Australia’s leading sports scientists, clinicians, technologists, coaches and high performance managers have converged on the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra for Australia’s leading elite sports conference: the National Elite Sports Council (NESC) Forum, which runs from 11 to 12 November.

Although Australia has long been a leader in sport innovation, our competitors are closing the gap with increased investment in elite sport — hence the NESC Forum, which provides a biennial opportunity for the leaders in Australian elite sport to hear the latest ideas from colleagues and search for new ways to keep Australia at the forefront of sports research and innovation.

Speakers at the 2009 NESC Forum include:

• Graeme Joy — arctic explorer and leadership specialist
• the Western Bulldogs coaching team, including James Fantasia (Director of Football), Rodney Eade (Head Coach) and Bill Davoren (Head of Physical Conditioning)
• Wilma Shakespear — former National Director, English Institute of Sport
• Michael Scott — National Performance Director, British Swimming
• Dr Dan Billing — researcher, Defence Science and Technology Organisation
• Michael Flynn — National Performance Director, AIS/Triathlon Australia
• Chris Nunn — High Performance Manager, Australian Paralympic Committee
• Janet Karin OAM — Kinetic Educator, Australian Ballet School
• Neil Craig — Head Coach, Adelaide Crows
• Damian Farrow — Head, AIS Performance Psychology
• Keith Lyons — Director of National Institute of Sports Studies, University of Canberra
• Ken Wallace OAM — sprint canoe Olympic medallist
• Dr Gary Slater — Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of the Sunshine Coast
• Andrew Matheson — National High Performance Director, Rowing Australia.

The NESC network, which comprises the Australian Institute of Sport and each of the state and territory institutes and academies of sport, is collectively responsible for providing the daily training and high performance sport servicing environment for the majority of Australia’s high performance athlete and programs on the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games schedules. Network members also play a major role in facilitating Australia’s sport research and innovation activities.

The 2009 NESC Forum takes place at the Australian Institute of Sport from 11 to 12 November 2009.