Diversity and Inclusion in Leisure Forum NSW ACT 2025 Digital Showbag

I'm a disability sports lead at MATTA, a creative agency for sport and lifestyle brands, as well as a marketing consultant, disability advocate and competitive adaptive athlete. My Fellowship focuses on inclusive fitness - exploring how to make gyms and personal training more welcoming and accessible for disabled people.  

Four years ago, I sustained a spinal cord injury and became tetraplegic. As a former Ironman triathlete, returning to the gym was part of my recovery plan - but I was shocked by the lack of accessible equipment, inclusive design and trainer knowledge. That personal experience inspired this project.  

I'll visit Australia, the USA and Canada to learn how inclusive gym environments are built - from trainer education and gym design to accessible communication for disabled people, both inside and outside the gym. I aim to use my findings to create practical, impactful resources that support a more inclusive fitness industry. By sharing insights on accessible gym design, creating resources for personal trainers and improving communication practices, this project will help remove barriers and make fitness more accessible to all. 

Download Presentation: Marina - My journey searching for best practice in inclusive fitness

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Whitney Williams
Currently working as Maitland's Coordinator Community and Recreation Planning, I bring a broad range of experience and insight through my past work within not-for- profits and local government. I understand the challenges and opportunities experienced by these sectors and am privileged to work in a position where I am 

now a connector for community, service providers and local government. I am an advocate for community engagement and genuinely believe community is at the forefront of all we do. I am committed to creating connected and vibrant 

communities that represent the diversity and uniqueness of all individuals. 

Suellen Goyne
With over thirty years' experience in the community, aquatic and recreation industry, I have worked with local government, the private sector, community groups, not for profits and commercial stakeholders, developing a broad understanding of our industry's framework. 

Connecting community wellbeing to leisure is my purpose, environmental sustainability is my passion, and I look forward to developing our industry's skill base and creating meaningful industry relationships through networking, learning and development. 

Download Presentation: Breaking Barriers: Building Inclusive Aquatic Facilities and Communities in Maitland 

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Ben has been involved in Gymnastics for over thirty years as an athlete, coach and administrator. With over a decade of experience as a coach and committee member at a national level, Ben is a foundation Chair for Oceania Gymnastics Union and served two terms as a Commission Member for the International Gymnastics Federation. Ben has authored several Sporting Schools programs and has worked extensively in the development of participation and inclusion programs in NSW and Australia. With a background in communications and engagement, Ben brings over 20 years of experience in sport, media and government to the Pride in Sport team. 

Download Presentation: Invisible Stigmas - Diversity & Inclusion in Leisure Forum 2025

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Ennia Jones is the founder and Executive Director of A Splash of Colour Swimming Incorporated, an award winning, transformative, not-for-profit learn-to-swim program that addresses mental, financial and cultural barriers to swimming, promoting social inclusion, wellbeing and water safety.  

As a Dr John Yu Fellow, Ennia is committed to inclusion and community engagement, ensuring a supportive environment for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) participants. Due to strong community demand, the program has expanded beyond Newcastle to Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney and beyond.  

A passionate advocate for water safety, Ennia is dedicated to empowering CALD communities with the skills and confidence to swim, reducing drowning risks and fostering a lifelong connection to swimming.  

Ennia Jones is a TEDx speaker and finalist for the 2025 NSW Woman of the Year – Community Hero.  

A Splash of Colour Swimming is the recipient of the 2025 NSW Royal Life Saving Excellence in Cultural Diversity Award and the 2025 Business Hunter Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award. 

Download Presentation: Ennia Jones - If we bring them will they stay

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Melanie Benjamin is an Inclusion Coordinator with Belgravia Leisure at Lakeside Leisure Centre (ACT) and a Group Fitness Instructor across multiple fitness and aquatics facilities. She is dedicated to creating welcoming, accessible environments where individuals of all abilities can participate confidently in movement, wellness, and community programs. Drawing on a diverse professional background, she brings a strong, people-centred approach to fostering inclusion across the leisure industry. Melanie also contributes her skills on the committees of two not-for-profit organisations, supporting broader community engagement and inclusive practice.

Download Presentation: Inclusion Champions

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Dr Oscar Lederman is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Mental Health Research Lead within the Human Performance Research Centre. His research focuses on reducing health inequities through physical activity for people living with mental illness and culturally diverse communities. 

Oscar has over a decade of experience working across community and clinical settings as a clinical exercise physiologist and clinical researcher. He has led translational research programs that integrate exercise into recovery-oriented mental health care, including Keeping the Body in Mind (NSW Health), Community in Motion (Flourish Australia), and Minds Collective Football Club (Collective Leisure, City of Sydney, UTS). 

