PLA WA Regional Council Elections 2013 Name: Mark Casserly, BPE, Dip Teach, Grad Dip Bus, MPLA, AIMM. Mark is currently the President of PLA WA, a position he has held since 2007. He is also a member of the PLA National Board (since 2011) and is the board s representative on the PLA.nat Consulting Board. Since Mark s election to the role of President, PLA WA has been successful in securing and retaining DSR OSP funding which has allowed the organisation to engage an Executive Officer and more recently, an Events and Administration Officer. Under his leadership, and with the benefit of DSR s support, the WA regional council has transitioned from a largely operational focus to a strategically focused board, developing position papers, leading professional development programs and developing stronger industry partnerships and alliances. The WA region is clearly leading the way nationally. Mark is the principal of one of the state s leading community planning consultancies. His practice has been at the forefront of community infrastructure development in the Pilbara, and for the new satellite city of Alkimos Eglinton in the north metro area. His work has provided planning framework s for open space and community facility and service provision across the state, including seminal work for Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire, linking their comprehensive community facilities and services plan to the developer contributions arrangements under state planning policy 3.6. Mark also serves on the ministerially appointed Governing Council of the WA Country Health Service, allowing him to influence community health and wellbeing outcomes at a primary health level in regional Western Australia. PLA WA is poised to take further advantage of the resources and support provided by DSR and the outstanding contributions of the regional councillors and staff. The organisation will continue to need strong strategic leadership. Mark remains passionate and committed to the growth and ongoing success of the organisation and the parks and leisure industry and is keen to continue in a leadership role.
Name: Luke Ellis I have been working within Local Government recreation for the past 15 years, of which, most recently I have been responsible for the management of a range of recreation facilities at the City of Stirling. Of those managed, my focus has been the City s award winning Aquatic Facilities, Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre - Inglewood and Leisurepark Balga. These facilities, whilst similar in intent require different management approaches to meet the needs of, and service their disparate demographics. Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre is a regional site servicing over 650,000 attendances returning a healthy surplus annually whilst Leisurepark operates as a local facility with 320,000 visitations and a community focused pricing structure returning an operating deficit. Prior to working with the City of Stirling I have held various roles, both metro and regional providing a broad base of experience at a wide range of community recreation facilities. Professionally I am interested in facility management, operations, sustainability and the daily pressures faced by staff when set against Council and Executive expectation whilst working to meet the Community s needs. I enjoy the metrics associated with these facility pressures, their measurement allows for intelligent management of sites to suit their communities and provides for direct comparisons to the performance of local, state and national peers. These pressures and comparisons provide a challenging mix of targets to meet and opportunities to educate, and where possible influence Elected Members and Senior management. Personally I am an avid competitive cyclist, an active Committee Member of the South Perth Cycling Club and team rider for the local Dome Coffees Cycling Team. I aim to provide a facility management focused voice within the PLA WA Regional Council informed by my extensive hands on experience at all levels of recreation service delivery and management. Working within all types of facilities including aquatic, dry, community and multipurpose has contributed towards an extensive knowledge base. I am able to apply personal experience to the differing aspects of recreation & leisure policy, planning and operation. I am aware of, and operating daily within the industry experiencing the challenges and opportunities available.
Name: Rohan Gunton BSocSc. I currently the Executive Manager Recreation for the YMCA Perth, a position I have held for the past seven years. This position sees me provide strategic leadership for the YMCA s Recreation Department, which currently includes oversight of ten local government recreation and aquatic facilities, the YMCA's expansion into the private fitness centre market as well as the YMCA's suite of community based health and wellbeing programs. Previous management roles I have held include Centre Manager of Aqua Jetty and the Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from regular participation in sport and recreation activities. I am interested in how this objective can be achieved through the provision of well managed community infrastructure, programs and services. I am particularly interested in how collaborative partnerships between government, the corporate sector, not for profits and the community can create opportunities for people to live healthy and engaged lifestyles. I will bring a balance of industry experience, common sense and enthusiasm to my role on the PLA WA Regional Council and will seek to add value to projects and initiatives that benefit our industry and the community. Although I m based in Perth, my position as YMCA Executive Manager Recreation, sees me providing oversight for a number of our regional facilities and programs in the Pilbara, Gascoyne and South West of Western Australia. As such, I am aware of the challenges and issues associated with operating in regional WA and will provide a voice for industry professionals working in these areas.
