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THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE LEISURE INDUSTRY

 
 
 

Author

Nigel Benton

About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.

With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.

Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.

In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.

He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.

His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring for a little pug named Stella.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.

Stadium at Victoria Park confirmed as main Brisbane 2032 Games venue

A controversial revisiting of plans to build a 63,000 capacity stadium as the main venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics has been announced today by Queensland Premier David…

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Mar 25, 2025 Nigel Benton Aquatics / Government / Recreation / Sport / Venues /

 
 

MENALAC Chief Executive conclave looks at shaping the future of attractions

With the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s attractions and entertainment industry poised for strong growth - expansion driven by major investments - the Middle East and North…

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Mar 25, 2025 Nigel Benton Attractions / Entertainment / Finance / Tourism / Waterparks /

 
 

Criminal court investigates child’s 2019 Brisbane pool drowning

A Queensland court is currently examining the circumstances surrounding the 2019 drowning of a five-year-old child at the Runcorn Aquatic Centre in Brisbane's southern suburbs…

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Mar 21, 2025 Nigel Benton Aquatics / Legal / Safety /

 
 

New leisure portfolio ministers announced in Western Australia and NSW Governments

Newly re-elected Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced the portfolio allocations for his new Cabinet with dedicated ministers for each region to focus on local job…

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Mar 19, 2025 Nigel Benton Environment / Government / Recreation / Sport / Tourism /

 
 

AFL ‘blocks’ Cricket Australia’s bid for Adelaide Oval to host Sheffield Shield final

Cricket Australia has this morning advised that the Sheffield Shield final will not be played at Adelaide Oval, saying on its website the AFL had blocked use of the venue. The South…

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Mar 14, 2025 Nigel Benton Government / Sport / Venues /

 
 

Post storm clean up underway in South East Queensland as flooding impacts Northern NSW

The impact of ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred is being felt across South East Queensland and Northern NSW with leisure industry operators closed as the area is impacted by heavy rains, flooding…

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Mar 10, 2025 Nigel Benton Recreation / Safety / Tourism /

 
 

Nanjing ready to host World Athletics Indoor Championships

After a five-year delay, the Chinese city of Nanjing is counting down to hosting the World Athletics Indoor Championships from 21st to 23rd March. Nanjing - a city of 9.3 million people -…

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Mar 9, 2025 Nigel Benton Events / Sport / Venues /

 
 
 
Australasian Leisure Management
 

search ausleisure

AusLeisure

THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE LEISURE INDUSTRY

 
 
 

Authors

Michael Palmer

Editor, TentHVAC

Michael Palmer is an outdoor enthusiast who likes to go on weekend backpacking trips with his dog Rory.

He likes writing and works as an editor at TentHVAC, a collective of enthusiasts who love travel, backpacking, and camping. . 

Ian Mullane

Chief Executive, Keepme

Ian Mullane is the Founder and Chief Executive of Keepme, a revenue acceleration platform dedicated to increasing operator revenue through AI-powered insights and tools. He is also a respected thought leader, white paper author, regular keynote speaker at industry events globally, GymNation Board member and member of the ukactive Digital Futures Council.

With a career that has seen him work with some of the biggest players in FinTech including his position as Chief Operating Office at Sungard, Ian was also the owner/operator of the fitness business Vanda in Singapore for more than a decade.

Alhasan Kaabous Alzaabi

Vice President of Operations, Farah Experiences

Alhasan Kaabous Alzaabi has served as the Vice President of Operations at Abu Dhabi-based Farah Experiences since 2017, overseeing the operations across all of Yas Island’s theme parks: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.

Dr Ken Marriott

Dr Ken Marriott trained as a geographer with special studies in urban land uses, agriculture and climatology.

Having, in 1979, completed a PhD in geography at Monash University, with his research focused on the effectiveness of then-current leisure and recreation planning strategies he went on to be Managing Director of the leisure planning consultancy HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd from 1984 until his retirement in 2016.

His book, Community Leisure and Recreation Planning, co-authored with John Tower and Katie McDonald from Victoria University in Melbourne, was published by Routledge early in 2021. 

He wrote on the need for leisure and recreation planners and providers to drive effective action on climate change in Australasian Leisure Management issue 146.

He can be contacted on email at ken.marriott@hmleisureplanning.com 

2nd September 2021 - LEISURE AND RECREATION PLANNERS NEED TO TAKE MORE DECISIVE ACTION ON CLIMATE AND WEATHER CHANGE

19th December 2020 - NEW COMMUNITY LEISURE AND RECREATION PLANNING TEXT A PRODUCT OF AUTHORS’ DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

 

Barrie Elvish

Chief Executive, AUSactive

Barrie Elvish has over 20 years’ experience of managing successful organisational change, strategic development and business growth across a range of sectors such as education and health.

His passions and experiences including training for triathlons, keeping his depressive episodes under control through exercise, trekking the Kokoda Trail and Hot Rods – all for the purpose of making meaningful connections.

Click here to contact him via LinkedIn.

Kunal Sawhney

Chief Executive, Kalkine Group

An entrepreneur with revolutionary ideas, Kunal Sawhney is a financial professional with wealth of knowledge in equities who aims to transform the delivery of equity research through tech-driven digital platforms

With his knowledge, skillset, and overarching vision, Sawhney established Kalkine (a business that is based on Digitally Powered Architecture and Extensive Data Science led Premium Research) that has become one of the fastest growing equity market research firms across Australia in 2014; and subsequently, in other emerging and developed markets.

Sawhney’s entrepreneurial and commercial skills backed by the passion to establish a tech-empowered research platform, helped in building Kalkine’s global presence across diverse geographies - Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Further, the plans for the US launch in 2021, have set the premise for attaining an all-encompassing client reach for Kalkine’s Subscription and Media Operations.

With a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Technology, Sydney; Sawhney’s business acumen has enabled his brainchild, Kalkine, help clients navigate through equity related matters in a proficient and seamless manner.

Sawhney is featured regularly on CNBC, Sky Business, Biz News, Daily Mail, Yahoo Finance, KCBS Radio (Audacy), Bloomberg, Sydney Morning Herald, Global Banking and Financial Review and many more.

Click here to visit the Kalkine website.