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Our People

  • Sally Jeavons - Director - @leisure Planners

    Sally Jeavons - Director / Principal Planner

    • Grad Dip Market Modeling, Swinburne U.T.
    • Grad Dip Recreation Planning, Canberra CAE
    • Bachelor of Arts (Geography), University of New England

    Sally has thirty years experience as a Recreation Planner and twenty years experience as a Director of @leisure. She has held board positions at international leisure associations over many years. Sally has managed local government recreation departments and has worked as an employee in state government: planning, recreation and housing departments. She has undertaken extensive work in market research, community engagement, open space planning, sports facility planning and feasibility management, as well as access and inclusion. Sally has presented and published papers widely.

    Sally is a life member of Play Australia and Parks and Leisure Australia.  She was the recipient of the 2009 Frank Stewart Award for excellence and outstanding contribution to the field. Sally is typically involved in all stages of the projects undertaken by @leisure and contributes greatly to the methodological aspects and overall performance of each study team.

  • Daniel Willsmore - Senior Planner - @leisure Planners

    Daniel Willsmore - Senior Sport and Recreation Planner

    • Diploma of Management, Recreation Planning, NBIT and HM Leisure Planning, Melbourne
    • Graduate Diploma Sport Business, Victoria University
    • Dip of Applied Science (Horticulture), University of Melbourne

    Daniel has in excess of 25 years experience in the sport and recreation industry, having worked across three states in Australia and in the UK. Daniel has experience in recreation planning, event and venue operations, sports and recreation development and horticulture for both private and public organisations.

    Previous to working with @leisure, Dan was a Recreation Planner for Kingborough Council in Tasmania, where he undertook many projects such as developing a recreation facility strategy, planning and managing the implementation of an urban mountain bike park, as well as numerous trails, playground and sport facility projects and preparation of numerous successful funding applications for large and small projects. 

  • Michael Graham – Senior Sport and Recreation Planner

    Michael Graham - Senior Sport and Recreation Planner

    • Bachelor of Arts (Recreation Management), Victoria University
    • Graduate Certificate (Business Marketing), RMIT University

    An experienced aquatic and leisure facility manager, Michael has worked in the industry for the past 28 years with local government, Universities, the YMCA, RANS Management Group and the past 13 of these with Belgravia Leisure; an operator of aquatic and leisure facilities, sports stadiums, golf courses, day spas, alpine resorts and events centres. Most recently as General Manager – Programs, Michael was responsible for the national growth and development of programs for the company including Swimming Lessons, Membership sales, Personal Training, Disability and Diversity, Golf and Group Fitness.

    Michael has extensive experience undertaking leisure centre performance audits across both large and small leisure facilities in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the UAE. Identifying and planning for improved financial performance has been a key to his success.

    He also has experience with facility design from the operators perspective; contract management; business improvement analysis and program implementation; business plans including marketing plans and environmental plans; budget preparation and management; staff recruitment, mentoring and performance reviews; Capital works programming and asset management; marketing, membership retention and sales.

  • Firth

    Matt Firth - Senior Sport and Recreation Planner

    • Associate Diploma, Recreation, Footscray Institute


    Matt has over thirty years’ experience within the sport, recreation and small business sectors. He has worked in sport for local government sports associations and peak bodies and in sports business.

    Matt’s experience covers a variety of facets including sports facility and event management, sports venue operations, sports facility feasibility studies, open space strategy plans, contract management, municipal sports and recreation strategies, business management and development plans, small business management, sporting event development,  planning and implementation and sports association management.

    Matt’s wide experience allows him to bring an innovative and lateral view to solve a variety of sport, recreation and business challenges. Since joining @leisure, Matt has been responsible for coordination of feasibility studies for aquatic and facility projects and business cases.

  • Diana Barrie - Senior Sport and Recreation Planner

    • Graduate Certificate Planning, RMIT
    • Graduate Diploma Recreation Planning, Canberra CAE
    • Bachelor of Arts (Geography), University of NSW

    Diana has over 30 years’ experience in recreation and tourism planning and project management of infrastructure projects for State Governments in NSW and Victoria.

    Diana has had considerable experience in State and Local government major regional infrastructure project planning including development with a focus on visitor markets. 

    These include regional trail networks (rail trails and their evaluation), overseeing funding for tourism infrastructure works such as the redevelopment of the Hepburn Bathhouse, Flagstaff Hill Museum and many other regional tourism attractions including showgrounds.

    Whilst working in Sport and Recreation, Diana specialised in the area of indoor sports facilities (specifically swimming pools) for both local government and the international sphere, as part of the Infrastructure Team for Melbourne’s Bid for the Olympic Games.
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    Nele Roose - GIS and Documents Manager

    •       Bachelor of Topography, Hogeschool Gent, Belgium

    Nele has responsibility for business administration, project management and GIS projects as well as managing the workflow in the office and financial control of projects. Nele has over 10 years experience in a range of business, and data related capacities. She has considerable experience in digital mapping, cartography and Geographic Information Systems and previously worked for an international digital mapping data company.       

    Prior to joining @leisure, Nele worked for over 10 years in a multinational software corporation that makes enterprise software. She held several positions in the company related to license compliance and pricing – and brings a wealth of experience in project and people management, administration, process improvements, training and information systems.
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    Adrian Dixon - Project & Business Administration Officer  

    • Bachelor of Sport & Recreation Management/Business Management- (Victoria University)
    • Master of Sport Business & Integrity- (Victoria University)

    Adrian holds qualifications in a double degree in Sport & Recreation Management/Business Management, as well as a Master of Sport Business Integrity Degree, both studied at Victoria University. Prior to joining at @leisure, Adrian worked for the Coburg Football Club, who currently play in the VFL competition, where he held roles and responsibilities working in logistics, football operations and digital/social media. 

    Adrian’s experience includes administration and operations, logistics, digital/social Media, facility management and data management.

    Adrian’s role with @leisure includes project administration, and data collection and analysis.