Starring

KimMorrison Keynote
Kim Morrison

Best Selling Author and Motivational Speaker

BIO


Kim Morrison is a 5 times best-selling, award-winning author, founder of Twenty8 Essentials, an aromatherapist, health and lifestyle educator, mentor, Master NLP Practitioner and Time Line therapist, Advanced Hypnotherapist and a multi-tasking wife and mum. With two aspiring athletic children, one a ballerina and the other a rugby player, Kim is married to former NZ Cricketer Danny Morrison who, as a family, moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2006.

With athletic goals herself, she played netball well into her 40’s and proudly represented Auckland from 1983-1986. Kim took up the crazy sport of ultra marathon running in her early 20’s and set a world record as the youngest female to run 100miles in less than 24 hours. She went on to represent Australia at the world indoor 24 hour championships in the UK where she set 8 Australian records in 1990.

Close

IMG 0506 Scaled
Dr Bruce Allender


BIO


Bruce has been involved with Masters Swimming for over 40 years, swimming competitively in several Masters Clubs in Victoria, with particular loyalty to the Malvern Masters Swimming Club. But our coaches need know the particular requirements of older swimmers. This led to Bruce’s involvement in coaching and the many rewarding interactions with swimmers at all levels of abilities as they embark on their swimming adventures. Bruce has been club coach at several Victorian Clubs and more recently in SE Queensland for 15 years including the role of Director of Coaching in the Victorian and Queensland Branches of Masters Swimming Australia. The National Coaching Committee of Masters Swimming Australia, on which Bruce served as Chair for 10 years and now remains as a committee member, drives the training and accreditation of Masters Club Coaches.
Continuing to develop relationships with SCTA is a key objective of Masters Swimming Australia, to provide opportunities for Masters and Age-Group Coaches to work and learn together.

Close

Richard Sleight 2023 Scaled
Richard Sleight

SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia Age Group Coach of the Year 2022

BIO

Qualifications:

  • Physical Education Degree
  • Masters in Sports Coaching
  • Gold License accredited coach

Teaching/Coaching:

  • Physical Education Teacher at Queen Elizabeth Boys Grammar School in Barnet, London. Was also Head of House & Form Tutor
  • England Schools Under 16 Head Water Polo Coach
  • Sports Coach at Institute Montana in Zugerberg, Switzerland
  • Head Coach at Clayfield Aquatics
  • Assistant Coach to Matt Brown at Nudgee College
  • Head Coach at Albany Creek
  • Senior National Age Head Coach at St.Peters Lutheran College

Close

Tracey Schultz

Clare Burton

Jason Helwig

John Morrison 1 Scaled
John Morrison BSc

Bachelor of Science Degree, Double Major; Marine Biology, Sustainable Resource Management

BIO


With over 10+ years of valuable experience in the aquatic industry, John has been instrumental in providing expert advice and training to Councils, Health Departments, and professionals.
His expertise spans both the water testing and water treatment sectors, allowing him to offer comprehensive solutions and insights.
John has also contributed significantly to water testing and treatment research efforts, conducting laboratory experiments and fieldwork, particularly in collaboration with NSW Fisheries. His contributions have been recognised through the publication of research findings in reputable scientific journals.

Close

LD
Lydia Dowse

National Integrity Manager at Swimming Australia

BIO


Lydia is the National Integrity Manager at Swimming Australia where she manages all areas of integrity including anti-doping and anti-corruption, child safeguarding, member protection, behavioral standards and general dispute resolution. She is a current Director of Bowls Australia and Cricket Victoria.

Lydia began her career as a sports lawyer, acting for the Australian Olympic Committee, before moving into sports administration. Her first role was General Manager of National Soccer League Club, Sydney Olympic, making her the first woman to manage a professional soccer club in Australia. Since then, Lydia has held executive roles in football (soccer) and AFL football in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. She has also held senior positions in the Victorian and West Australian State Government’s events agencies.

In addition to her fulltime roles Lydia has taught part-time to sport management and sports law students at four universities- Melbourne University, University of Technology Sydney, Edith Cowan University and Deakin University.
Lydia is a mentor of young women in sport through the Minerva Network and the Australian Sports Commission.
Lydia has a law/arts (hons) degree from the University of Melbourne and a Masters degree in sport management from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Close

IMG 20200205 WA0005
Mike Burman

Institute of Aquaphobia

BIO

Close

Leslie Donavan 500x500 1
Leslie Donavan

CEO – Star Fish Aquatics Institute and President of IFSTA

BIO


Close

Scott Photo
Scott Elliott CMgr FIML

Complaints and Compliance Manager – Swimming Australia

BIO


Scott is the Complaints and Compliance Manager at Swimming Australia where he has designated functions under the Sport Integrity Australia policy framework, and other organisational policies. His role includes managing the Accreditation Framework.

