Our people are the key to our success.
Aquarena has developed its
wonderful reputation throughout the Manningham community and the
fitness industry as a whole not only because of its standard of
facilities and services but also because of the friendliness,
skills, experience and knowledge of its dedicated staff team.
Employing over 200 fulltime, part-time and casual staff committed
to delivering the best possible outcomes for centre users
Aquarena's ongoing success has been largely because of its people.
Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the dedicated
management team.
Group Management Team:
Adam Hawken, Chief Executive Officer
Adam has been employed by the Manningham YMCA since he initially
began working at our major health and fitness centre, Aquarena, in
1998. Since those early days Adam has succesfully progressed from
the position of Personal Trainer / Hydrotherapy Coordinator,
through to Health and Fitness Director, Centre Manager and now
Chief Executive Officer.As the current CEO of Manningham YMCA, Adam
leads the strategic and financial management, planning and control
of the entire organisation and all sub business units / entities.
Adam enjoys many outside recreational activities, including
mountain bike racing, water skiing and sailing. His past heavy
involvment in outdoor sporting associations, higher education
achievements, and several years experience in the military has
ideally equiped him with the necessary skills to meet all the day
to day challenges that exist in this busy business environment.
Adam currently lives close to the City of Manningham, with his wife
Gill and young daughter.
Rob Lazzarotti, Group Marketing Manager / Bus.
Devmt.
Rob has over twenty five years experience in the health and
fitness industry and currently oversees the marketing, brand
strategy and communications for the Manningham YMCA and associated
business units. Previously he has spent over ten years as a leading
personal trainer, four years as a fitness director and the past
eight years in marketing / brand management. Rob continues to be
focused on building value and equity in the MYMCA and sub business
units, and leveraging current and new revenue opportunities that
maximize returns for all stakeholders. Rob has presented at leading
industry conferences, promoted health and wellness in the media and
advised the broader fitness industry nationally on all aspects of
health club and business operations that meet customer needs,
enhance the brand experience and deliver long term
sustainability.
Damien Ear, Group Finance Manager
Damien has been employed with the YMCA since 1988 and was
the inaugural finance director for Aquarena. As a result of this
consistency, Damien's knowledge and assistance has ensured
significant growth in the financial systems necessary to control a
business operation that now has a turn over of $4m per annum. With
the recent growth and diversification by Manningham YMCA into a
range of other business activities.
Damien is very well respected by both Manningham YMCA personnel and
his fellow financial peers as a caring and honest leader who is
committed to the mission and values of the YMCA. Married with two
children, Damien enjoys a work environment that is centred on
community involvement rather than the harshness of the corporate
financial sector.
Fiona Miller, Group Administration
Manager
Fiona has worked in the health and fitness industry since 1989.
She has worked at Aquarena since the day the centre opened in 1992.
Fiona oversees general administration, member billing, customer
service and Aquarena's childcare facility. She has a Bachelor of
Science from the University of Melbourne, and Bachelor and Master
Degrees in Education from Deakin University. In 2002 she completed
a Diploma of Recreation and in 2007 she completed the Certified
Customer Service Managers Course (Dip. Bus. CCSM).
Alan Rowe, Group Operations Manager
Alan is responsible for ensuring OH&S and operational
policies are consistently implemented and monitored across all
MYMCA operations. He specifically oversees building maintenance and
security, centre cleaning, equipment maintenance, Occupational
health & safety and first aid, gardening, pool water treatment
plant maintenance and pool water quality and the supply of
electricity, gas and water. Alan has extensive experience as a
secondary teacher and in business in Papua New Guinea. He
subsequently spent five years in the oil industry working in
operations. His primary interests are family and physical
wellbeing, particularly cross-country running and resistance
training, hence his move to MYMCA in 1994.
Centre Management Team:
Steven Marquis, Centre Manager
Steve is responsible for the management of the day to day
operations at Aquarena, including programming, the recruitment,
induction and training for the staff teams that provide dedicated
service to ensure the Manningham community enjoy the facilities and
achieve their goals. Steve has a wide range of industry experience
with a background in aquatic education, lifeguarding and management
which also includes being a conference presenter and trainer for
the broader industry. Steve has been involved in sport and
recreation at a variety of levels, and takes pride in the premier
facilities on offer to the range of groups that access the
facilities at Aquarena. Steve is very proud to have a team
that supports people within the Manningham community that have made
the commitment to improve their health and fitness with a larger
goal of a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Darrin Maslen, Health and Fitness Coordinator
Darrin has been working in the health and fitness industry since
1999 and joined the Health Club team at Aquarena in September 2004
on a fulltime basis as the Personal Training Co-ordinator. Darrin
is a highly qualified and experienced Personal Trainer who combines
his knowledge and skills of functional training, core conditioning,
corrective postural training and strength training to create a fun
and challenging session for his clients to achieve their
goals. In early 2008 he assumed the role as Health and
Fitness Co-ordinator and continues to be actively involved in
Personal Training and our Strength Training Circuit for older
adults. His educational background included studying
Recreation (Sports Coaching) and has also completed over 20
certificate courses related to health and fitness throughout his
years in the industry including his certificate IV in Personal
Training and Certificate IV in Workplace Training &
Assessment. Darrin is also involved with Victoria YMCA as a
lecturer in Certificate III in Fitness and Certificate IV in
Personal Training courses. His sporting background has mainly
involved basketball which he has been committed to for 20 years as
a coach and as a player in the V.B.L (Victorian Basketball
League). Darrin is passionate about health and fitness and
enjoys assisting clients or students grow in confidence and achieve
their goals by passing on the knowledge he has gained throughout
his years in the health and fitness industry.
