Industry training advocate Lindsay McGrath appointed SPASA Australia executive director
SPASA Australia has appointed industry training advocate Lindsay McGrath as its new executive director.
McGrath was until recently BioLab managing director and is a past president of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of South Australia. He was also a founding member, CEO and secretary of the Swimming Pool Retail Association (SPRAA), director of SPASA NSW & ACT, had been a SPASA Australia director and was chairman of the CPSISC industry qualifications steering committee.
McGrath is known in the pool and spa industry for his strong advocacy of education and training, national qualifications and career pathways for industry members. He is a Certificate IV qualified trainer and assessor, holds a master’s degree in business and has been heavily involved in the development of industry training and accreditation, especially through his roles at SPRAA, BioLab and most recently with SPASA Australia.
He takes the helm of the not-for-profit association to lead SPASA Australia through the One SPASA project of unifying and merging the federated states into a more efficient and powerful industry body.
He will be based out of the SPASA South Australia office in Adelaide.
SPASA Australia president Lynley Papineau says McGrath’s appointment was the result of a rigorous and comprehensive recruitment process to hire the best person to deliver to the organisation’s short and long strategic goals.
“Lindsay’s experience as a state president and his executive roles with SPASA SA, NSW and SPRAA along with his 25 year career in leadership roles and strong personal values make him the perfect choice,” she says.
Papineau says they have now completed all the strategic and planning work around a single entity, and needed the right person to take them through the process; someone who is also committed to growing the industry and delivering improved benefits to the members.
McGrath says he is honoured to have been selected as SPASA’s executive director.
“It is a privilege to be part of an organisation that delivers high quality services and benefits to industry professionals,” he says. “We are an organisation led by a purpose – to make a positive, meaningful impact that matters to everyone SPASA touches. I will do my best to serve the network by helping enable our members and people to fulfil their passion to make a difference.
“A wonderful opportunity is now available to deliver on SPASA members’ needs and to continue to distinguish SPASA members from the rest of the market.”
McGrath succeeds Bryce Steele, who was temporarily seconded to the role from SPASA WA after the retirement of Gary Nye in September 2015.
Papineau says it is an exciting time for the industry.
“Never before have we seen such collaboration between states with wide-sweeping benefits. We are looking forward to Lindsay starting. It is going to be a busy year ahead and one which will bring all of the hard structural work over the past two years to fruition,” she says.
Continuity at BioLab
McGrath had spent the past 10 years with BioLab Australia and New Zealand, including eight years as managing director.
BioLab will continue to be led by the experienced management team, with McGrath’s former responsibilities shared by Julian Quinn (sales and retail network), James Badger (marketing and technical), George Loizou (finance, director) and Paul Kimber (operations).
In a statement, BioLab said that supported by BioLab globally, the team will continue its work with Australia and New Zealand retailers and service technicians to help grow their businesses with industry-leading pool and spa products, water testing and business solutions, including a new training and leadership development program, Pool Schools and their digital marketing strategy.
