2023 SMAANZ Annual Conference underway at University of Canberra

Leading sport management academics and professionals have been welcomed to the University of Canberra’s Bruce campus for the 2023 Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ) Conference being held from Wednesday 29th November to Friday 1st December.

This year’s theme, Facing the Future – Academic Research Supporting Industry Practice, is designed to explore practical outcomes and solutions driven by evidence that will allow stakeholders to face future possibilities and challenges together. With this mind, the four keynote presentations have been split equally between academics and industry executives, with the aim of showcasing collaboration from both sides.

The three-day conference offers over 90 keynotes, talks, panels, workshops and activities on topics including sustainability, Indigenous sport, sports integrity, media and marketing, sport development and more, from elite levels to community grassroots.

The University’s incoming UCRISE (Research Institute of Sport and Exercise) Director, Professor Aaron Smith, RMIT’s Professor Tracy Taylor and NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Chief Executive Professor Kevin Thompson are each delivering a keynote address.

Experts and representatives from 11 countries, Australian universities, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA), the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) and peak sports bodies are attending.

The first day of the conference was designated HDR (Higher Degree by Research) Student Day during which over 40 research students, who are the future of the industry, discussed their research projects and engaged in various workshops, panels and industry discussions.

SMAANZ Chair and University of Canberra Lecturer in Sport Management, Stirling Sharpe notes “as one of the leading sport universities in Australia, the University of Canberra is excited to host SMAANZ members and guests for the Association’s 29th conference. SMAANZ is highly regarded in the sport management industry and brings together experts looking at sport through lenses of governance, policy, sustainability, ethics and integrity, media, development and more. Researchers and industry collaboration is critical to ensuring the success of Australia’s golden decade with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Various University of Canberra academics and HDR candidates representing the Faculty of Health and Faculty of Business, Government and Law speaking at the conference:

• Stirling Sharpe, Conference Chair

• Associate Professor Tracey Dickson

• Adjunct Professor David Pyne

• Associate Professor Catherine Ordway

• Associate Professor Julie Cooke

• Hannah Campbell-Pegg

• Charles Mountifield

• Genevieve Lim

• Richard Vaughan

Click here for conference details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image. SMAANZ Chair and University of Canberra Lecturer in Sport Management, Stirling Sharpe