Oscar is the research lead (working in partnership with industry and community partners) on Pasifika Moving, a co-designed program promoting culturally grounded physical activity among Pacific communities in Western Sydney. His work emphasises collaboration, cultural safety, and systems change to ensure equitable access to movement as part of everyday care. 

Oscar has co-authored national consensus statements and education frameworks defining the role of exercise professionals in mental health and continues to advocate for exercise as both a clinical intervention and a driver of social connection and wellbeing. 

Download Presentation: Co-designing a community-led, culturally responsive physical activity program for Pasifika communities in Western Sydney

Download Presentation Summary: Pasifika Moving Summary

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Victoria Goodwin-Barlow is the Group Health & Wellbeing Manager at Belgravia Leisure, leading national strategy across health and wellbeing. With experience across public, private, and charitable sectors, she brings a systemic approach to improving community health ensuring that environments, programmes, and practices align to create inclusive, supportive spaces where everyone can improve their active wellbeing and feel that they belong. 

Download Presentation: Mental Health e-Learning Program

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With over 25 years of experience in the aquatic industry, Renee Amidy is the Aquatic Development Manager – NSW/ACT/TAS at Royal Life Saving leading initiatives that strengthen the aquatic education workforce and promote inclusive, high-quality water safety programs across communities. Passionate about drowning prevention and accessibility, Renee focuses on improving opportunities for at-risk and regional populations to learn vital swimming and water safety skills. 

Download Presentation: Empowering Regional and Diverse Communities Through Learn to Swim Programs 

Download Presentation Summary: Learn to Swim Program for Targeted Communities Summary

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As Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Sydney’s six Aquatic Leisure venues, Ramani leads, creates and delivers initiatives addressing the needs of over 18 different target communities. With over 20 years of experience in the community sector, Ramani has a proven background in bridging needs between marginalised people, grassroots communities, and government to create authentic and engaging activities that involve diverse audiences.  

In the last financial year. Ramani developed over 33 distinct programs that attracted over 300,000 attendances, strengthening community wellbeing in groups that may otherwise have been overlooked. Her work continues to champion accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful participation for all. 

Download Presentation: A community engagement perspective of Trans Gender Diverse event 

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Peter is the CEO of Para-Mobility and brings extensive domestic and international experience in senior finance and general management positions exhibiting leadership in strategic direction, operations and value maximisation. His career spans a range of industries and disciplines, including sales, manufacturing, primary production, development, software development, financial services and project management environments. 

Since his position as Finance Director at Rosemount Estates Pty Limited and then CFO at Southcorp Limited, Peter has held a number of senior roles including CFO, COO, Management Consultant, Director and Chairman of existing & start-ups and General Business Advisory. 

Past memberships include Member of Australian Society of Accountants, Fellow of Chartered Institute of Secretaries & Administrators, Senior Associate FINSIA and holds a Diploma in Corporate Management AGSM – Uni NSW. 

Download Presentation: Breaking Barriers for Access & Inclusion 

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Byron Gulpers is the Area Manager for the Dubbo Regional Aquatic Venues, overseeing operations across multiple aquatic leisure facilities. With nearly 15 years of experience in the leisure industry, Byron has worked with diverse communities ranging from metropolitan suburbs to remote regional areas and has supported venues internationally in New Zealand. In his current role, he leads strategic planning, team development, and operational excellence to ensure safe, engaging, and high-performing environments for staff and patrons alike. 

Download Presentation: Workforce Diversification

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In Katherine’s current role she is responsible for leading large multidisciplinary teams, and delivering innovative strategies that enhance community engagement and sustainability. She is passionate about creating welcoming experiences and ensuring accessibility to leisure facilities for all, fostering inclusive environments that encourage participation and wellbeing. 

Download Presentation: CultureWISE

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Chris Kerrisk is an accomplished technology leader and entrepreneur with a career spanning global innovation, complex systems delivery, and transformative ventures.  

From a PhD candidature in Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology at UQ to leading world-first projects at News Corp, NAB, and Visa—including pioneering digital media paywalls, peer-to-peer payments, and new merchant solutions—Chris consistently delivers impact at scale.  

As co-founder of Unlockd, he experienced both successful exits and the challenges of bold innovation, shaping his unique resilience.  

Today, as co-founder of Cérge, Chris is redefining accessibility and inclusion through AI and digital infrastructure, positioning technology as a social change catalyst. 

Download Presentation: Cérge 

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Liz Stranix is the Business Operations Manager for Belgravia Leisure, bringing 18 years of experience in the Aquatic and Leisure Industry across the public and private sector. Over the past 5 years with Belgravia Leisure, Liz has championed initiatives that strengthen community connections, driven by her passion for creating meaningful impact in local communities regardless of their size. 

Download Presentation: Community Network Forums 

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