Rec People has a temporary, mobile workforce. From a 2-week placement to a 12-month placement or for one-off projects, Rec People has a flexible staff member for you
Our mobile workforce
Rec People has, over many years, built a team of talented staff to work in local councils on relief, temporary or project based assignments.
If your council needs one of our superstars to fill a temporary position, skills gap or deliver a project, please contact us, we’re a friendly bunch and only too happy to help.
Meet the team
Kerry Irwin
The leadership guru
Kerry has more than 20 years experience working with local communities within Local Government. Kerry has undertaken management roles predominantly in the areas of Recreation, Community Development and Environment. Kerry has been responsible for the management of recreation, community development, community planning, youth, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, emergency recovery, economic development and tourism.
Kerry joined Rec Relief in 2015. Kerry is passionate about communities and the physical, social and mental benefits gained through participation in community life and ensuring the environments we live in positively impact on quality of life and health and wellbeing.
- Leadership
- Skill and interest identification and planning
- Mentoring
- Work system analysis and improvement
- Strategic work planning and resourcing analysis
- Performance evaluation
- Project development
- Program management
- Policy development
- Funding attraction
- Community development, consultation and engagement
- Health promotion
- Yarra Ranges Shire Council
- Monash City Council
- Knox City Council
- City of Greater Dandenong
- City of Stonnington
- City of Ballarat
- City of Yarra
- Glen Eira City Council
- City of Port Phillip
Kirstie Robinson
The projects go to person
Kirstie began her career in sport and recreation as an intern at Frankston CC and continued her development at Casey where she filled various roles over a 9-year career including team leadership and senior strategic planning roles.
- Project management
- Recreation development and planning
- Team leadership
- Bayside City Council
Daniel Ferguson
The recreation planning planner
With experience in Local Government, State Government and the private consulting sector, Daniel brings with him a level of confidence and knowledge gained from experience. Daniel has extensive experience in developing strategic plans and policies, having undertaken a wide range of projects for government agencies Australia-wide as both an external consultant and in-house policy, planning and project management roles. He also has experience in the design, delivery and management of infrastructure projects, ranging from minor capital works projects through to major venue redevelopments and upgrades (such as the Etihad Stadium redevelopment).
Daniel joined Rec People in 2012 – 2013 and has since returned in 2018 to further his career in project based consultancy work. Dan has a thorough understanding of the social determinants of health, barriers to participation in sport and physical activity and benefits that can be achieved from a well-planned service system, urban environment and supporting infrastructure.
- Aquatic and leisure facility administration
- Sports club liaison
- Project management
- Recreation development
- City of Kingston
- City of Port Phillip
- City of Whittlesea
- City of Monash
Jane Kopecek
O wise one…Omm
Jane is a Sports Management Professional with experience in the areas of sport and recreation planning, project management, client liaison and facility management. With experience in a number of Councils in Victoria and Queensland, Jane brings with her extensive knowledge and wisdom across a variety of fields in the recreation and leisure space.
Jane has a mature and well considered outlook on life with a calm and relaxed nature. With a quiet confidence and extensive experience, Jane will add value to your team with minimal effort.
- Recreation and leisure planning
- Project management
- Leisure facility contract management
- Strategy implementation
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- Stonnington City Council
- Hume City Council
- City of Boroondara
- Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- Cardinia Shire Council
- Banyule City Council
- Mitchell Shire Council
- Manningham City Council
- Monash City Council
- City of Greater Dandenong
Lisa Cotton
The aquatic education expert
Prior to joining Rec People, Lisa was at the State Sports Centre Trust managing swim programs. A diverse, time sensitive and multi-disciplinary position, with a high client service emphasis, where the primary objective was to manage, coordinate and continue to improve service delivery of the aquatic programs portfolio (Learn to Swim, School Program and Aqua Fitness Program).
Lisa provided leadership and direction to 133 permanent and casual staff (instructors, coaches and customer service staff); general administration and financial management as well as booking programs management.
- Aquatic facilities management
- Project management
- Program co-ordination
- Management of swim teachers and aquatic facility customer support staff
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- Yarra City Council
- Darebin City Council
- Banyule City Council
Nicole Back
The trend analyser
Prior to joining Rec People, Nicole was with the Kinetica Group as a consultant working with National, State and local peak sporting organisations on participation strategies. She loves research and data, having spent time as a research assistant at Victoria University as well as a performance analyst at the Western Bulldogs AFL club.
Using her research and analytical skills, Nicole is adding value in the recreation planning field in Local Government.
