PitchFEST 3: Unlocking the Power of Aquatics & Leisure Facilities to play a role in Social Cohesion
Tracks
Aquatic & Leisure Management
| Thursday, July 2, 2026 |
| 11:50 AM - 12:50 PM |
| Hospitality Suite 6 |
Details
In Partnership with Myrtha Pools
Explore how thoughtful planning, programming, and design can help aquatic and leisure facilities bring diverse communities together, support inclusion, and strengthen social cohesion through shared, welcoming spaces.
Speaker
Darryl Condon
Managing Principal
hcma architecture + design
Inspiration Catalogue for Inclusive and Accessible Aquatic Facilities, Developed with the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities
Biography
Darryl Condon is interested in design that acts as a catalyst for positive social change. As Managing Principal at hcma architecture + design, he has helped create engaging public spaces across Canada for more than 35 years.
Darryl is a registered Architect, and a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). He is a Past-President of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) and has been an Adjunct Professor at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
Darryl is also President of the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities’ (IAKS) Executive Board, a Senior Fellow with Design Intelligence’s Design Futures Council, a Global Fellow with WRLDCTY, and a Fellow of the UK’s Royal Society of Arts.
Ennia Jones
Founder & Executive Director
Splash of Colour Swimming
Community-Led, Culturally Responsive Swimming Initiatives
Biography
Ennia Jones is the founder and Executive Director of A Splash of Colour Swimming Incorporated, an award winning, transformative, not-for-profit learn-to-swim program that addresses mental, financial and cultural barriers to swimming, promoting social inclusion, wellbeing and water safety for CALD adults.
Adam Luscombe
General Manager
YMCA
Perspectives on the pool / leisure services as a vehicle for social cohesion
Biography
Adam Luscombe is a senior executive in aquatic, leisure and sport infrastructure, leading some of Australia’s most significant community and high-performance aquatic venues, including the YMCA Aquatic & Event Services managed Adelaide Aquatic Centre and South Australian Aquatic & Leisure Centre. With expertise spanning venue operations, major events, sustainability, Indigenous engagement, and government partnerships, Adam has helped drive programs supporting more than 2.6 million annual visits across sport, recreation and health outcomes. Passionate about social cohesion, veterans’ wellbeing and inclusive participation, he works closely with organisations including Swimming Australia, Surf Life Saving Australia and South Australia, South Australian Sports Institute, Virtual War Memorial Australia, Proud 2 Play and the Australia Day Council of South Australia to create welcoming, sustainable and community-connected environments through aquatics, recreation and sport.
Justin Scarr
Chief Executive Officer
RLSSA
Chair
Biography
Dr Justin Scarr is Chief Executive Officer of Royal Life Saving Society – Australia and a leading voice in drowning prevention, aquatic safety and community sport and recreation policy. He leads national strategies that position aquatic and leisure facilities as vital health, social and water safety hubs, and convenes the Australian Water Safety Council to drive the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030. A regular contributor to the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention, Justin has facilitated debates on the future of 50‑metre pools and inclusive aquatic infrastructure. Holding a PhD and MBA, he brings strong strategic and analytical skills to cross‑sector discussions spanning public health, sport, infrastructure and workforce development.