill acquisition concepts to practical fields such as sport, older people’s activities of daily living, water safety competencies, and first aid. Tina has worked with Water Safety New Zealand and the Swiss Lifesaving Society to investigate learning of aquatic and lifesaving skills.
Royce Williams
Upper Hutt City CouncilHi, I'm Royce Williams. I'm the Recreation Services Manager at Upper Hutt City Council.
I have been working in the aquatic and recreation area for a long time and have a passion for developing
staff, center's and creating better communities for the people.
I have been an active member of recreation in Wellington for many years and have received the APro
accreditation from Recreation Aotearoa.
I enjoy the difference we can make in a community and the lifestyles of people through the work we do.
Scott Wilson
Swim PeopleScott Wilson brings to WAVES2024 learnings from over
40 years in the swim school industry, with significant experience on both sides of the Tasman.
Swim teacher, coach, leader, successful swim school owner, working across public and private venues, in
large and small swim schools, an engaging qualification trainer, highly regarded conference speaker and
everything in between; Scott’s experiences across all aspects of the swim school scene is second to none
in New Zealand.
Scott knows it is the people who are the number one asset of all aquatic venues. The programmes, the
processes, and the performances are the result of ‘the people’.
KPI - Keep People Informed.
KPI - Keep People Interested.
KPI - Keep People Involved.
KPI - Keep People Inspired.
Hear Scott share his thoughts on the gift of both receiving and giving feedback.
Kiri Winiata-Enoka
Kapiti Coast District CouncilKia ora my name is Kiri and I have been a part of the Ōtaki Aquatics team for two years. I am a Team Leader, Learn to Swim Instructor and most recently a Kauora kaimahi. I am enjoying the opportunity of being able to work in a programme with Māori, for Māori.
Carmena Wong
Auckland City CouncilCarmena, Auckland Council Pools and Leisure Training Facilitator Co-ordinator, has been part of the wider Te Mahi Ako whānau since 2013, assessing and mentoring learners in aquatics, facility operations, recreation, sport, and SELO qualifications, as well as supporting new assessors.
Carmena has held a variety of roles over the years, from frontline to management, across the not-for-profit, private, and local government sectors. She’s passionate about mentoring, training, nurturing, and supporting people from all walks of life, especially in the aquatics industry, and has been supporting peoples’ professional development for nearly 30 years.
A lifelong learner, Carmena is currently completing her NZ Apprenticeship Senior Pool Lifeguard Level 4, with the goal of providing more support, guidance, and mentoring to lifeguards in Aotearoa.
When she’s not working, you’ll usually find Carmena enjoying time with her whānau and friends.
Nick Yannakis
Beca- The Sustainability Oxymoron - Hutt City Council's decarbonisation journey
- WORKSHOP Sustainable Facilities Guide - Futureproofing your facilities
Nick Yannakis is a Director at Beca, an employee-owned professional services firm based in New Zealand. Nick has over 15 years of experience specialising in the engineering design and operation of aquatic facilities, having worked on over 200 projects across New Zealand and Australia. Aquatic facilities are different from typical commercial buildings and require customised design consideration. Aquatic facilities are energy intensive, making them particularly relevant with the climate change response and ever-increasing energy prices, aquatic facilities have become centre of attention for most councils. Nick and his team have a breadth of knowledge and understand the nuances of aquatic facilities, how they are operated, and how to optimise energy performance. Through the work Nick and his team have been doing, they created proprietary energy software to analyse and optimise energy consumption in aquatic facilities. This has enabled a far more in-depth understanding of where the energy is used, helping decarbonise or reduce operational energy costs in existing facilities and design new facilities to meet the needs of the future.