Vesna Bogdanovich, Group Exercise
Coordinator
Vesna is responsible for the development and promotion of all
group exercise programs. She recruits, evaluates and schedules a
staff of over 40 instructors.In addition to managing the area,
Vesna is a VICFIT accredited group exercise and fitness instructor.
She has been teaching group exercise classes in some of Melbourne's
leading health clubs since 1995 and is a certified BodyPump,
BodyStep, BodyJam, Precision Cycling and Aerostrike (Tae Box)
instructor. She received her Bachelor of Business (Marketing) in
1994 from RMIT. Her passion for fitness has evolved from her
background in dance which has seen her conduct dance/funk
masterclasses at various gyms. Vesna is a member of Network for
Fitness Professionals and the Golden Key Honour Society.
Lisa Gates, Aquatic Operations Team Leader
Lisa is responsible for the
management recruitment, training and supervision of Pool Lifeguards
at Aquarena. Lisa has been with the YMCA since 1999 and in
this time has gained experience working as an Aquatic Education
teacher, Lifeguard and Centre Supervisor. She also assists
our Group Operations Manager in building maintenance, centre
cleaning and pool maintenance. Lisa previously worked in the
training department of a major bank. Her passion for health and
fitness involves many outdoor sports, including Surf Lifesaving.
Her three teenage children also share her love of sport,
participating in football, netball, soccer and motorbike
riding.
Lisa Williams, Aquatic Programs Team Leader
Lisa is
responsible for the management of the AquaSafe Aquatic Education
Program and the training and supervision of the teaching team. Lisa
also oversee's the other aquatic programs at Aquarena including
Aquanauts, Oceanauts, Swimfit and Hydrotherapy. Lisa is also
the liasion for the independent swimming clubs who use Aquarena as
their training base. Moving from England in October 2008 and
following in her lifelong passion for swimming, Lisa trained and
qualified as an Aquatic Education teacher with emphasis in Infant
and Preschool aquatics, which she teaches within our very
successful program. Lisa is also on hand to guide and support all
of the Aquatic Education team, students, and their families to
ensure high levels of satisfaction and enjoyment in the aquatic
environment. Lisa is passionate about swimming and water safety and
most importantly giving our students the essential aquatic life
skills to enjoy the different aquatic environments they experience
throughout their lifetime. Lisa is married with three children and
recognises the importance and value in the experiences available in
the AquaSafe program with her children enrolled in the YMCA
AquaSafe program.
Stela Mitea, Childcare Coordinator
Stela has been the Childcare Co-ordinator at Aquarena since
2003. She is responsible for the management, recruitment and
supervision of all Childcare staff and for providing a safe and
high quality care program for all children attending our
facility. Stela has worked in childcare for 12 years
following completion of her Diploma in Children Services
Childcare. She is currently in her second year of study for
her Bachelor in Early Childhood Studies at Monash University.
Stela has also recently been appointed as the Primary Nominee at
Aquarena Childcare. The Primary Nominee is the main contact
with the Department of Education and Early Childhood (DEECD), the
Government Department who oversees and audits all of the childcare
facilities in the State.
Chelsea Roach, Frontline Team Leader
Chelsea has recently joined the Aquarena management team as
Frontline Team Leader. She is responsible for the management,
recruitment, training and supervision of the reception and centre
supervisor teams. Chelsea's passion for the health and fitness
industry has evolved from her background in Dance. Before joining
the team at Aquarena in 2008, Chelsea completed a Diploma of
Performaing Arts, majoring in Dance. She has since worked in the
performaing arts industry and in her spare time enjoys teaching
jazz, hip hop and tap. She is currently in her second year of study
of a Bachelor of Business (Sport and Leisure management) and enjoys
applying her studies to assist with the management of her team.
Chelsea is really enjoying her new career in the health and fitness
industry and is proud to be part of a team that is passionate about
hepling people enjoy a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Michele Kerrigan, Cafe Coordinator
Michele joined Aquarena in April 2011. She is responsible for
the management of the Cafe, the recruitment and supervision of all
cafe staff and providing a clean, healthy and vibrant facility. She
has been in the hospitality industry for the past 14 years in
positions ranging from General Manger, chef, pastry chef, assessor
and moderator. Michele successfully ran an award winning conference
centre in Johannesbery for 12 years and has a long standing
commitment to fresh and healthy food of the highest standard.