Future and current leaders of world sports from Asia flew into Sydney at the end of October to join top-level Australian executives attending SKA’s innovative inaugural course – the Executive Sport Management Programme.

Held in the aptly inspirational surrounds of Sydney Olympic Park, the elite group experienced an intensive six days of live-in learning where they were able to absorb a superior level of knowledge designed to prepare senior management for the next step - to the role of Chief Executive.

From the Australian Football League, CEO, Andrew Demetriou presented a unique insight into the resounding success of his organisation, which continues to evolve as the premier national football code of Australia.

Offering a global perspective on world sport was International Cricket Council CEO, Mal Speed. He was joined by academic contributors including Professor David Shilbury from Deakin University in Melbourne and Associate Professor Bob Stewart from the Victoria University.

Exposed to advanced level marketing, change management and leadership, among other topics, attendees described the course as ideally suited to the elite level. Faisal Hasnain from the International Cricket Council commented, "It is an excellent program with the right balance and an excellent CEO learning tool, but make sure you have little else to do that week as it is a very full agenda."

For the Regional Director of the Sports Authority of India, Premchand Kashyap, the key benefit was emerging with a broader viewpoint. He said, "It was a very unique experience to attend this course with very experienced delegates. It was also a very educative course which will help me to work more effectively with broader vision. Excellent effort by SKA…. a useful commendable course."

The Australian Rugby Union’s General Manager of Commercial Operations, Brian Thorburn, appreciated the programme’s balanced outlook and said, “The course is a great way to learn and acquire knowledge. It’s a great blend of theory with practical case studies delivered by an outstanding group of academics and respected sport industry professionals."

In a similar high end live-in programme, SKA presented its first Elite Sport Coaching Symposium in early November.

A group of pre-eminent sports scientists, led by University of South Australia's Professor Kevin Norton and Associate Professor Martin Thompson of The University of Sydney, teamed up with some of the finest international level coaches to create a practical and scientific course aimed at improving coaching performance at the elite level.

The symposium offered the latest in international sports science research and covered areas including technique analysis, optimisation of training, evaluation of performance and the development and maintenance of a winning culture.

Pictured:
(Front row L to R)
Karlah Pene, Course Coordinator, SKA
Paul Jonson, Director, Academic Programme, SKA
Michael Roberts, Executive Director, Tennis Tasmania
Prem Kashyap, Regional Director, Sports Authority of India
Darren Peters, CEO, Australian Paralympics Committee
Belinda Clarke, Manager CBCE, Cricket Australia

(Back row L to R)
Bruce Hayllar, Head of School of Leisure, Sport & Tourism, UTS
Margaret Torode, Head of School of Exercise & Sport Sciences, University of Sydney
Faisal Hasnain, Chief Financial Controller, International Cricket Council
Laxman Ranawat, Regional Director, Sports Authority of India
Michael Stahl, GM Finance & Administration, Richmond Football Club
Nick Honey, GM, Athletics Victoria
David Richardson, GM, International Cricket Council
Wayde Clews, CEO High Performance Group, Singapore Sports Council
Brian Thorburn, GM Commercial Operations, Australian Rugby Union
Leighton Wood, CEO, SKA
Peter Kerr, Chairman, SKA