Mark Band appointed Parks and Leisure Australia Chief Executive

Industry consultant Mark Band has been appointed Chief Executive of Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA).

Replacing long standing PLA Chief Executive Garry Henshall, Band, and his company One Eighty Sport and Leisure Solutions, will also be responsible for providing services to PLA through a Governance Contract - his appointment following an Expressions of Interest distributed to PLA members to provide it with national secretariat and governance services including the role of the chief executive.

Band comes to the position with extensive experience in parks and recreation management having began his career in the sector in the early 1990s as a facility manager in the north west of England and having extensive experience in both government and private enterprise. Since that time, Band has become a strategic planner with strong social understanding of leisure and recreation combined with an astute business acumen for delivery across all sectors.

Band has worked on a number of major projects throughout his career including needs analysis and feasibility studies; strategic planning for businesses and organisations; procurement and management advice to providers and facility owners, as well as coordinating and planning for community infrastructure and services across large scale urban and residential developments, Mark has become well respected in the sector and has been recognised and awarded for many projects he has been involved with.

Having worked in many parts of the world including Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia as well as lecturing in leisure and recreation planning, Mark's passion for the industry has been focussed on assisting communities, individuals and businesses grow and develop through sustainable structures that encourage participation and promote the social and economic benefits of leisure in today's society.

With the PLA he is the Association's Executive Officer for the South Australia and Northern Territory region.

PLA President Bruce Fordham explains that Band and his company "were selected from a wide and highly regarded field of interest during the Expression of Interest phase conducted by PLA in late 2011."

Fordham added that "PLA is excited by the appointment of Mark Band as CEO, as PLA continues to grow and mature as a professional association.

"Mark will lead the organisation into the next phase of PLA life that will build on the professional development opportunities, advocating to Governments on issues impacting on the Parks and Leisure industry and working collaboratively with key strategic partners."

Garry Henshall will continue with PLA as Conference Co-ordinator, provide IT support and co-ordinate the PLA Journal.

While Band has commenced his position as of 1st April, new office operations will commenceas of the 16th April 2012.

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