Scott commenced his career as an Intelligence Analyst with Victoria Police and was embedded in Investigative and Intelligence Units. He then moved onto other State and Federal Government roles managing regulatory functions including complaints, investigations and intelligence led frameworks.

As a Fellow at the Institute of Leaders and Managers, Scott is a Chartered Manager with a proven record of integrity and ethical practice, while helping others manage positive change.

Close

Head Shot
Ryan Hodierne


BIO


Ryan has worked in high performance sport for a little over 13 years. He is currently employed at the Queensland Academy of Sport as Senior Movement Scientist at the Sunshine Coast Swimming Hub. Ryan has experience across multiple sports within the sport sciences both in a practical and collaborative sense, extending from youth development to elite level ability. With a primary interest in skill and technique development and progression planning, Ryan’s passion lies in analyzing and recognizing athlete strengths and exploit their ability. From a primary contribution to Swimming QLD, Ryan regularly contributes to the Australian Dolphins Swim Team across both Olympic and Paralympic swimming programs.

Close

Rj
RJ Houston

General Manager | Capability & Industry – Royal Life Saving Society Australia

BIO


RJ is the General Manager – Capability & Industry at Royal Life Saving Australia. RJ’s role at Royal Life Saving focusses on industry development and capability, bringing industry, community and government organisations together to develop joint strategies and guidance, as well as advocating the industry’s impact and importance. RJ has worked in aquatics for 18 years across local government, non-profits, aquatic facility management organisations and peak bodies. At RLSSA, RJ oversees a number of portfolios including Education, Training & Workforce Development, Industry Safety, Inland Waterway Projects & Lifesaving Development . RJ is currently studying a Master of Business Administration (Social Impact) at the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales.

RJ’s presentation will cover off on the who, what, why and how of the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations – what aquatic facility owners and operators need to know.

Close

Rhiannon Kocmar 1
Rhiannon Kocmar


BIO


Rhiannon has been teaching and coaching swimming for 27 years in Canberra Australia ranging from babies 6 weeks of age to Olympic triathletes over this time. Her passion is training the next generation of swim teachers to be the best they can be. Rhiannon holds her Swim Australia™ Teachers, Babies & Toddlers, Foundation Coach, and is a trainer of all these courses for Swim Australia™ as well as a bronze medallion examiner and CPR trainer with Royal Life Saving ACT. Rhiannon holds Diamond level teacher recognition from Swim Australia™, and has also been a guest speaker at the international Swim schools spectacular in Singapore in 2020 and the SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia 2018 and 2022 conference.

Close

Leigh Nugent
Leigh Nugent

Nicole Webster Img
Nicole Webster

Executive General Manager – Nunawading Swimming Club

BIO


Nicole is the Executive General Manager for Nunawading Swimming Club one of Australia’s oldest high performance swimming clubs and the #1 Victorian Swimming Club 2020, 2021, 2022.

Nicole leads an organisation of 120 staff, 500 plus swimming club members and four swim schools under the commercial operation of Just Swimming.

For over 18 years Nicole has held leadership roles in the Aquatic Industry and has a passion for swimming at all levels. Her extensive experience spans most aspects of Aquatics and Business Management and although today, her leadership focus is in general management, Nicole is always a swimming teacher at heart.

Outside of work Nicole enjoys horse riding, coaches her sons basketball team and has a large collection of indoor plants.

Close

DuncanArmstrong Keynote
Duncan Armstrong OAM

Olympic Gold Medalist and Media Personality

BIO


Join us as we welcome one of our Olympic legends, Gold Medallist Duncan Armstrong.

Duncan became a household name when he claimed one of only three Olympic Gold medals Australia won at the Seoul Games in 1988, alongside hurdler Debbie Flintoff-King and the Australian Hockeyroos.

Duncan broke the 200 freestyle World Record to win Australia’s 100th medal in Olympic competition. Coached and mentored by the charismatic and unstoppable Laurie Lawrence, Duncan’s career in the pool spanned 10 years in the Green and Gold.

Since retiring from competitive swimming, Duncan has received a host of national honours out of the pool including an Order of Australia Medal and the Young Australian of the Year.

Nowadays Duncan divides his time between raising his five kids with his wife Rebecca, an executive coaching and motivation consultancy, and numerous charitable commitments across the country.

A truly inspirational Australian, with a truly inspirational story.

Close

A25I5327 Copy Scaled
Laurie Lawrence


BIO


Close

Alena Sarri
Alena Sarri

Owner operator of Aquatots Swim Schools Canberra and NSW.

