Stephen Craig Email & Phone Number

A wide range and varied Operational role that includes Strategy & Partnerships, Signature Events, Media & Marketing, I.T, and People & Culture. A continual and developing addition to my previous two roles within the organisation.Working closely with our Sport Programs Manager and Sport Services Coordinator to ensure the seamless implementation of our varied organisational frameworks, policies and procedures.And working alongside our CEO to ensure the Organisation meets the requirements of our partners and key stakeholders, and reporting requirements.A key part of this role includes identifying, researching and developing proposals and identifying the process to implement strategic ideas into a functioning and sustainable reality within the Academy sport program framework.

A new and exciting challenge within my career, with a large part of this role undertaking media and marketing tasks, such as writing partnership proposals and media releases, along with working with our partners to maximise their brand exposure within our organisation. Through advertising in our e-magazine, through to activations at our Corporate events, Golf Day and Annual Sport Awards Night. A highlight during the 2021 COVID lockdown's was the complete review and redevelopment of the corporate brand, including a major re-design of all administration, athlete and coach uniform. Updated marketing material and partnership proposal documents, including implementing an annual Athlete Census. Most importantly however has been the review and redevelopment of the Academy's Sport Program Framework. A document that guides the content, operation and desired outcomes for the Academy's high performance junior sport, coach education and development programs.I also have a large portfolio of policy and procedural update and review, as well as producing documents and framework guidelines, and assisting in the planning of sport program budgets, however I definitely enjoy the challenge in pushing out regular media releases to the "old school" print media, and working with our partners through EDM's, digital marketing opportunities and brand activations. In the additional role as Head Coach of Basketball, I took the opportunity during the COVID lockdowns, to completely re-write a new-look Basketball program. This included a technical guide, program framework and then matching the KPI's to a State and National level performance program, which is now being implemented within the Academy environment. Still in its infancy, the skill level of this program will continue to grow and develop.

After a twelve year break from the Academy, I was delighted to return at a time that the Academy needed my assistance. By providing my previous knowledge of the organisation, as well as most recent experiences, we were able to successfully navigate not one but two COVID impacted years successfully. It has been great re-connecting with my CEO, Gerry Knights, who was the CEO when i left in 2008. Since my return, I have been able to help implement the QUBE Coach Education and Development program, including sourcing presenters, course content and certification opportunities. I enjoyed working with our CEO and then Sport Program Manager Daniel Currinckx in developing processes and procedures for review, including recommendation and administrative implementation of all aspects of the business, budgets, policy, procedure, sports program content and timelines. Aspects of the business that have developed into my transition through to Sport Operations Manager.

Sydney

After realising that opportunities for promotion within my place of employment were limited (not so much because of lack of ambition, but because of the loyalty and longevity of those above me), I tried building my own sport management business. Whilst I wouldn't call it a fail, it definitely wasn't a million dollar success. However the opportunity to provide freelance work consulting to a small family-owned transport and logistics business was both insightful and a great learning experience into a completely different and diverse industry. Through out assisting the business to implement best business practices, policies and procedures related to risk, Chain of Responsibility (CoR) compliance along with accounting and book keeping processes within the business, I learnt some valuable business skills, as well as learning that I am not cut out to be a truck driver! I am definitely more valuable and suited to high-end office administration!

The eleven years at the CYCA have shaped me as a person and have shaped the diversity in my career ability. The leadership provided by my Manager Justine Kirkjian, who is now the CEO was exemplary and has helped shape me and guide who i want to be as a person. Whilst i was initially employed as the Sailing & Youth Administrator, my ability to adapt to the sometimes highly stressful working environment saw me progress through the organisation to the position of Assistant Sailing Manager.I had the opportunity to undertake the role of Acting Sailing Manager whilst my Manager was on Maternity Leave, allowing my further professional development as a leader within the organisation which included working directly with the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race in their first Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. My key role within the CYCA was to lead a quality team of administrators in the successful completion of administration and compliance associated with yacht racing within the clubs extensive on water sailing program, including the signature Blue Water Classic, The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. I had the great pleasure of training my eventual replacement, Tara Blanc-Ramos, who is now the Sailing Manager of the yacht club. I am proud I was able to help her achieve her career goals.I was also able to shadow the media and marketing team throughout the conduct of the eleven Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race's that i was apart of, including ten (annual) trips to Hobart to help manage the finish of the race, which allowed me to develop extra curricular skills in dealing with the media and managing partnerships. Skills which are now a key part of my current role.

I was fortunate enough to be handed my first full-time role, which saw me move nearly 2000km from my home town to undertake the role of Sports Programs Officer. Later promoted to the 'Coordinator' position, after successfully managing six months as Acting-CEO whilst the organisation had a change in its administrative lead; my key roles were to effectively manage up to ten junior representative sporting programs operating concurrently, and within the Regional Academies of Sport framework. I had the opportunity to leave to gain experience within a high-end organisation, and did so with the blessing of my CEO. As you may have read above, after twelve years I am excited to be back, and to continue to build on those frameworks and foundations I helped initiate at the very beginning.

Avondale College, Cooranbong

Whilst studying in a course in Communications - not that i really knew what i wanted to study at college, I was able to complete an Internship within the campus media centre to assist in producing radio programs for Adventist World Radio and on campus radio network. This was under the direction of Dr Allen Steele, who founded AWR. To learn from his experience was second to none. It was an honour to work and learn alongside the creator of an International organisation that has reached and influenced so many. During my time at the College, I had first hand experience in covering 9/11, with a large number of American students and teachers calling our campus home, and being the Editor of the campus newspaper at the time, reporting on such a moment in time is something that I will never forget.

Diploma Of Leadership And Management / Diploma Of Business

Diploma Of Management

Subjects In Sport Development

Education record

Certificate Iv

Total Coach Foundations Course

Association Level

Level 1 Community Sports Chaplaincy

3Dimensional Coaching

Education record

Member Protection / Child Protection

Education record