Program
Performance Teams Forum
The Performance Teams Forum program delivers insights from leading experts, real world reflections, peer-to-peer learning, and intentional space for curiosity, reflection and exploration of Performance Teams, with topics covering:
- Spotlighting Performance Teams
- The Coach and the Practitioner
- Competitive Advantage
- What It Takes To Win (WITTW) and Individual Athlete Plan (IAP)
- Intuition and data insights
- Professional development – explore new areas of performance
- Growing, retaining and leveraging high performance system expertise
- Exploring our Connection to Country
- A Legacy in Knowledge
These discipline network activities will take place today. Session details are subject to change.
Time | Session | Details |
|---|---|---|
9:00am | Registration opens | Arrival and networking |
The Biomechanics discipline activity will bring together the Biomechanics network to strengthen the collective direction, impact and future readiness of sports biomechanics within the Australian High Performance sport system. Themes include clearer performance problem framing, stronger integration in Performance Teams, improved focus on insight generation, and greater national alignment in capability development.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
10:00am-10:30am Founders Bar | Pre-meeting coffee networking (including ISB2027 Session EOI Discussion) |
10:30am-11:00am Jim Stynes (A) | Session Introduction Speaker: Andrew Lyttle, AIS |
11:00am-11:45am Jim Stynes (A) | Where are we now? Impact versus Defensibility theme and alignment with Coach/Athletes needs Facilitator: Andrew Lyttle, AIS |
11:45am-12:30pm Jim Stynes (A) | Setting the Scene Speaker: Prof. Brendan Burkett, USC |
12:30pm-1:15pm Founders Bar | Lunch |
1:15pm-2:00pm Jim Stynes (A) | Data Storytelling/Success narratives Facilitator: Andrew Lyttle, AIS |
2:00pm-3:30pm Jim Stynes (A) | How do we create defensible Insights for coaches/athletes? Facilitator: Andrew Lyttle, AIS |
3:30pm-4:00pm Founders Bar | Break |
4:00pm-4:45pm Jim Stynes (A) | Future Contributions and Discipline Direction Future Focus Activity: How will evolving technology influence our roles over the next three Olympic cycles (LA28; Brisbane32; 2036 Olympics) Facilitator: Andrew Lyttle, AIS |
4:45pm-5:30pm | Future Discipline Coordination Facilitator: Jayden Lowrie, Paddle Aus & Helen Bayne, WAIS |
6:30pm-9:30pm | Network Dinner – Cherry Tree Hotel - 53 Balmain St, Cremorne |
The Performance Analysis activity will bring together Performance and Data analysts from across the system to increase understanding of each other's expertise, explore opportunities for collaboration, and share innovative practice across the system.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
9:00am-10:30am | Arrivals and Registration |
10:30am-11:30am | Welcome and Pre Game Analysis Speakers: Performance and Data Analysis Leads | AIS |
11:30am-12:00pm | Data on and off the Field of Play: Bridging Performance Analysis and Data Intelligence Speaker: Sam Wells | Paralympic Performance Specialist | Paralympics Australia |
12:00pm-12:30pm | Sports Data Challenge - Introduction to real world sport challenges Speaker: Various |
12:30pm-1:30pm | Lunch |
1:30pm-3:00pm | Sports Data Challenge - The Engine Room |
3:00pm-3:45pm | Afternoon tea |
3:45pm-5:00pm | Sports Data Challenge - The Final Whistle |
The Nutrition discipline day provides an opportunity for the HP nutrition network to connect, share ideas, and collaborate. The program will include opportunities to showcase current work, learn from colleagues about athlete interventions, innovative projects, and system-wide initiatives, and explore new approaches together. Associate Professor Julia Carins from Griffith University will also lead a workshop on impact, focusing on how we can map, measure, and communicate the value of our work.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
9:00am - 10:00am | Registration, Connection and Cuppa |
10:00am - 10:10am | Welcome and Introduction Speaker: Kylie Andrew | National Performance Support Lead - Nutrition | AIS |
10:10am - 10:40am | Understanding Impact Speaker: Julia Carins | Associate Professor | Griffith University |
10:40am - 11:10am | Making Nutrition Visible: Perspectives from Around the World Speaker: Julia Carins | Associate Professor | Griffith University |
11:10am - 11:40am | Panel: What Leaders Value Facilitators: Kylie Andrew & Julia Carins Panel Members: Justin Crow | Head of Health | QAS Duncan Free | General Manager of High Performance | Rowing Australia Benita Lalor | Brisbane Hub and Region Manager - Swimming | QAS |
11:45am - 12:25pm | Rapid Fire Network Presentations Speakers: Alicia Edge | Football Australia Hannah Gibson | NSWIS Demi Patterson | ACTAS Sarina Lococo | VIS |
12:25pm - 1:10pm | Lunch |
1:10pm - 1:50pm | Rapid Fire Network Presentations Speakers: Susie Parker-Simmons | OWIA Louise Cato | VIS Sam Deutsch | NSWIS Emily Meehan & Dr Alice McNamara | VIS |
1:50pm - 3:10pm | Impact workshop - Mapping & Measuring Your Impact Facilitator: Julia Carins | Associate Professor | Griffith University |
3:10pm - 3:40pm | Break |