BIO


I have been teaching swimming for 25 years and specialise in infant aquatics. I absolutely love introducing parents and their new babies to the aquatic environment and all of the physical and mental development benefits this has not only for the babies but for their parents as well.
I have travelled the world to explore the different methods and ideas behind baby swim and have shared and gained information from the best there is in the field.
I have spoken in Iceland at the Nordic Baby Swim conference, Austria at the Austrian Baby Swim Association conference, in Singapore for ISSA and at previous ASCTA conferences on the Gold Coast.
I am the owner operator of Aquatots Swim Schools in Australia, we have been operating for over 21 years and currently teach over 7300 children for weekly swim lessons with over 3000 of these being under the age of 3 years.

Close

Cam Gledhill Scaled
Cameron Gledhill


BIO


Currently Head Coach of Warringah Aquatic Swim Club. Team Coach for Youth Commonwealth Games. Australian Junior Open Water Team Coach. Coached athletes to medals in every stroke and distance at Age nationals across 2022/23. Australia Para team coach. Coach of IPC Worlds medallist. Swam at the Virginia Tech in the US, 4 Time All -American as a swimmer. Degrees in both Psychology and Exercise Physiology.

Close

Shannon Townsend
Shannon Townsend


BIO


With over 20 years of experience in the Aquatic industry, Shannon loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with others. She is known for playing SWIM SAFER songs on her ukulele and leading ‘Swim, Play, Explore’ travel experiences in Vietnam and the Caribbean. Shannon has been recognised with the Diamond Level Swim Teacher and Presenter of Distinction awards.

Shannon manages Glennie Aquatics in Toowoomba and has previously established and operated two swim schools in South East QLD. She is a qualified yoga instructor with degrees in Human Movements, Leisure Management and Business. She has worked in leading health retreats, resorts, and recreation centres. With her solid experience, Shannon delivers entertaining and informative presentations, allowing participants to feel at ease, encouraging curiosity and fun.

Close

Jol Finck

Rohan Taylor 1 Scaled
Rohan Taylor

Abbie Fish 1
Abbie Fish

Founder/Technique Coach – Swim Like A. Fish

BIO


International superstar Abbie Fish is the Founder/Technique Coach of Swim Like A. Fish.

Abbie started Swim Like A. Fish in 2019 after 25 years of success in competitive swimming and 10+ years and counting of elite swim coaching. During her swimming career, Abbie tried out for the Olympics, was a 6x Olympic Trial Qualifier, SEC Finalist, NCAA Qualifier, and 2x USA Junior National Champion. On top of that, Abbie started coaching as they were in graduate school and still training. It was a natural transition for them from being the one in the water – to – the one on deck.

Abbie is a University of Georgia “Double Dawg” – where they swam and graduated with their M.S. and B.S. degrees in Exercise Science. Abbie is a big swimming nerd at heart, and loves everything when it comes to stroke mechanics, underwater video, and swimming technique. Abbie’s goal with Swim Like A. Fish is to help any coach or swimmer (no matter their age) get faster through stroke technique education.

Close

DrJustinCoulson Keynote
Dr Justin Coulson

Co-host Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance and Founder of Happy Families

BIO


Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance, the founder of happyfamilies.com.au, and one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts.

Over the past decade he has helped innumerable families with his 6 books about raising children, his hundreds of media appearances (including all of Australia’s major news outlets, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times), and two viral videos that have been viewed a combined 80 million times!

Justin earned his PhD in Psychology from the University of Wollongong. He and his wife Kylie have been married since the late 1990s and are the parents of 6 daughters.

Close

Hoppo Headshot
Bruce Hopkins

Bondi Rescue and Float To Survive Australia

BIO


Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins is one of the world’s most influential and recognised Lifeguards, a well-respected water sportsman and Australian media personality.

As a professional lifeguard who has worked for over 30 years and the most resuscitations to any other lifeguard.

As Bondi’s Head Lifeguard, Hopkins has appeared in seventeen seasons of the hit television show, Bondi Rescue. The Ten Network show is based around the Lifeguard Service at Bondi Beach following the numerous rescues and day-to-day activities. The hugely successful show now airs in over 130 countries worldwide and has won six Logie Awards to date and was nominated in 2022 for ‘Most Popular Lifestyle Television Show’.

Close

Darren Holder
Darren Holder


BIO


Darren is the Managing Director Coaching Better, a program with resources and mentorship designed to widely promote better coaching skills. Darren was an Elite Coaching Manager for Cricket Australia from 2014 -2019, a former Coaching Director for Brisbane Grammar and has worked with Cricket West Indies, Cricket India and coaches of the Australian Flipper Swimming Squad.

Close

Janelle Head Shot
Janelle Pallister OLY

Co Head Coach Griffith University

BIO


Janelle has been involved in swimming since five years of age. During her swimming career Janelle competed at the 1988 Olympic Games, and represented Australia at the 1990 Commonwealth Games taking home Gold, Silver and Bronze as well as being the flag bearer at the games. She has also competed at Pan Pacs winning Gold, Silver and Bronze and has held numerous Australian titles.

