Amie is a public sector executive at the City of Greater Geelong, with a strong record of leading large‑scale strategic planning portfolios and delivering high‑profile capital and policy programs in complex environments, including oversight of more than $480 million in capital infrastructure through the Commonwealth Games Legacy Infrastructure Program. She is deeply passionate about delivering outcomes that facilitate participation and connection through sport, advancing equitable access and stronger, more connected communities.

RJ Houston is a senior leader in the aquatic industry with over 20 years of experience across local government, non-profits, facility management, and peak bodies. As a General Manager at Royal Life Saving - Australia, RJ drives national initiatives in industry safety, training, workforce development, education, and lifesaving. He specialises in convening industry leaders around key issues, translating research into practical industry standards, shaping national policy, and leading collaborative strategies that enhance industry capability and impact. RJ is a recognised advocate for the role of aquatic facilities in drowning prevention, social impact, and community wellbeing. He holds an MBA in Social Impact from the Australian Graduate School of Management, UNSW.

Sarah is a passionate advocate for sport and physical activity in the built environment. Recently joining Warren and Mahoney as an Associate Principal, Sarah’s career to date has included leading large and complex sports projects for government, non-profit and private organisations. Key projects include Penrith Indoor Multisport Arena for Penrith City Council and the recently completed Galuwa Recreation Centre for Lane Cove Council. In 2024 Sarah was awarded the prestigious Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship, travelling to Europe to study future trends in community sports buildings and publishing a paper “Let’s Get Moving: New Directions in Sports Architecture and Urban Planning”. She is also a Director on the Board of IAKS ANZ, the leading global non-profit network for experts in the field of sports and leisure facilities.

Taio Waldhaus is a passionate Mechanical Engineer and Principal at AME Group, specializing in innovative aquatics and recreation projects. With a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Taio thrives on driving energy reduction, sustainability, and community-focused solutions. As the Mechanical Design Leader for the groundbreaking təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic Centre, he collaborated closely with the City of New Westminster and the design team to deliver this zero carbon facility to the community. With over 20 years of experience, Taio has contributed to numerous successful projects across Canada, leading mechanical design teams to achieve LEED and Zero Carbon certifications. He is a recognized leader in the engineering and building science community and frequently contributes to conferences such as BCRPA, RFABC, ARPA, and IAKS. Recently, he presented at IAKS’ annual conference in Oslo, Norway, sharing his expertise on sustainable design in sports and recreation facilities.