Launched in June 2005 with a Federal Government grant of $8.6 million, SKA is jointly owned by the University of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. SKA delivers executive level education and knowledge-sharing on sports management, coaching and science via educational programmes, commissioned case studies and research within Australia and through partnership programmes overseas. SKA will assist the continued global growth of the sports industry, helping more communities around the world to benefit from Australia’s strong sporting culture. Since its launch in June this year, SKA has run seminars/programmes in China on sport venue management and in Australia on player valuation strategies, executive sport management, elite sport coaching and international sport facility management.

About the Management Team

SKA is headed up by CEO Leighton Wood. A former Chief Executive of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Melbourne Major Events Company, Wood has a master’s degree in Business Administration and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard University. In creating SKA’s elite courses, Wood calls upon the expertise of key members of his management team.

Dr. Paul Jonson, who is highly regarded in the field of sports law, is SKA’s Deputy CEO and Director of Academic Programme.

Dr. Peter Sinclair, SKA’s Manager of Academic Programme, has broad experience across the spectrum of Sport Sciences.

Professor Kevin Norton, PhD FACSM, LLB, M.A, B.Ed (PE) Hons, works as SKA’s Director of Research and Knowledge Services.

SKA’s Director of Business Development is Joyce Chew, BBA, is working to forge the international relationships that facilitate the sale of Australia’s sport knowledge in foreign countries.