With a break from the industry of 15 years while she was a Flight Attendant, Janelle started teaching learn to swim 18 years ago at her children’s swim school, and eventually found her passion in coaching. As a coach Janelle has been a Qld Teams Coach, and coached on four Junior Australian Teams, as well as being a mentor Coach, and Head Coach. Other career success includes: coaching a Triple Junior World Champion with three Championship Records and Female Swimmer of the Meet. She is currently Co-Coach of the Gold Coast High Performance Hub alongside Michael Bohl.

Close

Therese Headshot
Therese Dogra

Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

BIO


Therese is a proud mamma first and also a social and cultural anthropologist, diversity and inclusion consultant, non-executive director, founder of Collaborative Culture and transformation specialist. Therese strives to partner with as many people as she can to create inclusive communities that enable equity and access for all, whether that be through inclusion in sport and recreation, economic participation, safe workplaces or wider citizenship participation. Therese’s passion for equity and belonging is what drives her to achieve excellent outcomes for her clients, their customers, and the wider community with lived experience voices at the centre. Coupled with extensive senior leadership experience in a multitude of sectors including, disability, allied health, aged, employment services, family violence, and child protection. Therese is currently leading a national inclusive sports project with a consortium of assistive technology providers to build sustainable pathways to participation for people living with a disability in regional communities.

Close

Wendy Ross


BIO


Close

Debby Tattoli
Debby Tattoli


BIO


With more than 30 years’ experience, Debby is a Silver License Coach, Swim Australia Course Presenter, Swim Australia Advisory Committee member and asctaNSW board member.

An accomplished and driven professional, Debby has a passion for all things swimming.

As a business owner, head coach, active teacher and course presenter, Debby has expertise across a broad range of aquatic industry issues.

She oversees 6 Swim Schools with over 120 staff and is dedicated to providing rewarding career opportunities and professional development to continually upskill her team and the broader swimming community.

Debby is also the Head Coach of Kincumber Pacific Dolphins Swim Team and has produced multiple State and National Representatives, medalists and record holders.

Close

Amy Headshot For Beijing
Amy Griffith


BIO


Amy has been involved in the swimming industry for the past 30 years as both a swimmer and an industry professional. Amy is currently employed as the Swim School Coordinator at Genesis Sports & Aquatics, is a Swimming Queensland trainer for Participation Programs and runs out SCTA Courses throughout Queensland.
Amy’s vast expertise in the industry has seen her work across three states in many varying capacities. Amy started her working career as a swim coach and swim teacher and soon evolved to become a Head Coach. Amy has been a Development Officer for Swimming Northern Territory; she has managed and set up Swim Schools; and she has become a Trainer/Mentor for swimming and aquatic courses passing on her passion and expertise.

Amy will be travelling to Beijing in November with the SWIM team as a presenter for SWIMCON Beijing.

Close

Carol Fox 069 Scaled
Carol Fox

Ambassador World Life Saving Championships 2024

BIO


As the former President of Women Sport Australia (WSA), Carol is a respected leader and advocate for women in sport. She champions equality in sport and supported the re-launch of the WSA Mentoring Program whilst delivering Women in Sport Leadership Masterclasses for coaches and administrators at all levels in sport. Carol is also a popular speaker on the topic of Male Allyship and the important role it plays in sport and business in supporting women leaders.
Carol is the co-author of the book Confident Communication for Leaders and the creator and founder of the program inspired by the book. Through her work, she helps sport leaders and coaches at all levels of Australian Sport eliminate self-doubt and build more confidence, leading to positive interactions and successful outcomes for their athletes.
Carol’s expertise and experience earned her recognition as an Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence in 2020 and her other roles include:

Deputy President Surf Life Saving Queensland.
Director Gold Coast Academy of Sport.
Ambassador Life Saving World Championships 2024.
Ambassador Victoria University Women in Sport Research.
Patron of the AFL Premiership Players Club.
Mentor & Facilitator AFL She Can Coach Project.
Ambassador Wattle Nest – Athlete Empowerment

Close

Billsweetenham
Bill Sweetenham AM

Coaching Legend and SWIMCON23 special guest

BIO


Bill Sweetenham’s illustrious career spans over 40 years during which he served as Head Coach of national swimming teams at five Olympic Games for three different countries. Bill has coached swimmers to success at 9 World Championships and 8 Commonwealth Games – achievements which have been acknowledged and celebrated by inductions into the International Hall of Fame and the International Swim Coaches Association. Bill is internationally recognised for his visionary strategic planning capabilities and for the success he has achieved as a result of his discipline and pursuit of excellence.