3:40pm - 5:00pm | Impact workshop - Creating the Narrative & Story Telling Facilitator: Julia Carins | Associate Professor | Griffith University |
5:00pm - 5:15pm | Wrap Up and Close Speaker: Kylie Andrew | National Performance Support Lead - Nutrition | AIS |
The Applied Physiology discipline activity Physiological Excellence: Advancing Practice, Driving Performance, Creating Scalable Impact will bring together the Physiology network to leverage collective capability, sharpen best practice implementation, and maximise performance impact across the Australian High Performance sport system.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
9:00am - 10:00am | Morning tea and check in available |
10:00am - 10:30am | Opening: The Power of Us Interactive networking activity | Connect, contribute and hear from all Activity Lead: Laura Piromalli / Lachlan Mitchell | National Performance Support Lead - Physiology |
10:30am - 10:40am | New Kids on the Block Listen & Reflect | Early career practitioner perspectives Speaker: Tess Rolley | Physiologist | SASI |
10:40am - 11:00am | Setting the Scene: Why Physiological Excellence Matters Now Listen an Reflect | Leadership Perspectives Presenters: Laura Piromalli / Lachlan Mitchell | National Performance Support Lead - Physiology | AIS |
11:00am - 11:10am | Break |
11:15am - 1:00pm | Collective Intelligence Lab: Perspectives into Practice Presentation | Table Discussion | Audience Q&A Facilitator: Eileen Robertson | Technical Lead Physiolgy | SASI
|
1:00pm - 1:45pm | Lunch |
1:50pm - 3:00pm | Collective Intelligence Lab: From Discussion to Direction. Action. Scramble. Interrogate. Interactive workshop | Facilitated table discussions | Network generated insights Session Facilitators: Laura Piromalli / Lachlan Mitchell Group Facilitators: Trish King, Martyn Binne, Avish Sharma, Matt Driller, Jamie Stanley |
3:00pm - 3:30pm | Rapid Insights: Launch, Lessons & Application Sit Back & Listen | 2 x 15 minute showcase presentations | No Q&A
|
3:30pm - 3:55pm | From Data Collection to Decision Making: Physiology's Opportunity to Lead by Design Presentation | Targeted Table Discussion Speaker: Jess Stephens | Sports Scientist (Physiology) | QAS Contributor: Lachlan Mitchell | National Performance Support Lead - Physiology |
4:00pm - 4:30pm | Break |
4:30pm - 5:00pm | End of Day Reflection: Wrapping Up with Purpose Facilitators: Laura Piromalli / Lachlan Mitchell | National Performance Support Lead - Physiology |
6:15pm - onwards | Networking Dinner |
The Learning Design discipline activity, From Cases to Conversation, will bring together the Learning Design network to share and learn from real cases of Learning Design practice with coaches, athletes, and the broader performance team. These cases will provide a catalyst for conversations about the processes practitioners work through to create the conditions for impactful practice.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
9:30am - 10:15am | (Re)Connection - Guided Walk Along Birrarung Marr |
10:15am - 10:45am | Setting the Scene on Growth for Learning Design Facilitators: Derek Panchuk & Michael Maloney | National Perfomance Support Leads | AIS |
10:45am - 11:00am | Break |
11:30am - 12:30pm | Missteps as a Catalyst for Growth Facilitator: Carl Woods | Learning Design Lead | QAS |
12:30pm - 1:45pm | Lunch & Networking |
1:45pm - 2:15pm | Practitioners in the Spotlight |
2:15pm - 3:00pm | Stepping into the Unknown - Reflecting on a career of transitions |
3:00pm - 3:20pm | Afternoon Tea |
3:20pm - 4:40pm | Moments of Influence - How do we work with others? Facilitator: Georgia Askew | Skill Acquisition & Learning Design | Boccia Australia |
4:40pm - 5:00pm | Where to from here? Facilitators: Derek Panchuk & Michael Maloney | National Performance Support Leads | AIS |
The Performance Psychology discipline activity will bring together the Performance Psychology network to strengthen connection across the Australian High Performance sport system, discuss emerging areas of best practice, and explore themes of innovation and excellence.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
10:00am-10:15am | Introduction – Kris Dun |
10:15am-11:15am | Connection activity with Prof Kit Wise |
11:15am-12:00pm | Psychology Code of Conduct in Sport environments – Rosie Stanimirovic |
12:00pm-1:00pm | Lunch |
1:00pm-3:00pm | Psychology Framework and Psychology Network next steps – Kris Dun |
3:00pm-3:30pm | Afternoon Tea |
3:30pm-4:15pm | Psychology in Surfing – Jason Patchell |
4:15pm-4:45pm | Fireside chat with Dr John Sullian – Head of Psychology, High Performance Sport, New Zealand |
4:45pm-5:00pm | Close |
The Physiotherapy Leads activity will bring together the network to strengthen connection across the Australian High Performance sport system with a focus on health and performance challenges. It aims to explore data utilisation as a performance enabler and inform current and future best practice.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
10:00am - 10:15am | Welcome Speaker: Paula Peralta | National Performance Support Lead - Physical Therapies | AIS |
10:15am - 10:45am | Current state - where are we now?
