Strategic partnerships, leadership and technology the focus at 58th ARI Annual Conference and Trade Show

May 31, 2024

James Croll

The Aquatic and Recreation Institute NSW (ARI NSW) concluded its Annual Conference and Trade Show last week at the West HQ in Rooty Hill, after two eventful days - from Sunday 19th to Tuesday 21st May.

The 58th edition of ARI’s annual event was hosted at the impressive Sydney Coliseum Theatre, following a well-attended Professional Development Day on 19^th May at the adjacent Sydney Gymnastic and Aquatic Centre.

The conference was supported by significant industry sponsors, including Para Mobility, InterQuad and Pierce Pool Supplies, Roejen Engineering & Technical Services, Life Fitness, Jonas Leisure and AUSTSWIM each of whom played a crucial role in bringing together professionals and experts from various sectors.

Commenting on the success of the event, ARI Chair, Marco Blanco stated “I'm pleased to report that the conference was an overwhelming success, with record attendance, and a sold out trade show.

“The stellar list of keynote speakers was well received, and we delivered a broad range of professional development sessions for the first time.

“Over the course of the three days, we were thrilled with the fantastic turn out. We had close to 300 delegates and trade exhibitors. We had many new members attend the ARI Conference for the first time.”

The conference sessions emphasised strategic partnerships, leadership, and technological advancements. Highlights included:

• Cain Liddle, Director at Incrementum Advisory Group, presented on ‘Creating New Value Through Partnerships’, offering insights into enhancing community awareness and participation at the grassroots level by collaborating with sports icons.

• Jessica Wilson, co-founder of Women Making Waves and recognised by Forbes as one of 1,000 entrepreneurs under 30 poised to change the world, discussed leveraging scalable emerging technologies to empower communities and fund initiatives for a more equitable world.

• Elena Gosse OAM, Chief Executive of AIS Water, shared her personal journey of immigration to Australia and building a successful family business. She emphasised embracing discomfort, challenging limiting beliefs, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

• Alissa Camplin, Olympic Champion and keynote speaker, highlighted the importance of collaboration with leaders across various disciplines to achieve her Olympic goals, emphasizing the value of strategic leadership and teamwork.

The event also featured numerous new exhibitors, signalling industry growth, with Blanco adding “our trade show was a huge success.

“We doubled our trade exhibitors from 2023 and had new partners from across Australia attend.”

“We were delighted to be able to facilitate Sporting Diplomacy between Australia and Africa as we received an African delegation. The delegation was comprised of MPs and Ambassadors who were travelling to Sydney on an exploratory visit. They were researching about partnership opportunities with Sports and Recreation organisations in Western Sydney, as they seek to build state of the art sports and leisure facilities in Africa.”

Noteworthy new exhibitors included:
• IXOM, specialising in nutrient and algae management solutions for water quality improvement, showcased their innovative treatment technologies aimed at optimizing aquatic ecosystem health.

• Grip Factory, introduced a revolutionary anti-slip fluid applicable on various surfaces like tiles, natural stone, and concrete, meeting stringent safety standards and enhancing surface safety.

The ARI Annual Conference & Trade Show provided a robust platform for industry leaders to share knowledge, network, and explore innovative solutions, demonstrating the dynamic and evolving nature of the industry.

Blanco concluded “overall the ARI Board was thrilled by the success of returning the event to Metro Sydney for the first time in over five years, and we look forward to returning to regional NSW in 2025.

Images: Delegates at the 58th Aquatic and Recreation Institute NSW Annual Conference (top), ARI Board Member Suellen Goyne of Maitland Council presents at the conference (middle) and Tim Batt of Tim Batt Water Solutions at the Trade Show (below).

About the author

James Croll

With a background in adventure tourism, events management and marketing, James Croll is a regular contributor to Australasian Leisure Management and Asian Leisure Business.

Click here to view his LinkedIn profile.