Close

David Pyne
David Pyne


BIO


Professor David Pyne is a sports physiologist with 35 years of experience in elite-level swimming. He attended four Olympic Games, and is currently involved with both emerging and international swimmers and coaches. Pyne enjoyed a 30 year career as a swimming scientist with the Australian Swimming team and the Australian Institute of Sport across age-group, Olympic and Paralympic programs. This work involved fitness testing, training design and interventions, coach and athlete support, coach education, and applied research. Pyne’s research work in the areas of exercise and the immune system, environmental physiology, and fitness and conditioning for sports, exercise and physical activity is recognised internationally. He maintains a national and international network of swimming coaches and scientists. Pyne was Foundation Editor of the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance from 2004-2009, and currently serves as an Editor Emeritus. Pyne is a member of Sports Medicine Australia, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, and a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Close

Tiff Scaled
Tiffany Oldrey


BIO


Close

Dave Candler 500x500 1
Dave Candler

CEO – Swimming Teachers’ Association UK and CEO of IFSTA

BIO


Dave has been involved in teaching swimming and leisure management for over 20 years. Prior to becoming CEO, Dave worked for ten years as the Operations, Swimming and Training Manager at one of the largest publicly run swim schools in the country. It was there where he gained valuable, insightful front-line experience of the leisure industry. He also worked as an STA tutor, training many hundreds (if not thousands) of teachers and gained multiple qualifications that support his role today at STA.

Close

Brendon Ward Full Portrait
Brendon Ward

CEO – SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia and Vice President of IFSTA

BIO


Close

Kayle Brightwell 500x500 1
Kaylë Brightwell

Secretary – IFSTA

BIO


Kaylë has been a swimming teacher for 23 years and specialises in baby and pre-school swimming. With 19 years tutoring experience, she is passionate about encouraging people to learn to swim and be safe in water. She has spoken internationally about the importance of learning to swim within a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment with participants at the centre of the lesson. She managed a swim school before joining STA in 2012. Recently appointed as the Director of Education at STA Kaylë heads up the Qualification Development team, creating fit for purpose, high quality training qualifications, as well as supporting the expanding Approved Training Centre workforce to ensure compliance and quality assurance for learners and employers across the sector.

Close

Gary Barclay

Eve Fraser
Eve Fraser jp (Qual); B.Bus; PHF

Founder of the Global Aquatic Project
2020 USQ Alumnus of the Year
2022 Paul Harris Fellow
2023 Award for remarkable contribution to children in Norther Thailand

BIO


Eve has been an aquatic educator for over 40 years. She holds a business degree and is a qualified counsellor having spent the last 10 years working with the United Nations. Eve owned and operated her own swim school for over 20 years and has a unique skill set combining behaviour management, biomechanics and teaching development strategies to address fear, language barriers and diverse abilities in the pool. Eve is passionate about water safety and educating children to ensure they have the skills to take responsibility and be prepared to take action when in on and around water. Eve first visited Thailand in 2003 and has regularly returned to ensure there are sufficient qualified teachers to run programs to an international standard. On 25 July 2022 Eve chartered the first cause-based Water Safety & Drowning Prevention Rotary club. The club is being hailed as the most significant program to address water safety and drowning prevention on a global scale. Eve says she loves the Thai people and is happy to be back training the next generation of aquatic educators.

Close

SAMUELSON Kyle SPO HS 21 CAV 1791 Scaled
Kyle Samuelson

Bp 2
Barry Prime

Chris Dellit Scaled
Christine Dellit


BIO


Chris was coached in the early 70’s in Mt. Isa by former Olympic Coach Bill Sweetenham. She opened her first swim school in 1980 in North Queensland and began a lifelong journey in teaching children & educating teachers on how to learn to swim.

After 40 years of experience in the Learn To Swim industry as a swim school owner, manager, teacher, teacher trainer, program developer, facility designer and industry consultant, she now travels the world sharing her knowledge through consulting, training & educating.

As an award winning industry expert, her program has produced Olympians & World Record Holders. Through her “no tears” policy she is passionate about educating babies, children, parents & educators on the safe, gentle & proven methods of learning to swim.

Today she spends her time between North Queensland & the Gold Coast visiting her sons & grandchildren.

As the Program Director of Little Snappers Swim Schools, together with her son Mark and his wife Mai, she continues to educate her team and expand access to gentle Learn To Swim lessons across Queensland. She is an active member of Swim Australia & ASSA. When she is not teaching she enjoys travel, real estate & spending time with her grandchildren.

Close

Chris Jones

Gary Toner
Gary Toner

Brendon Keogh
Brendan Keogh


BIO


Brendan Keogh has been working in the Aquatic Industry for 34 years. During this time, he has been Head Coach of three clubs (Scarborough SSASC, Ferny Hills, and Genesis Aquatics); he has had his own swim school; he has had the lease on an Aquatic Centre (Ferny Hills); he has worked for Swimming Australia (Paralympic Head Coach) and over the last decade has worked at Genesis Christian College and is the Director of Genesis Sport & Aquatics.

