Conference Agenda

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid

11:45am –12:30pm

Stream A – People & Leadership for the Next Decade

Session Overview:

This stream explores the evolving people and leadership challenges facing the aquatic and recreation sector, with a strong focus on workforce wellbeing, psychological safety, and sustainable leadership practices in high‑care environments.

Stream B – Safe, Smart & Sustainable Facilities

Session Overview:
This panel will explore how aquatic facilities can strengthen safety, compliance, and sustainability through smarter systems, innovative plant solutions, and proactive risk management. The focus is on practical approaches leaders and operators can apply now to improve audit readiness and WHS outcomes.

Session Title: Designing Programs for Inclusion at Scale

Focus:
An applied exploration of how inclusion goals can be effectively translated into scalable, day‑to‑day operations within aquatic and recreation services. The session will examine:

• Turning inclusion intent into practical program design and delivery
• Building workforce capability and confidence to support diverse communities
• Measuring success through meaningful outcomes that extend beyond participation metrics, including belonging, confidence, and sustained engagement

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid

12:30pm –1:15pm

Stream C – Digital, AI & the Intelligent Facility

Session Overview:

This panel explores how digital systems, artificial intelligence, and connected technologies are reshaping aquatic facility operations. The discussion will focus on practical applications that reduce operational pressure, improve safety and oversight, and support smarter decision‑making for leaders and operators.

Stream D – Community Access, Equity & Impact

Session Overview:

This stream explores how aquatic and recreation services can design and deliver equity‑led access models that translate intent into measurable community impact. Speakers will share practical insights, system lessons, and scalable approaches that improve participation for diverse communities.

Session Title: Psychosocial Risk in Practice: A Data‑Driven Approach

Focus:
This session will explore how psychosocial risk is presenting in aquatic and recreation environments, grounded in data, evidence, and frontline experience. It will examine the practical application of positive duty in real‑world settings, with a strong emphasis on:

• Leading staff through high‑risk and challenging interactions
• Translating psychosocial risk data into everyday leadership actions
• Practical tools and approaches that support staff safety, confidence, and wellbeing on deck

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid

2:00pm –2:45pm

Stream A – Leadership MicroMoves

Session Overview:

This session focuses on the small, practical leadership actions (“micro‑moves”) that create meaningful change in team culture, capability, and performance. Rather than theory, the session highlights everyday leadership behaviours that build trust, develop people, and strengthen leadership pathways across the sector.

Stream B – Operational Risk Controls That Matter

Session Overview

This session focuses on the operational risk controls that genuinely matter in day‑to‑day aquatic operations, particularly during high‑risk conditions. Drawing on regulatory, audit, and local government perspectives, the discussion will move beyond policy into practical, defendable operational decision‑making.

Session Title: From Insight to Implementation: Equity Models That Work

Focus:
An applied exploration of equity‑led access models in aquatic facilities, with a particular emphasis on $2 entry initiatives. The session will examine:

• Operational trade‑offs and decision‑making considerations
• What makes pilots successful (or not)
• How to measure participation, equity impact, and sustainability
• Lessons that can be adapted and scaled across different community contexts

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid

2:45pm –3:30pm

Stream C – From Data to Decisions

Session Overview:

This stream focuses on how aquatic and recreation organisations can move beyond collecting data to using it confidently and consistently to inform decisions, demonstrate impact, and engage communities. Speakers will share practical approaches to meaningful KPIs, clear reporting, and data‑led leadership.

Stream D – Inclusive Programming in Practice

Session Overview:

This panel explores how aquatic and recreation services can translate inclusion values into practical, sustainable program delivery. Drawing on lived experience and specialist expertise, the session will focus on designing inclusive programs that respond to diverse community needs and create meaningful, safe, and welcoming environments.

Session Title: Global Pools – Local Lessons

Focus:
An international perspective on aquatic facility operating systems, drawing on global case studies and sector intelligence. The session will explore emerging trends, shared lessons, and practical implications for future‑focused planning, design, and operations within local pool and aquatic facility contexts.

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid 

11:50am –12:20pm

Stream E – Programs that Drive Participation

Session Overview:

This stream explores how well‑designed programs drive participation, quality outcomes, and long‑term community impact. Speakers will share practical insights and reflections on learn‑to‑swim delivery, program scalability, inclusion of at‑risk communities, and how programs can evolve to meet changing needs.

