Barrie Elvish to step down from Chief Executive role at AUSactive

April 1, 2025

Fitness / Wellness /

Australasian Leisure Management has today learned that Barrie Elvish is to step down as Chief Executive at AUSactive, advising the board that he will depart after serving a six-month notice period.

Elvish, who joined the then Fitness Australia in January 2019 on a six month interim contract with a mandate to “sort a few things out”, has presided over a period of remarkable success for the body undertaking extensive lobbying on behalf of the exercise industry and expanding AUSactive’s membership reach.

In a social media post he advised “after what will be almost seven years it’s time to hand over to the new CEO and let them continue the repositioning of AUSactive into its rightful place as an integral component of Australia’s preventive health environment.

“In keeping with the Board’s request I have given six months notice and will finish here at the end of September.

“I have been blessed with a fantastic staff and whoever says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks needs to employ more young people.

“I have also benefited from having an incredibly supportive Board who have been a great sounding board for me.

“Over the next six months we have a lot of initiatives to bring to fruition that I believe will serve to strengthen both AUSactive and the wider active health sector.”

28th March 2025 - AUSactive spotlights Life Member Dominic Yam’s commitment to fitness and community

24th March 2025 - AUSactive calls for Federal budget to shift funding from reactive healthcare to prevention

13th March 2025 - AUSactive countdowns to inaugural XBA Live event in Melbourne

11th March 2025 - AUSactive partners with HFA to release research on reversing the physical inactivity crisis

10th March 2025 - Nominations open for AUSactive 2025 National Awards

4th March 2025 - AUSactive boosts Western Australian team with appointment of Karinda Lobb

28th February 2025 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish slams Federal Government’s Medicare injection

14th February 2025 - AUSactive launches network, administration and education program, ConnectX

12th February 2025 - AUSactive announces founding members of Supplier Advisory Group

29th January 2025 - AUSactive reveals dedicated Tai Chi Membership category

28th January 2025 - Aquamoves Shepparton maintains its AUSactive Quality Accreditation status for 2025

21st January 2025 - AUSactive calls for Coalition’s proposed tax deductions to include Fringe Benefits Tax exemption for gyms

24th December 2024 - AUSactive seeks non-Executive Director

17th December 2024 - Australia’s $14 billion inactivity crisis prompts renewed AUSactive call for Federal Government-led preventative health campaign

16th December 2024 - AUSactive secures endorsement from Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability

10th December 2024 - Looking to spearhead growth AUSactive names Mike Beeney as Western Australian Regional Manager

28th November 2024 - AUSactive commits to helping deliver ASC Play Well Program

27th November 2024 - AUSactive names Emmett Williams as next Chair

20th November 2024 - Federal Parliamentarians join with AUSactive to launch 2024 Fit for Office challenge

11th October 2024 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish: Federal Government should not let Sports Commission run a physical activity campaign

4th April 2024 - Barrie Elvish takes AUSactive’s call for Federal budget to include tax deductibility for gym memberships to mainstream media

22nd December 2023 - AUSActive’s Barrie Elvish ‘frustrated’ by physical activity and exercise levels shown in new ABS data

4th October 2023 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish explains the importance of Mental Health Month

4th August 2022 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish praises Queensland Government’s FairPlay voucher scheme

27th July 2022 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish named Chair of World Active Forum

14th March 2022 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish highlights cost of Australia’s physical and mental health crisis to Federal Treasurer

14th September 2021 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish ‘perplexed’ by ongoing restrictions on operation of exercise facilities in regional Victoria

23rd February 2021 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish highlights the value of health

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