AUSactive Modalities Advisory Group looks to improve industry representation

AUSactive is set to improve the strategic direction and representation of the many modalities that make up the Australian active health and exercise industry by bringing together leading professionals to form advisory groups, with the first AUSactive Modalities Advisory Group (AMAG) announced today.

Advising that said the AMAG and forthcoming Advisory Groups are aimed at providing feedback, advocacy, support and strategic input into AUSactive’s purpose and responsibilities relevant to each group's representative base, AUSactive Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish stated “the Modalities Advisory Group was the instrumental starting point for all the Advisory Groups that we are implementing now and will add to over time. These are being established to support and help to improve representation of various sectors of the industry.

“It wouldn’t be viable to put a representative onto the board for each modality or sector that AUSactive now encompasses and that needs representation. Rather, what we have put in place is a valuable structure that provides focused support and representation of many sectors of the exercise industry that may be under-represented.

“The AMAG vision is to ensure the different modalities become represented equally alongside more traditional exercise methods, with clarity and understanding of what the modalities offer as both stand-alone methods and their interrelationships with other training methods.”

AMAG Chair and AUSactive Board member Sally Anderson said the founding members of AMAG were selected following an extensive expressions of interest process, commenting “we had incredible interest from people wanting to join AMAG, with nearly 40 excellent submissions received during the process.

“I am very excited to have such a great group of advisory group members coming together to propel AUSactive modalities into a bright and bold positioning in the exercise and active health industry.

“We have done a lot of internal preparation in order to get the Advisory Groups implemented with a strong structure and processes that will let us have a great impact on how we can support and represent the modalities as they grow into the future.

“The capacity of these modalities to be a major part of how we get all Australians moving is huge. Across the included modalities being represented by AMAG, we can offer the broadest scope of ways to help people move that can suit their needs, lifestyles, current fitness levels and more.

“Having key experts assist AUSactive to provide the best possible delivery of the modalities means we are doing the right thing by all Australians.”

The AMAG founding members are:

• Sally Anderson (Chair)

• Ryan Hogan

• Liz Nable

• Catherine Neal

• Ellen Nash

Elvish explained two further initial Advisory Groups have been identified by the AUSactive Board, including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ADEIAG) and Suppliers (ASAG).

He added “we have done a lot of preparation work prior to implementing each Advisory Group. Each AG has Terms of Reference as well as their own systems and processes for functions, specific processes for board reviews and reporting, and much more.

“Each Advisory Group has a particular focus and function so they can really hone in on the needs and support of the sector it represents, and provide effective feedback and input to the board and management.

“We look forward to announcing the founding members of these other Advisory Groups in the near future.”

AMAG Founding Members
Sally Anderson
Anderson is the Independent Chair of AUSactive Nominations & Remuneration Committee as well as Chair of the Modalities Advisory Group. She has delivered Pilates specialist training and education for over 30 years around the world as well as having founded and directed Pilates International studios and PilatesITC RTO, for over 20 years, specialising in government accredited Pilates education and professional industry development.

As Chief Executive of Pilates International, she led compliance and course accreditation, and an articulation of the VET Pilates courses into Health Science degrees with University Canberra. She was founding President-elect for a 10 year term of Pilates industry peak body PAA, and has worked on committees as well as consulting roles for international industry organisations PMA and NPCP. In 2020 Sally founded Reach Movement Health, to focus on providing modern prescriptive movement for health and wellness.

Ryan Hogan - AUSactive Board member
Hogan is the Chief Executive at Les Mills Asia Pacific and a highly regarded (REPS registered) group fitness instructor with more than 20 years’ experience. With a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm), he is a senior and strategic executive with a proven background leading businesses in the global fitness industry. Hogan is recognised as an experienced leader who specialises in driving organisational culture, change management, strategy development and growth. A thought-provoking and engaging public speaker, he has presented at conferences and events throughout Australia and around the world.

Liz Nable
A former TV news journalist, Nable spent 15 years working in Australia and around the world, including six years in New York. It was while living in New York, that she discovered the barre workout and knew instantly this could be a huge business opportunity in Australia. After returning to Sydney with her husband and young family in 2011, into the middle of the GFC downturn, she spent the next year doing long hours at a 24 hour news desk and rethinking what the future looked like. With a ton of media skills but no formal fitness or business training, Nable started her own business, buying the first Australian location of the US based barre franchise, XTEND and opening her own studio on Sydney's lower North Shore. As Australia's founding franchisee, Nable rapidly grew her business to four locations while helping the company build national brand awareness and get media attention around the country. As an expert in how to get great media coverage and free PR, she played a major role in taking Xtend Barre from an unknown brand in Australia to a household name.

She also quickly realised her unique insight into media was an invaluable asset for incredible growth, and something she now teaches to other SME's, as well as running her barre studios.

Catherine Neal
Neal is an experienced Pilates instructor, teacher trainer, dance trainer and S&C based in Brisbane. Having first trained as a Pilates Instructor in 2004, Neah has experienced the growth of the profession as it has evolved and expanded into the fitness, allied health, sport and wellness industries. From working in Pilates studios, physio clinics, gyms, and multidisciplinary allied health practices across her career, and as part of a health team within a professional ballet company for 10 years, she brings extensive insight into the industry and the varied and complex ways in which instructors work and survive. She has worked as a contractor and employee, and as an employer and business owner, establishing and operating a multi-location studio for many years.

In 2022, Neal undertook postgraduate studies in public health, exploring topics of mental health, physical activity participation and injury prevention in dance and sport. This has provided her a deeper understanding of the complexity of health behaviours, and the impact of policy, access and barriers to health in the Australian landscape.

Ellen Nash
Creator and Principal Therapist for Yoga & Wellness For All, Nash has a background of working with marginalised groups of the population for many years in Occupational Rehabilitation Case Management, combined with experience in trauma, chronic pain management and chronic illness and most importantly recovery from the same.

She always aims to work individually or in small groups with people of all abilities in the yoga therapy space. Neal has been a Registered NDIS Service Provider since 2017, with much experience and passion for working with people who experience disability and chronic health conditions. Ellen is an IAYT (with full recognition and hours), AAYT certificated Yoga Therapist and Yoga Australia level 3 Senior Teacher, with specialist training in trauma, somatic repression, Kids Family and Community yoga, Teens & Yoga Therapy for Kids and people with disabilities and Prenatal, Postnatal and Active Birthing, Fertility, Restorative and Yin yoga, Adaptive Yoga and holds a Graduate Certificate in Yoga Therapy.

She also holds KI, Reiki 1 & 2 and Brain Gym training, is an advisory group member responsible for accreditation and training standards for yoga therapy with AUSactive. She is a member of the Standards Council and the Modalities Advisory Groups with AUSactive.