Sports Business Taskforce

Gold Coast Sports Business Taskforce 
The Gold Coast Sports Business Task Force is an industry-based body that undertakes promotion, marketing and networking to attract sports business to Gold Coast City. Their vision is for our city to be a premier sports destination and world-class supplier of sport goods and services.

The Sports Business Task Force Industry Chair, Nick Pye, said the Gold Coast, because of its superb climate, geographic location, and facilities, is well placed to grow its share of sports business.

The role of Sports Business Task Force Members is to:
1. Represent their organisation by attending bi-monthly Sports Business Task Force meetings
2. Share in the vision and commit to the goals, actions and marketing plans
3. Use their knowledge and skills to support the Sports Business Task Force to achieve actions in the Action and Marketing Plans
4. Work cooperatively to achieve goals / actions in the Action and Marketing Plans
5. Promote the Sports Business Task Force
6. Liaise regularly with the IDO – Sport regarding the Sports Business Task Force

Gold Coast Sports Business Taskforce EVENTS

Sports Business Task Force Members

Chair - Councillor Bob LaCastra - Bob La Castra was elected to the Gold Coast City Council in 1997. He was elected to the position of Chairman of Health and Community Services in 1998. Community Services is responsible for all sport and recreation facilities as well as community sporting clubs and groups. Bob's passion for sport is well documented. In fact, Bob actually hosted the weekly, half hour 'Wombat Sports' program for many years, which screened nationally on the Seven Network. Bob was the original chairman of the Sports Business Taskforce and remains committed to playing whatever role he can in ensuring that the Sports Industry continues to grow and thrive on the Gold Coast.

Industry Chair - Nick Pye - A native of the UK, Nick Pye graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Education degree in Physical Education and English. He also holds an MBA from Bond University, Gold Coast. A varied career path has led him to management posts in the Sports, Leisure and Hospitality industries, in the Caribbean, Fiji, Malaysia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe and the U.S. Nick currently holds the positions of Managing Director of the Sports Super Centre and Director of the Children In Need Beneficiary Trust.

Cam Hart - holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Recreation Management from Griffith University, supported by a 15 year career in sports and event management, culminating in his appointed as General Manager to Queensland Events Gold Coast in 2003. He oversees the delivery and presentation of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon and Pan Pacific Masters Games. Following 9 years in the public relations sector on the Gold Coast, Cameron commenced his sports management career as a volunteer to the 3rd Australian Masters Games in Brisbane in 1991 and has since worked on the 1994 World Masters Games as a Sports Liaison Officer, a Special Projects Consultant to the 1996 Queensland Masters Games, Sports Manager for the inaugural Asia Pacific Masters Games in 1998, and Event Manager for the 2000 and 2002 Asia Pacific Masters Games. In 2003, Cameron travelled to Sacramento CA, as part of a consultancy deal with the Sacramento Sports Commission to advise on the delivery of California’s first Masters Games.

Ray McNab - is the Executive Officer Special Events with Gold Coast City Council, responsible for attracting, supporting, and retaining events in the City.  He has a broad knowledge of events management, the benefits that events bring to the City, and of future events under development. He was the key Council officer responsible for attracting Olympic teams to the City in the lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and coordinating their liaison requirements while attending their training camps.  At that time, he was also responsible for the development of Major Sports facilities as well as coordinating the development of community based facilities and organisations.Through his experience in these roles, he has a sound understanding of the infrastructure and other support services and facilities required to attract and support athletes/sportspersons to a world-class training and competition centre.  He enjoys strong links and networks with the sports and events sectors, and a range of government agencies.

Val Morrison - In 1990 Val moved from Sydney to the Gold Coast to study at Bond University for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.  She remained at Bond for eight years, working as lecturer and tutor in marketing, services marketing, organisational behaviour and management.  Val travelled through South East Asia, training managers and front line staff at ITT Sheraton Asia Pacific Hotels in the disciplines of Marketing and Services Marketing, on behalf of Bond University’s Executive Development unit.  During her time at Bond, she also worked as External Relations Manager for the university and Marketing Coordinator for the School of Business. 
In 2000, Val joined Southern Cross University’s Graduate College of Management as lecturer in marketing, organisational behaviour and entrepreneurship.  Her role includes teaching at domestic and international locations with regular travel to China and Malaysia.  Val is also Senior Business Development Manager of Corporate Programs for the Graduate College of Management and is involved in the design and delivery of executive programs for organisations nationally and internationally in both public and private sectors.  She is currently undertaking a Doctorate at Southern Cross University, researching in the field of organisational behaviour in professional sports associations with a focus on performance management systems for players in the Australian Football League (AFL).
 

Daphne Pirie - Having been involved in Gold Coast sport as an athlete, coach and administrator for the past 50 years, Daphne is passionately committed to the promotion and development of Gold Coast Sportsmen and Sportswomen. Executive positions at National and Queensland Sporting Organisation levels together with Australian International representative honours on the playing field have provided a qualified knowledge of the future needs of the Gold Coast Sporting community.Daphne currently holds the Deputy Chairmanship of the Queensland Academy of Sport – is a Director of Queensland Events  Gold Coast – an Advisory Board member of the Queensland Sporting Wheelies and chair of the Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame.

Andrew Stark - is the Chief Executive Officer of Surfing Australia and is also a current board member for the Sport Federation of Queensland.

Paul Wyatt - has been a resident of the Gold Coast for approximately twenty-two (22) years. Currently, he is Managing Director of a wholly owned consulting company which provides expertise pertaining to the hospitality industry and general business/corporate/sporting sectors. Former Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at the Southport Sharks Football Club (A.F.L), Legal Practitioner admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Justice of the Peace Queensland, Academic Qualifications include Bachelor of Law, Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.  

2007-2008 Action Plan
The Sports Business Task Force Action plan provides a blue print of activities to be undertaken in 2007/2008. This plan is reviewed quarterly. This Action Plan identifies the key development areas for the Sports Business Task Force as:
1. Task Force committee membership & operations
2. Initiatives and events
3. Partnerships and alliances
4. Industry association