AMPSEA prepares for inaugural conference

Approaching its inaugural conference in Sydney on 22nd November, the Australian Mass Participation Sporting Events Alliance (AMPSEA) has advised of its speaker schedule.

With mass participation sporting events (MPSEs) returning over recent months, the conference aims to providing leadership and representation to inspire the sector which faces a range of post-pandemic challenges including increases in input and other costs, difficulties in attracting sponsorship and significant staff and volunteer turnover.

Introducing the conference, AMPSEA advise that the conference “will be a great opportunity to network with other AMPSEA members, receive updates on AMPSEA’s mission and be involved in the progression of an industry which is still feeling the effects of the toughest few years since the pandemic.”

With more speakers to be announced, confirmed keynote speakers as the conference include:

• Dr Lindsey Reece, Australian Sport Commission

• Chris Toward, The Shift Agency

• Matt Bisset,Race Roster

• Andrew Stone, MESHH

• Lisa Dowsett, Northern Beaches Council

Sessions will cover the future of employment in mass participation, sustainability, technology and funding.

Looking forward to the conference, Chris Heverin, Managing Director of Spartan Australia/New Zealand and AMPSEA Chair, sees MPSEs as playing an increasingly important and recognised role in Australia’s sport and recreation landscape, emphasising “a key pillar and objective of the Australian Government for the 10 years leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and then beyond, is ‘participation’ by the Australian public.

“The mass participation events industry is the largest cohort in the participation space with over 3.4 million Australians, but is currently unrepresented and unrecognised, which does not make sense.”

Heverin sees that the AMPSEA Conference will “provide industry members the opportunity to engage with government officials, develop meaningful relationships and explain our case for support and inclusion within the government funding and support framework.

“I urge all event operators and industry suppliers to roll up their sleeves and support AMPSEA by showing up in numbers at the 22nd November Conference in Sydney and get involved in determining a positive future for our industry.

“See you there!”  

Being held at Novotel Sydney Central the conference will feature the AMPSEA Annual General Meeting and will be followed by Networking Drinks sponsored by Race Roster.

Click here for more information in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image: Gold Coast Marathon.