Webinar Overview: Women Leading the Future of Parks and Leisure
Parks and Leisure Australia is proud to present a special International Women’s Day webinar celebrating the diverse experiences, leadership, and influence of women working across the parks and leisure sector.
This one-hour, panel-style discussion will bring together women from a range of roles and career stages to share their journeys, insights, and reflections on leading, influencing, and creating inclusive spaces both within organisations and across communities. Rather than formal presentations, the session will be an open and facilitated conversation focused on real-world experience, practical learning, and honest reflection.
Our panellists will explore what leadership looks like in practice from influencing without positional power and navigating complex projects, to leading teams, services, and strategic change. The discussion will also highlight the vital role women play in shaping inclusive, welcoming parks, recreation spaces, and community environments.
What You Can Expect:
- Authentic conversations: Hear candid reflections on career pathways, leadership challenges, and lessons learned along the way.
- Practical insights: Learn how women are creating trust, inclusion, and impact in community engagement, service delivery, project management, and strategic leadership.
- Sector perspectives: Explore what the parks and leisure sector needs from women leaders now and into the future.
- Advice you can use: Gain practical guidance and encouragement relevant to women at all stages of their careers.
Presenters:
Wendy Holland – Director of Communityvibe
Wendy holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Recreation) and has over thirty years’ experience in the sport, recreation and community development field, having been employed in the private, public and not-for-profit sector in Australia and internationally.
Her previous positions include:
- Working as a leisure planning consultant throughout Australia developing needs studies, feasibility studies, research projects, marketing plans, development plans, strategic plans and community consultations for a range of government, not-for-profit and community-based groups.
- Managing leisure services departments for various local government authorities in metropolitan and regional areas
- Managing a community services department in local government
- Working as a youth worker at high rise inner-city public housing estates
- Organising state and national conferences for various government and not-for-profit organisations
- Assessing and monitoring state government grants and projects
- Teaching community-based tourism courses in Africa
- Submission writing and sponsorship plan development in Australia and China
Cathy Kiss AM -Service Manager – Recreation Services at the City of Cockburn
Cathy has worked in the recreation and parks industry for 37 years, primarily in Local Government. For the past 20 years Cathy worked at the City of Melbourne. Her current role is Recreation Planning and Capital Works Manager in the Recreation and Waterways branch, and for 14 years prior to this role she was a Senior Open Space Planner.
Cathy recently served on the recent Project Steering Group with the Australian Sports Commission to develop the Play Well: National Sports Participation Strategy, and her ongoing contribution to the “places to play” squad – seeking solutions to providing environments which support participation in physical activity.
A few major projects in Cathy’s career have included preparing the Domain Parklands Master Plan 2019 – 2039 and leading the “Return to Royal Park” project creating new parkland and nature play on the site of the former Royal Children’s Hospital – which has just turned 10 years old and is still incredibly popular.
Kristen Jackson GAICD – Head of Open Space & City Greening – City of Casey
Kristen is an experienced executive leader within the State and Local Government and Not for Profit Sectors. She has a particular interest in parks and recreation, community services and land use planning. Kristen is experienced in stakeholder engagement and relationships, strategic and site-specific planning, and project management. Her strong written and verbal communication skills enable her to engage effectively with a broad range of stakeholders on complex issues.
Kayla McNicol – Senior Projects Manager – City of Swan
As a Senior Project Manager at the City of Swan, Kayla specialises in delivering major infrastructure projects with a strong focus on strategic alignment, operational efficiency, and quality outcomes. She brings expertise in procurement, contractor coordination, and end-to-end project delivery, ensuring every project meets its objectives on time and within budget.
Kayla’s transition from Project Manager to Senior Project Manager has strengthened her ability to navigate complex challenges and drive continuous improvement. She is extremely passionate about refining project methodologies to enhance cost-effectiveness and performance, always aligning with broader organisational goals and contributing to long-term success.