Name: Malcolm Neill Malcolm Neill is the Managing Director of Nue Wave Facility and Asset Management who has operated some of Western Australia s largest recreation and aquatics facilities with over 20 year s experience in Local, State and Federal Government facility management. Malcolm s background also includes working in events and sponsorship management in Sports, Arts and Racing (Motor and Equestrian) as well as construction managing for numerous facility developments Goldfields Tennis Centre Kalgoorlie, Willetton Basketball Stadium upgrade, Cinema Upgrades in Bunbury, Garden City, Innaloo and Rockingham. Most recently he has been engaged as Project Manager for the Manjimup Regional AquaCentre Geothermal (Ground Source Heat Pumps) for Pool Heating and Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning that includes numerous new technology for pool filtration, Building Management Systems and installation of variable speed drive technologies. Nue Wave is a management consulting company specialising Leisure & Recreation. Our expertise is in assisting Councils with improving performance of facilities through the examination of structures, processes and systems. Our prime role with local government has been able to delivery practical operational services with long term and cost effective solutions. For further information go to www.nuewave.com.au 1. Facility Development Planning 2. Energy Efficient Technologies 3. Asset Management Programming 4. Sustainability Projects Water and Environment Personal Recreation Interests include Mountain Biking, Orienteering & Soccer As a PLA WA Council Representative Malcolm believes he can truly represent the interests of all members, particularly those in the South West of Western Australia. Malcolm s expertise and commitment to PLA WA comes with a passion to find the creative solutions for members and projects, desire to develop best practise case studies and looks forward to liaising with all sectors of the PLA WA membership and industry.
Name: Joanne Smith Joanne studied Urban and Regional Studies at Curtin University, Horticulture at TAFE and Environmental Science at Murdoch University. She has worked in State Government, Local Government and private organisations. Joanne started her working career with Perth town planning consultants and as an historic research officer for the Department of Land Administration, before moving onto a position as the accounts and wages clerk for Elders Pastoral in Katherine. Joanne is currently responsible for the development and management of high profile open space projects as the Manager Gardens and Landscaping at the City of Bayswater. She has worked for six local governments since 1989 in the planning, design and management of parks, streetscapes, bushland reserves and foreshores. For four years she ran her own consultancy servicing the property development and south west farming industries with assessment, planning and design advice for establishing quality green spaces, improving biodiversity and best practice water sensitive urban design. Joanne also managed the construction and maintenance of landscaped and rehabilitation areas of a number of small subdivisions throughout Perth and Mandurah. Joanne is particularly interested in reducing negative impacts on the environment that in turn negatively impact on our health and wellbeing. Managing these impacts is more than just improving water and energy efficiencies and reducing pollution. It is about accepting the complexities of cultural and natural systems and immersing ourselves in them. By sharing our knowledge and experiences across the parks and leisure industry we can improve the way we respond to human need for recreation, interaction and reflection. Joanne is currently the Deputy President of PLA WA, and was recently appointed to the PLA national board. She currently holds the portfolio for the Parks and Streetscape network and has been instrumental in developing and driving the PLA WA Strategic Plan. Joanne is a passionate advocate for public parkland and brings with her current work on policy and actions for community health and wellbeing, adapting to and mitigating climate change, urban forestry, natural area restoration and access for play, irrigation resources, turf management and water use best practice. She represents PLA WA on the State Public Parkland Strategy; Food, Fibre and Timber Industry Training Council; Community Health and Wellbeing Position Paper subcommittee; Climate Change Position Paper subcommittee, and chairs the Water Issues Discussion Paper subcommittee. Working with others to identify key issues, consider options, exercise ideas and bring about change for the better requires passion and determination. Joanne's professional record is testimony to her dedication to the Parks and Leisure Australia's industry support agenda.