Ross Gage transitions to new advisory role with ASSA

Australian Swim Schools Association President, Wayne Pollock has advised that Chief Executive, Ross Gage is to step away from his current leadership role with the Association to "pursue other interests" in the swim school sector.

Currently working in a part time capacity while also working for Carlile Swimming, Gage has, according to Pollock, over the past two months, "been engaged with the ASSA Board in a positive transition process to ensure ASSA continues on its successful path".

Pollock explained "while we are sad that we won’t have the benefit of Ross’ expertise and wise counsel in a formal leadership capacity, we are excited to let you know that he will still be involved with ASSA in an advisory role - leading special projects that might require his distinctive knowledge and experience, exploring commercial and sponsorship opportunities that will benefit ASSA members, and volunteering as a member of ASSA’s Water Safety and Inclusion Committees and the Coronavirus Task Force."

Pollock noted "Ross has been involved in this sector for nearly four decades. His list of achievements is long and impressive and reflects both his passion for teaching children to swim and his commitment to the industry and all that it stands for."

Pollock listed the achievements as including:

• Being the architect and driving force behind the establishment of respected industry peak bodies such as Swim Australia, the Australian Swim Schools Association and the International Swim Schools Association
• Having been recognised by his global peers via his induction into the US Swim Schools Association’s Hall of Fame in 2017
• Being instrumental in successfully lobbying the Australian Government to classify ‘swimming lessons’ as an essential education and life-saving service resulting in lessons for all Australian children to be categorised as GST exempt
• Building momentum around the ground-breaking research conducted by the Griffiths University team who confirmed empirically and unequivocally the far-reaching physical, cognitive and social benefits resulting from a child’s exposure to swimming from an early age.

Pollock added "in addition, Ross - with the help of his wonderful team - have established themselves as the leading presenter of swim conferences globally. These conferences not only deliver valuable and relevant content, but also provide a platform for sharing expertise across the sector and cementing life-long friendships amongst swim school owners and their teams.

"On behalf of the Board and membership of the Australian Swim Schools Association, and indeed the entire swim school sector, I would like to thank Ross for his contribution to the association and to the broader swimming industry. In short, we would not be where we are today without Ross. We are all beneficiaries of his foresight, determination and passion.

"We are also grateful for the powerful team he has built around him, and I am glad to let you know that they will be stepping up and into new leadership roles - with Emily McNeill taking on the role as General Manager, supported by the ASSA Board, and Nicala Harris becoming Office Manager. The pair and their network of associates are already well underway with planning our next National Conference, developing new capabilities on our website with a member portal and continuing to identify ways to build a larger and stronger membership base."