Liz Fowler

(DipPRTMgmt)

Director
Recreation, Sport Administration and Event Specialist

Liz has been involved in the recreation industry for 30 years. This has been in local government including community advisor roles and senior management roles, as a specialist parks and recreation consultant and in event management including running National Sporting Events and National conferences.

Outside of work Liz enjoys tramping, cycling and skiing, walking Tui the dog, cooking and family time.

Areas of expertise

Contract management
Facility management
Recreation planning
Excellent organisational, management and planning skills
Proven experience and ability to communicate with all
members of the community
Considerable Local Government experience
Written and oral communication skills
Computer skills
Event and sport management
Staff leadership and management
Funding management and administration

Voluntary Positions

Committee member – Kayaking Tauranga – 3 years
Chairman of Canoe Slalom BOP – 2 years
International Canoe Federation – Level 1
International Canoe Slalom judge - current
Conference convener – NZRA Central Region
Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty – judge - Regional events and New Zealand Secondary Schools - current
President of Whakamarama & Districts Kindergarten (2 years)
Member of Omokoroa Playcentre. (4 years)
Board Member, Tauranga Regional Free Kindergarten Association (2 years)
Tutor – Reading Assistance Programme, Omokoroa Point School
Secretary and Treasurer for Omokoroa Football Club – 4 years
Secretary – Omokoroa Pahoia Sea Scouts – 2 years.
Assessment Committee Member – Hillary Commission Community Sport Fund. Three year appointment, Tauranga District Council.

WORK HISTORY

2013 to present

Director – Thrive Spaces and Places (previously Geoff Canham Consulting)

Running the above consultancy, administration, accounts, contract management.

Event Director:

2017 and 2019

New Zealand Secondary Schools Whitewater Championships.

2017 to present

AIMS Games, Canoe Slalom Event Director.

2014 to 2015

Conference Organiser – NZILA 2015 National Conference

Working with the conference committee to help and co-ordinate the NZILA 2015 National Conference being held in Rotorua in March, 2015.

2007 to 2013

Sports coordinator - Katikati College

Employed in a part time role for 25 hours per week running all the sport co-ordination for Years 7-13 at Katikati College. This involved managing sports teams, coordinating events within the school, administration of sports activities, managing of lunchtime sports, working with students, parents, staff and the wider community.

1998 to 2006

Consultant

Organise the following conferences in conjunction with Event company “The Main Event”

New Zealand Recreation Conference (300 delegates) held in New Plymouth in 2003.
Sister City Youth Forum, held in Rotorua (100 delegates),August 2004
Rod Tolley, Tauranga Seminar, November 2004

Manukau City Council:

Event Management, Contract Development and Funding Advisory.

North Shore City Council:

Development of Sportsfield Service Level Agreements.

Hillary Commission for Sport Fitness and Leisure (subsequently called SPARC, now Sport New Zealand)

Development of resource material for local authorities.

New Zealand Recreation Association

Sphere of Influence Study for the Association.

1996-1998

Tauranga District Council

Contract management, recreation planning, facilities management, project and asset management.

1995-1996

Works Consultancy (now Opus Consultants)

This was a short-term contract, managing facility contracts for Tauranga District Council (now Tauranga City).

1992–1995

Hastings District Council

Promotions and Recreation Manager. This role managed outdoor and indoor recreation facilities, the Hastings Municipal Theatre as well as managing and promoting these facilities.

1992

Wellington City Council

Bookings Officer and Special Projects.

1989-1991

Upper Hutt City Council

Recreation Officer. This role included the management of Upper Hutt’s community funding, running special events, liaising with the community in regards to community recreation projects and working with elected members.

1988-1989

Wellington Regional Council