National Sports and Physical Activity Convention in collaboration with IAKS releases 2024 program

With a program that aims to inform, challenge and excite the sport and recreation industry, the organisers of the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC) have launched the program for its 2024 edition.

Partnering with the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS), the wide-ranging program shows a conference with content that looks to explain what is possible in inspiring innovation and driving participation. Designed to challenge and inform the sport, recreation, facilities and venues ecosystem, it brings together an exceptional list of key national and international industry players, thought leaders, and experts along with insights from outside the industry for a transformative experience in leading, growing and improving recreation and sport.

The conference presents eight distinct streams covering sport management, sports facilities, aquatics and leisure management, sports grounds and spaces. It extends to other integral components of the ecosystem, encompassing play, active cities, communities and individuals, schools and sports, as well as participation and inclusion. This comprehensive approach serves as the go-to professional development hub, catering to the diverse needs of the entire industry.

The 2024 program continues its history of tackling the essential strategies of ‘Future Proofing Sport – Emerging Narratives Changing the Ecosystem of Sport’, with broad and expert perspectives from David Sharpe, Chief Executive of Sport Integrity Australia; Richard McInnes, Executive General Manager, Sport and Community Capability, Australian Sports Commission; Karen Jones, Chief Executive, NSW Office of Sport; Amy Ridley, Director, Goalball NSW, Goalball Paralympian and Alison Burchell, Chief Executive, Solomon Islands National Sports Council.

Children are the Future
Setting the scene will be the Global Thought Leader Keynote focusing on the pivotal theme of ‘Children - Our Next Generation of Participants and Leaders’.

Delving into strategies for engaging and encouraging young people to stay active, promoting their involvement in community sport and recreation. The discussion will draw insights from successes and failures worldwide, fostering a resilient systems approach involving sport, government, schools, and providers. Join the conversation with Alison Oliver, MBE, Chief Executive of the UK’s Youth Sport Trust and Tom Farrey, founder and Executive Director of USA’s The Aspen Institute.

IAKS Partnership
The NSC’s partnership with the Germany-based IAKS 2024 will see the event benefit from international expertise with a global keynote - ‘Spaces and Places - Development of Active Environments, Neighbourhoods, and Cities to Encourage a Healthier and More Active Society’ - to feature Andrew Sly, Deputy Director-General - Sport & Recreation, Queensland Department of Tourism and Sport; Takanori Fukuoka, Associate Professor, RLA (US), Ph.D., Tokyo University of Agriculture and IAKS member Tina Saaby, Director, The Danish Town Planning Institute.

Welcoming this, NSC founder and Chief Executive, Martin Sheppard commented “the NSC (and) IAKS 2024 remains dedicated to leading industry professional development and fostering innovative best practices that push the boundaries of conventional thinking across various sectors”.

Critical Issues
The program also addresses the critical issues and present innovative solutions through cross-sector big issue keynote sessions, including:

• Alternative Funding Models for Sport

• The Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) For Sport

• Participation and Inclusion - Compare and Contrast Global Strategies, Sustainable Design for Next Generation of Community Facilities

• Active Cities - Strategy to Reality

• The Environmental Narrative for Sports Grounds, Play and the Human Right of Young People to be More Active

• The Health Agenda

Over 130 speakers
The Convention will also hear alternate thinking we can all embrace from venture capitalist Chris Gillings of Cut Through Ventures; Sarah Carney, National Chief Technology Officer - ANZ for Microsoft, Mike Hall of UK-based FaulknerBrowns Architects and Marc Riemann, Manager - Aquatic & Leisure Centres, Cologne City Council.

Commenting on the depth of the program, Sheppard adds “not only does the 2024 program confront the critical issues, it debates them, giving the industry a voice to question, discuss and challenge national and global perspectives and strategies”.

Site Tours and other features
NSC IAKS 2024 will also include the NSC Oration, workshops, industry tours and two days of networking.

The eight page NSC program can be found in the latest issue of the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine.

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

Image: Delegates at the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention in 2022.