- Open space, recreation planning
- Participation strategies
- Research and data analysis
- Project management
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip
- Glen Eira City Council – Open Space Planner
Nigel Smith
The urban strategist
Nigels customer focused career has been characterised by enhancing place quality, pursuing urban innovation and developing evidence based design systems and solutions. This is demonstrated through a track record of increased return on place investment, highly valued infrastructure outcomes and stakeholder relationships of integrity.
Nigel brings with him extensive experience in urban and open space design, project management and community engagement. This ‘think outside the box’ operator will bring new enthusiasm and energy to your team and projects.
- Open space, recreation planning
- Urban design and strategy
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip
- Hepburn Shire Council
Ian Waugh
I’ve been everywhere man
Ian rejoins Rec People as a Senior Consultant after his last assignment as Manager Community and Recreation at Moorabool Shire.
Ian has a broad and diverse range of experience, having worked at many local councils from Melton to Warnambool, Whitehorse to Boroondara, in varied roles such as Open Space Planning, Youth Development and Multicultural Event Planning just to name a few.
Ian is an excellent communicator with highly developed written and oral skills, a great relationship builder who takes great pride in the work he has done in councils across the state, from the Surf Coast to Hepburn Shire.
- Project management
- Club development
- Community development and engagement
- Library services
- Leisure facilities management and operation
- Customer Service
- Development of strategies, master plans policies and procedures
- Knowledge of industry trends/networking
- Program development
- City of Boroondara
- Warnambool City Council
- City Whitehorse
- Moorabool Shire
- Hepburn Shire
- Southern Grampians Shire Council
- Darebin City Council – Leisure Contracts Officer
- Macedon Ranges Shire Council – Hanging Rock Support Officer
Howard Scott
The quiet achiever and long-time industry specialist
Howard brings experience, wisdom and dedication to the Rec People team having worked in the industry for over 30 years. With Howard’s experience, there isn’t much that he hasn’t already encountered. Prior to joining Rec People in 2010, Howard held positions in Australia and Northern Ireland including Co-ordinator Community Leisure Services, Manager Leisure and Tourism and Manager Council owned Arts and Leisure Centres. Howard is an asset to any team with a quiet confidence and a supportive attitude.
- Sports club liaison and development
- Project management and delivery
- Recreation and leisure planning
- Policy review
- Strategy implementation
- Mount Alexander Shire Council
- Baw Baw Shire Council
- Corangamite Shire Council
- City of Kingston
- City of Greater Shepparton
- Yarra Ranges Shire Council
- Frankston City Council
- Nillumbik Shire Council
- Manningham City Council – Recreation Project Officer
Richard O’Byrne
Urban and Regional Planner
Richard is an urban and regional planner with many years’ experience in parks, recreation and community engagement. He has a strong background in dealing with Crown land leases and park tenures and an excellent knowledge of relevant legislation. Richard has previously held senior management roles in state government and is a qualified urban and regional planner.
- Urban planning
- Project management
- Open space planning
- Crown land and parks legislation
- Community consultation and stakeholder engagement
- City of Port Phillip
- Bayside City Council
Ben Costar
Aquatics and Recreation Centre Management
Prior to joining the Rec People team in May 2021, Ben had a leadership role at the State Sports Centres Trust that involved managing a team of permanent and casual staff
to develop and deliver sports programs for young people and adults of all abilities across the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre, State Hockey and Netball Centre and Lakeside Stadium.
- Facilities management
- Team leadership
- Program coordination
- Staff management
- Reservoir Leisure Centre
Jinty Barden
Project Planning and Delivery
Jinty brings a wealth of experience across many different skill sets and environments to our team. Jinty has managerial and administrative capabilities gained within the State Government and Not for Profit sector. Jinty’s previous experience as an Executive Assistant and Ministerial Liaison within the Department of Infrastructure, Strategic Planning in Victoria has enabled her to hone her project management, communication and strategic planning skills to suit a variety of environments.
- Project planning and delivery
- Stakeholder management and engagement
- Research and evaluation
- Club liaison and support
- Moonee Valley City Council
Casey Hovenden
Experienced Sport, Recreation and Community Professional
Casey is a dedicated local government professional with valuable experience across a range of sport, recreation and community programs and services. Over a 14 year period, Casey has worked in a number of sport and recreation roles across Victoria in the Local Government setting.
- Capital project planning and delivery
- Strategic planning and policy development
- Community engagement
- Club liaison and development
- Funding and grants management
- Moonee Valley City Council