Close

Harley Connolly Award
Harley Connolly

Greg Towle 23 Open Nats
Greg Towle

KateSparkes
Kate Sparkes

Jack Roper Photo
Jack Roper


BIO


Jack Roper has been actively working in the Aquatic Industry for over 15 years and is currently the Aquatic Program Director for Just Swimming. Jack started his career through a traineeship and after completing a bachelor’s degree in sports coaching, with the intent to pursue Primary Teaching, Jack opted to pursue his career in the industry instead. Today, Jack holds all operational and strategic oversight of the Just Swimming Swim Schools – owned and operated by Nunawading Swimming Club. Jack’s career highlights include launching a swim school program from 100 students to 800 in the span of one month and leading the re-generation and growth of the Just Swimming programs by 80% after global pandemic impact. Jack has a strong surfing lifesaving background, is an advocate for water safety in our community and he is a mindful and conscientious leader to the 100+ strong Just Swimming team of Managers, Supervisors and Swimming Teachers.

Close

Bradley CEO Headshot
Bradley Low


BIO


Brad has a lifelong love of all things swimming and water safety, with his first job as an AUSTSWIM teacher in Queensland back in 1995. Since then, Brad has continued to foster his love of aquatics through a long association with AUSTSWIM as a course presenter, committee, and council member and now as CEO.

Professionally, Brad has over 20 years of corporate experience in association management, vocational education and training, sports management, and leisure and is known for building high-performing, collaborative teams and developing new programs, products, and delivery strategies. He excels at creating innovative stakeholder engagement frameworks and standardising operational procedures to maximise efficiency. He has a proven track record of fostering collaborative relationships with stakeholders, leading industry engagement initiatives, driving strategic planning processes, and aligning strategic objectives with operational priorities.

Close

Cheryl McLennan

Jade Head Shot
Jade Edmistone OLY


BIO


The ONCORE Academy is an initiative built on a solid foundation of passion, knowledge and lived experience, dedicated to the development of individuals, groups and organisations. Founded by former World Champion and World Record holder, Jade Edmistone, it is the culmination of a successful sporting career combined with over 14 years of coaching across all levels from grassroots through to high performance.

As the Owner and Managing Director, Jade remains at the helm, ensuring ONCORE and its benefits are felt and realised through delivering Clinics and Workshops for children and adults alike who want to improve their swimming. She is also a motivational speaker, author and performance coach.

The ONCORE Academy is committed to providing education through collaboration in order to enhance performance which is achieved through improving in the water as well as self-development on land.

Its mission…To build individuals that are not only stronger, more efficient, and faster, but are CONNECTED with the water and with themselves.

Close

Lachlan Mitchell

Maxine Seear

May Ang Profile Photo 1
May Ang


BIO


May has been in the aquatic industry for the past 23 years teaching adults and children of all ages. In 2004, she started specializing in coaching special needs to child and adults, competent in both learn to swim and competitive coaching. She worked as National head coach with the Malaysian Sport council and head the National Paralympics Technical and Training program in 2004 to 2010.

She has actively volunteered her service in various sports organization holding various technical sport committee positions past years.

  • Swimming Technical Official, Selangor Amateur Swimming Association(PRAS) (2006- 2012)
  • Technical Chairman, Selangor Amateur Swimming Association(PRAS)
  • Committee member. Selangor Triathlon Association (2008)
  • Treasurer, Life Saving Society of Selangor, Malaysia.(2004-2006)
  • Assistant Swim Director International Ironman Langkawi, Malaysia.(2001-2006)
  • Swimming Technical Official, ASEAN Para games, Singapore(2015)

To improve the standards of teaching in Malaysia, she has continued to gain more knowledge and obtained international certifications from Australia, UK, USA and Singapore. May is an international Trainer for SCTA, STAUK and IOA.

Her passion to share quality swim teaching has led her to initiated the formation of the Malaysia Swimming Teachers’ Association in 2014.She is currently the Honorary Secretary for the Association.

