Celebrating 20 Years of Kirsty Knowles

Community Leisure Management is proud to celebrate 20 years of leadership, service and contribution from Director and General Manager of Operations Kirsty Knowles.

Over the past two decades, Kirsty has built an outstanding reputation across Aotearoa’s aquatics and recreation industry. Her knowledge covers almost every part of the sector, from facility and aquatic operations through to health and safety, people and culture, governance, business development and strategic planning.

But Kirsty’s contribution has always been about more than her expertise. It is the way she leads, supports people and brings others with her that has earned Kirsty such mana across CLM and the wider industry. She is practical, straight-up and never afraid to tackle the hard issues, while always keeping people and communities at the centre of the decisions she makes.

Her impact also reaches well beyond CLM.

Through her role as Co-Chair of Recreation Aotearoa, Kirsty helps provide leadership and direction for the wider recreation sector. She is a passionate advocate for the industry and for the important role recreation plays in creating healthier, more connected communities. Kirsty is also a Board member of Te Mahi Ako, where she contributes to the development of work-based learning and career pathways across the active recreation, leisure and entertainment sectors.

This work reflects something Kirsty has been committed to throughout her career: giving people the opportunity to learn, grow and build meaningful careers in an industry that makes a genuine difference in communities.

Her contribution has previously been recognised through the Recreation Aotearoa Emerging Leader Award in 2010 and the Paul Stuart Memorial Award in 2019.

CLM Chief Executive Craig Carter said Kirsty’s influence could be seen across both CLM and the wider industry.

“Over the past 20 years, Kirsty has helped shape CLM into the organisation it is today. She has strengthened the way we operate, supported countless people in their careers and never been afraid to challenge us to be better. Her leadership through Recreation Aotearoa and Te Mahi Ako shows the respect she has across the sector and her commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation. We are incredibly fortunate to have Kirsty as part of the CLM whānau, and we are extremely proud to celebrate this milestone with her.”

Kirsty’s 20-year journey represents the best of our industry: strong leadership, hard work, care for people and a genuine belief in the power of recreation to change lives.

Congratulations, Kirsty, on an outstanding 20 years. Your contribution to CLM, our people and the wider recreation sector has been huge, and the mana you carry is thoroughly deserved.