As communities evolve and demand for accessible, inclusive, and sustainable sport and leisure facilities grows, the industry faces a defining moment. How can we design future-proofed community spaces that not only meet today’s needs but also support the changing landscape of sport participation? With rising environmental concerns, shifting community demographics, and the need for commercially viable solutions, the challenges in sport facility design are greater than ever. There is no better place to tackle these challenges head-on than at the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC) 2025, where global and local leaders will share groundbreaking insights, innovative strategies, and future-focused solutions.
Learning from Past Challenges
The Browne Park redevelopment in Rockhampton serves as a cautionary tale. Announced in 2020, the project faced multiple delays, with its completion date now pushed to 2026. This underscores the importance of meticulous planning and stakeholder alignment to avoid setbacks that can hinder community access to improved facilities.
Embracing Best Practices
Conversely, the Kennedy Community Centre, future home to the Hawthorn Football Club, exemplifies best practices in facility design. Scheduled to open in 2025, this 28-hectare complex in Dingley Village integrates elite training amenities with community spaces, ensuring broad accessibility and engagement. The project emphasizes co-location and shared use, aligning with principles that enhance community value and sustainability.
The Community Sport & Leisure Facilities Stream at NSC 2025 will be the premier gathering for industry professionals seeking to explore cutting-edge design, funding models, and operational innovations. This stream will showcase bold ideas and practical strategies for shaping the next generation of community sport and leisure hubs, ensuring they remain inclusive, adaptable, and sustainable while unlocking their full commercial potential.
Key Sessions Driving the Future of Facility Design
Impact Keynote Session: Environmental Sustainability for Leisure Facilities
Climate change is reshaping the way sport and recreation facilities are designed and managed. This session will explore how the industry can reduce its environmental footprint, create resilient infrastructure, and build a sustainable future. Industry experts including Nick Alsop (GBCA), Mark Bates (HDT Ltd, NZ), and Nick Yannakis (BECA / IAKS ANZ) will discuss best practices in sustainable design, followed by a panel featuring David Barker (Introba) and Greg Doman (Inverell Council, NSW) on local council commitments to sustainability.
Nick Yannakis, Technician at BECA and (Non-Executive) Director of IAKS ANZ, emphasized the importance of global collaboration in designing sustainable and inclusive sport facilities. “As a proud Board Member of IAKS ANZ, I am deeply committed to fostering international knowledge exchange that advances sustainability in aquatic facility design and operation. Through my engagement with the IAKS Sustainability Expert Circle, I have gained valuable insights from global leaders that continue to inform best practices locally, and I look forward to contributing to NSC 2025 as part of the ongoing partnership between IAKS ANZ and the NSC”.
IAKS Vice President and IAKS ANZ Chairperson Yvette Audet reinforced the significance of this knowledge-sharing platform, stating, “I am proud of our continued contribution to the NSC program and our commitment to providing expert feedback in its development. It is particularly rewarding to see so many IAKS members featured as speakers at this year’s conference – an outstanding reflection of the calibre of professionals we attract. Our presence in the exhibition hall, along with our members’ involvement in the speaker program, reinforces the strength of our partnership with NSC and our shared vision for advancing the future of sport and recreation facilities.”
“NSC 2025 provides an unprecedented opportunity to connect with international leaders, ensuring Australian facility design aligns with global standards of sustainability, accessibility, and innovation.”
Workshop: Redefining the Role of Community Sport & Leisure Facilities
With community wellbeing at the core of facility development, this session will explore how venues must evolve to better serve diverse populations. Dr. Irina Akhmanova (Populous, Singapore) will discuss aligning future designs with community needs, while Dr. Neil Gibson (Blacktown City Council) will present on designing Access for All sports centres that prioritise inclusivity for people with disabilities.
Case Study Workshop: Designing for Flexibility & Inclusivity
Integrating gender equality, accessibility, and cultural considerations from the ground up is essential for ensuring community engagement. Industry leaders such as Lisa Whiffen (Champions of Change Coalition) and Mike McGrath (Coop) will showcase innovative approaches to creating multi-functional and accessible sport and aquatic facilities.
PitchFEST Workshop: Innovative Designs to Improve the Bottom Line
How can leisure facilities achieve cost-neutral operations while positively impacting communities? This high-energy workshop will feature leading executives, including John Clark (South East Leisure), Alexandra Ash (The Y Australia), Yvette Audet (Fluidra Commercial ANZ), and Ben Tudhope (Aligned Leisure), presenting innovative models for financial sustainability in facility management.
Challenge and Solutions Session: Future-Proofing Facilities for the Next 100 Years
With rapid technological advancements and shifting community needs, experts will explore how to ensure facilities remain relevant and adaptable for decades to come. Nick Cox (Belgravia Leisure) will delve into AI-driven design opportunities, while Jay Clarke (City Venue Management) will discuss hybrid facility repurposing – blending aquatic centres with modern amenities like fitness studios and event spaces. Kath Thom (Peninsula Leisure) will highlight the potential of repurposing underutilised spaces, such as childcare facilities, to enhance community engagement.
The Ultimate Industry Networking & Knowledge-Sharing Opportunity
NSC CEO Martin Sheppard highlighted the unique value of the event, stating, “There is no other gathering in the region where so many industry leaders, designers, and decision-makers come together to tackle the most pressing challenges in sport and leisure infrastructure. NSC 2025 is the ultimate platform for gaining industry insights, forging new partnerships, and shaping the future of community sport facilities.”
There is no better place to gain the latest industry insights and connect with the sector’s brightest minds than the National Sports Convention. With an unparalleled lineup of speakers and thought leaders, this is where bold ideas take shape, partnerships are forged, and the future of community sport and leisure facilities is defined.
Join us at NSC 2025 to be part of the conversation shaping the next era of sport and recreation infrastructure. For more information and ticket details, visit National Sports Convention.
Tickets available now!
Editor’s Notes
The National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC) has grown since 2016 as Australia/New Zealand’s largest and most prominent community sport and recreation convention and expo. This year the NSC returned to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre on 25 – 26 June 2025. The organisers worked with its 50+ collaborators to curate a program with international and Australian experts, providing the most comprehensive program on community sport recreation and sports facilities in Australia. The event also features the largest sports and recreation Expo with 80+ Exhibitors and 7 Activation Areas for the ultimate industry playground for industry professionals.
Photos from the NSC can be found at www.nationalsportsconvention.com.au
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Further information contact Martin Sheppard, at martins@smartconnection.net.au or (03) 9421 0133.