|
10:45am - 1:10pm | Desired system capability and gap analysis - small group breakouts Facilitator: Kate Beerworth | Performance Support Manager | SASI |
1:10pm - 2:00pm | Lunch |
2:00pm - 3:30pm | Performance health data: the bigger picture. Playback & discussion with invited industry leaders Facilitators: Paula Peralta & David Borg Invited:
|
3:30pm - 3:45pm | Break |
3:45pm - 5:00pm | System impact from the floor to ceiling: next steps Facilitators: David Borg & Paula Peralta |
The Performance Support Manager activity will bring the Performance Support Manager network together to strengthen connection across the Australian High Performance sport system with a spotlight on performance support leadership, to explore challenges and opportunities, and share strategies for success.
Time | Session |
|---|---|
12:00pm - 12:20pm | Topic: Leading Performance Support Teams Presenters: Mark Young | QAS Nick Rees | Skate Aus Mathew Inness | Essendon FC |
12:30pm - 12:50pm | Topic: Talent Recruitment Presenter: Stuart Carruthers | Sport Executive |
1:00pm - 1:20pm | Topic: Real World Challenges Facilitators Kieran Young | Water Polo Aus Katie Sandford | VIS Nick Rees | Skate Aus |
1:30pm - 1:50pm | Topic: Leading Performance Support Teams Interviewer: Dee Jennings | Hockey Aus Panel members: Kate Beerworth | SASI Harry Brennan | VIS |
1:50pm | Close |
Opening day of the Performance Teams Forum
Time | Session | Details |
|---|---|---|
8:00am | Registration opens | Arrival, coffee and networking |
9:00am-9:30am | Welcome to Country Welcome and Opening Remarks | Wurundjeri Elder Perry Wandin |
9:30am-9:50am | What is our Brisbane 32 Competitive Advantage? Driving a competitive advantage in the field of play - driving towards home ground success | Bill Tait | GM Performance Systems & Strategy, Australian Institute of Sport |
9:50am-10:10am | Exceptional Performance Team Environments How performance teams need to evolve for 2032 and beyond - what is the vision for exceptional performance teams in the future | Siobhan Crawshay | Performance Services Lead, Paralympics Australia |
10:10am-10:30am | Enhancing Performance Teams Exploring frameworks and philosophies to establish Performance Teams as the engine room of Win Well | Alan McConnel (Facilitator) Bec Rippon | Head Coach, Water Polo Australia Kieran Young | Performance Support Manager, Water Polo Australia |
10:30am-11:00am | Break | Morning Tea |
11:00am-11:30am | Think Like a Coach Building a Strong Succesful Performance Team around an athlete/s | Bill Davoren | HP Coach Development Manager, Australian Institute of Sport Neil Craig | Coach Educator and Developer, High Performance Kinetics Pty Ltd |
11:30am-12:30am | Sport Case Study Australian Athletics | Abbey Caldwell: Stuck in the middle with you | Victoria Kahn | Australian Athletics Avish Sharma | Australian Athletics / Victorian Institute of Sport Gavin Burren | Coach Nicky Frey | Victorian Institute of Sport |
12:30pm-1:30pm | Lunch | |
1:30pm-2:00pm | Can Intuition and Data co-exist in Performance Teams? Exploring the 'gut feel' of intuition and experiential learning, in the Performance Team environments rich with data insights. | Professor Joel Pearson | Neuro Futurist, University of New South Wales |
2:00pm-3:00pm | From Intuition to Data: How Performance Teams Learn John Sullivan | Head of Psychology, High Performance Sport New Zealand Facilitated Table Discussions | The presentation explores how high-performance teams can translate information into clearer, more informed decisions. Drawing on functional neuroscience, the presentation examines how the brain learns and perceives information, the influence of affective cognitive pathways, and the biases that can cloud judgement. It also considers the fundamentals of clarity and the human factors required to facilitate learning, collaboration, and effective decision-making within performance teams. |
3:00pm-3:30pm | Break | Afternoon Tea |
3:30pm-4:30pm Breakout Sessions Room 1 Showcase Members Dining Room | WCBB's Moneyball: When Data Changed the Game | Rod Siegel | High Performance Manager, Basketball Australia Luke Mitchell | AMS Analyst, Western Australian Institute of Sport |
Introducing the Physique Considerations Operational Framework | Kylie Andrew | National Performance Support Lead: Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport | |
| Neuro diversity -Understanding different nervous systems and how to coach with flexibility. | Jason Patchell | Lead Psychologist, Surfing Australia |
Room 2 Showcase Jim Stynes (A) | From Markerless Motion Analysis Technology to Athlete Decisions | |
Boccia - The integration of learning design, coaching and performance analysis | Luke Kelly Georgia Askew | Skill Acquisition & Learning Design Lead, Boccia Australia Harry Moffat | Performance Analyst, Boccia Australia | |
Yarning about values and belonging through cultural connection to stay Strong Together | Jamie McPherson | Connection to Country Officer, Victorian Institute of Sport | |
Room 3 Showcase Jim Stynes Room (B) | Supporting Athlete Skill Learning: Four Principles for Performance Teams | Derek Panchuk | National Performance Support Lead: Skill Acquisition, Australian Institute of Sport |
Identifying the hidden conditions that differently influence an athletes sporting journey | Adam Cassidy | Senior Advisor - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, ASC | |
From Data to Action: Targeting Para TID for Our Best Games Ever | Sarah Taylor | Acting Manager, Data Intelligence - Sports at Paralympics Australia Tamara Lidums | Physiotherapist, Victorian Institute of Sport | |
4:30pm-4:50pm | Power of Reflection | Michael Nelson | AIS High Performance Coach Development Lead, SASI Kristine Dun | National Performance Support Lead: Psychology, AIS |
4:50pm-5:00pm | Closing Remarks | |
5:00pm-6:00pm | Networking Event |
Second and final day of the Performance Teams Forum
Time | Session | Details |
|---|---|---|
8:00am | Networking | Arrival, coffee and networking |
9:00am-9:30am | Welcome and Day 1 Recap | |
9:30am-10:30am | Spotlighting Stronger Together: Case Studies Cycling | |
Winter Way of Working | Peter Caine | Performance Support Manager, Olympic Winter Institute of AustraliaBen Bond | |
10:30am-11:00am | Break | Morning Tea |
11:00am-11:30am | Playing the long game - Retaining performance knowledge through time How organisations can capture valuable insights, learn from experience and strengthen knowledge retention through research, cultural connection and deliberate legacy-building practices. | |
11:30am-12:00pm | Performance Team perspectives - Strengthening a legacy of knowledge How we use a legacy of knowledge as a performance advantage, and how the entire Performance Team plays a crucial role in achieving this. | Alan Hahn |
12:00pm-12:30pm | Yarning Circles Creating space for connection, listening and reflection, the Yarning Circle session encourages meaningful conversations about personal journeys, shared experiences and future aspirations. | Introduced by and supported by Jamie McPherson |
12:30pm-1:30pm | Lunch | |
1:30pm-2:00pm | Optimising Heat Acclimation in the Elite Athlete | This presentation will explore the science and application of heat acclimation in elite sport, focusing on how adaptation can be optimised to maximise performance and athlete readiness. Particular emphasis will be placed on individual responses, effective implementation strategies, and translating research into competitive advantage. |
2:00pm-2:30pm | Performing Under Pressure Mental Performance in Competition | Richard Fryer | Senior Consultant, Mental Performance in Competition, Australian Institute of Sport |
2:30pm-3:00pm | Research Showcase One slide performance pitch | Ebonie Rio | Acting Manager Physiotherapy, Victorian Institute of Sport |
3:00pm-3:30pm | Break | Afternoon Tea |
3:30pm-4:30pm | The Australian Research Council Training Centre for Transformative Health Sensing Technologies The Centre trains PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in health sensing technologies (HST), such as wearables and smart implants that collect continuous data from human bodies. It aims to transform HST into trusted devices to provide a measurement-based understanding of individual health. | Peter Lee | Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne |
B32 Committees - Who, What and Why | Ellora Thwaite | |
Mandatory Genetic Sex Testing - main considerations | ||
4:30pm-4:50pm | Journey of the Forum: Leaving Stronger Together on our journey to 2032+ | Michael Nelson | AIS High Performance Coach Development Lead, SASI Kristine Dun | National Performance Support Lead: Psychology, AIS |
4:50pm-5:00pm | Closing Remarks | |
5:00pm | End of the 2026 Performance Teams Forum |