Stream F – Financial Sustainability & Revenue

Session Overview:

This industry panel will explore how aquatic and recreation services can strengthen financial sustainability in an increasingly complex operating environment. Drawing on operator, council, and advisory perspectives, the discussion will focus on practical revenue levers, pricing decisions, and diversification strategies that support long‑term viability while maintaining community value.

Session Title: The Next Generation: Building the Future Workforce for Tomorrow’s Leaders

Focus:
This deep‑dive session will explore how the aquatic and recreation sector can intentionally build, retain, and empower the next generation of leaders, drawing on workforce trends, lived experience, and practical leadership frameworks.

The session will examine:

• Why young people and emerging leaders stay in aquatics — and why they leave, including generational expectations and workplace realities
• The role of flexibility, purpose, and visible career pathways in workforce attraction and retention
• Common pitfalls organisations and managers encounter when leading early‑career staff — and what effective leaders are doing differently
• Practical approaches to identifying “shining stars” early, nurturing their capability, and creating clear development opportunities
• How organisations can move from reliance on passion to intentional workforce planning and leadership succession

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid

12:20pm –1:10pm

Stream F – Financial Sustainability & Revenue Models: The Future of Pools

Session Overview:
This stream explores how the aquatic sector can build financially sustainable, future‑ready pool models, bringing together strategy, funding, and real‑world case studies. Speakers will examine how investment decisions, funding pathways, and innovative models can shape the next generation of aquatic infrastructure while balancing community outcomes and long‑term viability.

Stream G – Future People and Leadership

The Next Generation: Building the Future Workforce

Focus:

• Why young leaders stay (or leave) aquatics
• Flexibility, purpose, and career pathways
• What today’s managers get wrong — and right
• How organisations can identify and back “shining stars” early

Session Title: Learn to Swim in Practice: Programs, People and Delivery

Focus:
A practical exploration of learn‑to‑swim program delivery in a local government context, with a strong emphasis on people management alongside program design. The session will examine:

• Translating learn‑to‑swim policy and standards into day‑to‑day practice
• Managing, supporting, and developing instructors and frontline teams
• Maintaining program quality and consistency at scale
• Operational challenges and lessons learned in delivering high‑performing swim programs

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid

1:50pm–2:40pm

Governance, Policy & Advocacy Streams

Stream G – Governance & Risk Readiness

Session Overview:

This session sits within the Governance, Policy & Advocacy stream and examines how strong governance frameworks support safety, compliance, and organisational confidence across aquatic and recreation services. The panel brings together regulator, insurer, operator, and local government perspectives to focus on risk readiness, audit capability, and closing priority compliance gaps.

Stream H – Policy & Advocacy

Governance, Policy & Advocacy Streams

Session Overview:

This panel will explore the role of policy, advocacy, and evidence‑based decision‑making in shaping the future of public aquatic infrastructure. Drawing on government, sector, and design expertise, the session will examine how the aquatic and recreation sector can better articulate value, influence investment decisions, and respond to changing community expectations.

Session Title: Leadership in Practice

Focus:
A practical exploration of leadership in action, translating leadership principles into day‑to‑day behaviours, decisions, and systems that support high‑performing teams and sustainable operations.

Time

The Arena

The Extra

The Vivid

2:40pm –3:25pm

Session Title: YLAG Listening Session

Focus:
An open listening and discussion session led by YLAG, creating space for emerging and young leaders to share insights, challenges, and ideas shaping the future of the aquatic and recreation sector.

Session Title: Fearless Leadership Workshop

Focus:
This workshop explores what fearless leadership looks like in practice, particularly in complex, high‑care environments. Led by the ARI Board, the session will equip leaders with practical tools and frameworks to lead with clarity, courage, and intent.

Key themes include:

• Courageous conversations that strengthen trust and accountability
• Understanding levels of work and leading at the right altitude
• Why clear is kind: setting expectations and giving effective feedback
• Developing clear role charters to reduce role confusion and burnout
• Taking a systems approach to leadership and decision‑making
• Knowing your team: aligning individual strengths, goals, and growth opportunities

Session Title: The Future of Pools: AquaBox and the Design of Next‑Generation Aquatic Infrastructure

Focus:
An exploration of how innovative, modular aquatic infrastructure—such as the AquaBox model—is reshaping the way pools are designed, delivered, and operated. The session will examine:

• Future‑ready design principles for aquatic facilities
• Speed of delivery, flexibility, and scalability in infrastructure planning
• How modular solutions can support access, sustainability, and long‑term community outcomes