Close

Rob Wilson

Jaimie Fuller C Scaled
Jaimie Fuller

eo – Chairman

BIO


Jaimie Fuller has built a successful business career around his greatest passion –
sport. The Chief Executive Officer of international compression apparel brand
SKINS from 1998 to 2019, he is now Chair and co-founder of eo, an Australian-based sports technology lab.
Well known as one of the world’s most prominent sports activists, Jaimie has
lobbied against cheating, systemic corruption, and human rights abuses at the
highest levels of international sports including cycling, football, and the
Olympics.
From an early age, Jaimie fell in love with sport and especially its most
fundamental tenet – the pure test of strength and skill between athletes
competing on a level playing field. Initially he dreamed of becoming a
professional cricketer or rugby player. It wasn’t to be, so he bought into a
fledgling sports company, SKINS, and helped drive it to international success.
But as both an apparel supplier and sponsor to international competition, he
witnessed greed, hypocrisy, and abuses of power, fuelling a conviction to speak
out against endemic issues such as doping, match-fixing and cheating.
In this regard, Jaimie leads by example. With SKINS, he withdrew sponsorship of
Australian National Rugby League club the Melbourne Storm in 2010 when it was
found guilty of systematically cheating the league’s salary cap, a costly decision
that established the company’s stance on fair play. Again in 2016, SKINS
withdrew sponsorship from an athlete found to have received ‘unauthorised
assistance’ on a world record run attempt.
Taking his personal activism even further, he founded international pressure
group Change Cycling Now (CCN) in 2012 to tackle professional cycling’s
handling of doping issues. He has also been instrumental in campaigns targeting
the IOC and FIFA, including famously declaring SKINS an ‘Official Non-Sponsor’
of FIFA in light of the two organisations’ divergent values. Jaimie also aims to
highlight the hypocrisy of businesses whose rhetoric on integrity doesn’t match
their actions as sporting sponsors.
Jaimie campaigns against homophobia in sport, establishing the inaugural
‘Rainbow Round of Sport’ in Australia in 2016 and the #RainbowLaces campaign
that was successfully adopted by a selection of teams across a number of codes.
He is a regular commentator, and contributor to public forums and conferences
around the world, on the role sport can play in helping to change society for the
better.
Now as CEO and co-founder of eo, Jaimie’s aim is to help elite athletes redefine
their limits. Utilising world-class sports scientists and engineers, eo is developing
a range of products designed to improve performance, accelerate recovery and
adaptation, prevent injury, and aid rehabilitation.

Close

Kenneth Graham C Scaled
Dr Kenneth Graham

eo – Principal Scientist

BIO


Dr Kenneth Graham has more than 30 years’ experience in Australian High-Performance Sport. Having previously held positions at both the NSW Academy of
Sport, and more recently, 14 years as Principal Scientist at the NSW Institute of Sport,
Kenneth has strong connections and working relationships across the National High-Performance Sports system; with universities, commercial organisations, government
(both state and Federal), National Sporting Organisations and professional sporting
teams.
Kenneth has coached and project managed athletes to medals in World
Championships and Olympic Games. He currently holds an Adjunct Senior Lectureship
at the University of Sydney and is an Adjunct Fellow of the Western Sydney University.
Kenneth is a member of the Australian Institute of Sport’s Research Review Committee
and the National Sports Tribunal and a Board Member and Honorary Treasurer of the
Wayback Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Organisation. He was a founding member of
the National Rugby League Research Committee.
Dr Kenneth Graham is experienced in both understanding the future trends in sport
and overseeing long term sport focussed research programmes to maximise the
organisational and partner benefit (e.g., ARC Linkage Bodies in Space which combined
mathematics, engineering biomechanics and equipment development to improve
aerial sport performance).
Dr Graham understands the business of High-Performance Sport and has been
successful in planning and executing long-term projects including developing the
project, sourcing appropriate funds, managing staff, and working within project
timeframes.
Dr Graham has an excellent knowledge of the processes and challenges of High-Performance Sport including the immovable deadlines of competitions, the interests
and responsibilities of multiple partner organisations and the pressure on coaches and
athletes to produce performances. He is experienced in managing and contributing to
the successful completion of projects in the sport, academic, commercial and
government sectors and shares his knowledge and expertise with the staff I work with
to benefit the wider sporting community.
Kenneth has a history of successfully working with companies to coordinate and help
drive their R&D programs. This includes working with Coca-Cola South Pacific on their
Powerade range of sports drinks where he was involved in designing the composition
of the drinks and the functional testing of the products to ensure that they work on
athletes.
Kenneth has a history of leading and driving innovation. He was involved in the design
of a portable High Performance Hypoxic-Hyperoxic System and the development of a
canopy for swimming pools to help swimmers undertake hypoxic training. He led the
design and development of a high-speed somersaulting frame for aerial athletes to
train their somersaulting capacity effectively and efficiently in the areas of specific
body strength, aerial orientation, and vestibular and proprioceptive skills.
At eo, Kenneth works with the rest of the team to review the long-term trends in sport
and identify and determine where eo should focus its resources. He works with eo’s
R&D partners and academics to turn ideas into products and then, with eo’s panel of
sport experts, ensures that all products are fully fit for purpose. He has the benefit of
being able to allocate time to watching sport, read the latest research literature and
consider what sport will look like in the future.

