Why sport, place and connection make IAKS personal to me

I have recently joined the IAKS ANZ Board however my interest in sports venues is more than professional. It is grounded in family, place and belonging.

Where my connection with sport began

Growing up in Newcastle, my Dad and I had season tickets for Newcastle United. Going to matches gave us valuable time together. We may not have celebrated any trophies, but supporting Newcastle, known locally as “the Toon” builds resilience from an early age. My connection to football and my home city has never left me. St James’ Park was more than the setting for a match, although I still believe it is the best stadium in the world. It was part of our ritual, our relationship and what made Newcastle feel like home.

Today, I love taking my two daughters to watch live netball at Sydney Olympic Park. Although it is a different sport, city and generation, the shared experience feels much the same. Sport gives us time together, a sense of belonging and memories that last beyond the final score.

Discovering cities through sport

When I travel, I am always drawn to sports venues and what they reveal about a city. In Milan, a tour of San Siro introduced me to the logistics of a stadium shared by two football clubs. In Boston, I experienced the speed, atmosphere and traditions of ice hockey, including a more physical style of play than I expected. Soon after moving to Sydney, I attended a Swans game. I loved the character of the occasion, from the old-fashioned club song, “Cheer, Cheer the Red and the White”, to the sight of woollen scarves in a warm country.

These experiences have shown me that a successful venue is never just a building. It must handle crowds, movement, safety, accessibility and complex operations while meeting the needs of athletes and spectators. It must also create atmosphere and a sense of belonging. The best venues make that complexity feel effortless.

Looking beyond the obvious engineering challenge

At Cundall, I enjoy hearing our engineers explain the challenges of designing sports facilities. Some requirements seem obvious once they are pointed out. For example, a 50 metre swimming pool needs a clear-span structure to avoid columns in the middle of the pool. Yet that straightforward requirement affects the building’s structure, services, materials, cost, carbon and long-term operation.

The importance of these technical decisions becomes clearer when connected to everyday use. Can a young family navigate a busy venue easily? Can everyone participate with dignity and independence? Is the building comfortable, efficient and adaptable? Will it continue to serve its community as needs change? The answers determine whether a venue is merely functional or genuinely welcoming and enduring.

Why I want to support IAKS

This is why IAKS resonates with me. It connects the people who plan, design, build and operate sports and leisure facilities, enabling them to exchange knowledge, learn from experience and raise industry standards. Good ideas should not remain within one project, discipline or country. Sharing them allows more communities to benefit from inclusive, sustainable and high-quality places for active living.

I want to support IAKS ANZ because I have experienced the value of sport from several perspectives: as a daughter beside her dad in the stands, a mother creating new traditions with her daughters, a traveller curious about how venues reflect their cities and a colleague of engineers solving complex design challenges.

I hope to combine these perspectives with my experience in communications, brand, events and relationship building to connect people and make valuable knowledge more accessible. When sports facilities are designed well, they do more than host activity. They create belonging, shared experiences and memories that can last a lifetime.