Close

VictoriaHeadshots 24
Victoria Clark


BIO


Victoria Clark is the project manager for the SWIM Jobs Victoria program. With more than 18 years of experience in a variety of senior partnership management roles with elite sport, government and community, Victoria’s current role focuses on revitalising the aquatic industry with the recruitment of swim teachers across the state. Having worn many hats with one constant – an unrelenting passion for the opportunities that sport and in particular, swimming can provide. She is truly proud to be involved in a program with great impact.

To revitalise the Victorian aquatic industry, a SWIM Jobs Victoria partnership was established between SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia (SCTA) and Jobs Victoria in 2021. The program was created to reinvigorate the Victorian aquatic industry and help associated businesses bounce back post-Covid. The focus is to ‘recruit, train and place 280 new swim teachers and aquatic trained professionals across Victoria’. In doing so ease the ‘learn to swim’ crisis in Victoria and build businesses in the aquatic industry.

Close

Peter Dalle Cort Headshot Small
Peter Dalle Cort


BIO


I was born into the learn to swim industry in family owned and operated learn to swim schools and established “Swim Skills” Swim School in Cairns 2008. Changed tac with the creation of Welcome to Water, which provides staff training, marketing and business tools for the aquatics industry.

I am a passionate swimming teacher, with my focus not just on the swimming development of students, but the growth of their human capital, and the benefits that a close relationship with water can bring to all facets of their life.

Close

STA Conference 2022 HighRes 136 Scaled
Wayne Goldsmith


BIO


Wayne Goldsmith is the Group Aquatics Manager for Belgravia Leisure. He is a highly regarded figure in the world of swimming. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he has made significant contributions to the sport as a coach, consultant, and educator.

As a coach, Goldsmith has worked with swimmers at all levels, from beginners to Olympic champions. He has a deep understanding of the technical aspects of swimming and is skilled at identifying areas for improvement. Goldsmith’s coaching philosophy emphasizes the development of a strong mindset, fostering resilience, and optimizing performance through effective training strategies.

He was the national manager of Swimming Australia’s Sports Science / Sports Medicine program leading into the Sydney 2000 Olympics and 4 years later led Triathlon Australia’s medal winning Olympic team at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Goldsmith has also worked with the Wallabies, several AFL, NRL and Super Rugby teams, Tennis Australia and in 2021 was part of Water Polo Australia’s high-performance program leading into the Tokyo Olympic Games.

He is an accomplished author and speaker, sharing his expertise through books, articles, and presentations. His work covers a wide range of topics, including motivation, leadership, and maximizing athletic potential.

He has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Coach Education in Australia Prize, the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and last year was recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming by the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Florida in the USA.

Close

Kim Skilton 2021 1
Kim Skilton


BIO


Meet Kim Skilton, the global award winning marketing strategist dedicated to working with business owners to nail their marketing. With over 20 years working with leading brands including Accor, Air New Zealand, Virgin, Velocity and Flight Centre, Kim has extensive experience in both brand and go to market strategy development and execution. Kim was awarded Flight Centre’s Global Marketer of the Year and was the marketing lead for the launch of Virgin Australia’s frequent flyer program, Velocity.

In 2015, Kim became a business owner herself opening the doors to What Matters Marketing where she works with business owners to create strategic marketing plans that build brands and drive revenue. When she’s not growing brands, you can find her enjoying the outdoors or planning her next getaway.

Close

1R6A4379 Scaled
Codie Grimsey


BIO


A former Australian Swim Team member, Brisbane based comedian Codie Grimsey is now a two time RAW Comedy State Finalist. He has a dry, awkward, and deadpan style that has made him a favourite across the state’s flourishing circuit.

He delivers brilliantly delivered humorous stories, inscrutable one liners, and other utterances best characterised as jokes.

Close

IMG 7802
Sara Tattoli


BIO


Coming from a competitive swimming background at the age of 16 Sara fell into the aquatics industry looking for a part time job while she finished school. Starting out as a learn to swim and babies teacher she quickly found a love and passion for the industry and moved into junior coaching and eventually management.

Today, Sara is a proud owner and director of the 5 Star Swim Schools group and is overseeing a growing team of 50 employees between two centres as an area director.

Sara is active in all areas of learn to swim and is dedicated to staff training and professional development in all aspects of the business developing many in house staff training packages.

Completing a traineeship in business herself in the beginning years of her aquatics journey Sara now dedicates her time to mentoring and nurturing the next generation of industry leaders, successfully mentoring 9 trainees through the certificate 3 Aquatic supervisor course over the last 2 years.

Close

Shaun Curtis
Shaun Curtis


BIO


Currently the Head Coach of Marion Swimming, with more than 15 years coaching at all level. Shaun has coached athlete to multiple National and International medallists. Shaun is focused on long-term skill development and technical requirements to swim efficiently. Shaun is passionate about improving every stroke as the development of swimming success.

Close

The full SWIMCON 23 Starring cast is still being finalised and is subject to change without notice


Principal Partners