30 Years of Service: Cristiano Bradshaw

1. How did your journey in the aquatic industry begin?

My journey in the aquatic industry began in 1990 when I got my first lifeguard job at Wanneroo Aquamotion. Like many people in the industry, I quickly found that aquatic facilities are much more than pools — they are places where people learn life skills, build confidence, recover, train, compete, connect with others, and form lifelong memories.

What attracted me to the industry was the combination of public service, teamwork, practical problem-solving, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s daily lives…and the flexibility to surf before and after work!

2. What roles or organisations have been part of your journey?

Over the past 30 years, I have been fortunate to work across a broad range of aquatic, recreation, customer service, and venue management environments including:

·        Wanneroo Aquamotion – Lifeguard and Duty Manager

·        Craigie Water World - Lifeguard

·        Melville AquaticCentre – Aquatic Supervisor

·        Bold Park Aquatic – Aquatic Supervisor / Assistant Manager

·        Nuffield Health Covent Garden (UK) – Assistant General Manager / Operations Manager

·        Claremont Aquatic Centre – Duty Manager

·        Challenge Stadium/HBF Stadium/Perth HPC – Aquatic Supervisor/Aquatic Operations Supervisor/Bookings & Resources Coordinator/Manager Aquatics & Customer Service

My journey has included operational roles, leadership roles, and management responsibilities across aquatic supervision, facility operations, customer experience, workforce leadership, risk management, compliance, and service improvement.

A significant part of my career has been with VenuesWest, where I have had the opportunity to contribute to the operation of major public and high-performance aquatic venues, including Perth High Performance Centre and Arena Joondalup. These facilities play an important role in community participation, learn-to-swim pathways, club activity, elite sport, events, and public recreation.

3. Looking back over your career, what are some highlights or achievements you are most proud of?

One of the things I am most proud of is contributing to the safe and effective operation of aquatic facilities that serve such a wide range of users — from children attending their first swimming lesson, through to recreational swimmers, clubs, schools, major events, and high-performance athletes.

I am also proud of the teams I have worked with and supported over the years. Seeing staff develop confidence, grow into leadership roles, improve their technical capability, and take pride in delivering safe and professional services has been a major highlight.

Other highlights include being involved significant events such as the BHP Aquatic Super Series and other national and international events of various sports ; managing complex operational challenges, contributing to safety, compliance and facility improvements, and helping maintain public confidence in aquatic facilities. In this industry, many achievements are not always visible to the public — they are reflected in incidents prevented, risks managed, teams supported, customers assisted, and facilities operating safely day after day.

4. What has kept you involved in the aquatic industry for 30 years?

The people and the purpose have kept me involved.

Aquatic facilities have a direct impact on the community. They support water safety, health, wellbeing, sport, recreation, social connection, and inclusion. There is a strong sense of responsibility that comes with operating these environments, and that responsibility has always mattered to me.

The industry also constantly evolves. No two days are exactly the same. You are always balancing safety, service, staffing, maintenance, stakeholder expectations, customer experience, financial responsibility, and compliance. That complexity has kept the work interesting and has provided continuous opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve.

Most importantly, I have stayed involved because I believe in the value of the industry and the people who work in it. Aquatic staff often do demanding work under pressure, and I have always respected the professionalism, commitment, and care that people bring to these roles.

5. What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in the industry over the years?

Some of the biggest changes I have seen relate to professionalism, compliance, risk management, customer expectations, and the complexity of facility operations.

The aquatic industry has become much more structured and sophisticated over time. There is now a stronger focus on documented systems, supervision standards, training, incident management, water quality, plant operations, safeguarding, accessibility, and governance. These are positive changes and reflect the importance of aquatic facilities as public safety environments.

Customer expectations have also changed significantly. People expect facilities to be safe, clean, inclusive, responsive, and well-managed at all times. Communication is faster, feedback is more immediate, and organisations need to be more transparent and proactive in how they respond.

Technology has also influenced the way we work, from booking systems and reporting tools through to compliance tracking, communication platforms, and operational monitoring. While the fundamentals of lifeguarding, customer service, and facility management remain important, the systems around them have become more complex.

I think the most impactful change I’ve seen was the Watch Around Water program. This amazing program has raised awareness of children’s safety around water and the importance of parental supervision. It’s success speaks for itself in the stats since its implementation.

I am very excited about Lynxight, and the additional safety net this technology provides. I look forward to increased adoption across facilities throughout Western Australia.

6. Is there a person or mentor who has influenced or inspired you along the way?

I have been influenced by many people throughout my career — managers, supervisors, colleagues, frontline staff, technical specialists, and industry peers. Different people have shaped my approach in different ways.

Some have taught me the importance of calm decision-making under pressure. Others have demonstrated the value of strong customer service, technical knowledge, consistency, fairness, or leading by example. I have also learned a great deal from frontline staff, because they are often closest to the customer experience and understand the practical realities of operating aquatic facilities.

I would say I have been fortunate to learn from a wide range of people across the industry. Their collective influence has shaped how I lead, how I approach risk, and how I think about the responsibility we hold as aquatic professionals.

A shout out to some of my mentors Jeff Fondecaro, Tony Head and Karen Kelly! Thank you!

7. What advice would you give someone starting their career in the aquatic industry today?

My advice would be to take the responsibility seriously, stay curious, and never underestimate the impact you can have.

Aquatics is a people-focused industry, but it is also a safety-critical industry. Learn the basics well. Understand why procedures exist. Ask questions. Listen to experienced staff. Take training seriously. Build strong communication skills. Be reliable. Be observant. Be prepared to learn from mistakes and from the people around you.

I would also encourage people to see the industry as a genuine career pathway. There are opportunities across lifeguarding, swim teaching, customer service, supervision, operations, programming, asset management, events, leadership, and compliance. If you are willing to learn and contribute, the industry can offer a rewarding and meaningful career.

Most importantly, remember that aquatic facilities matter to the community. The work you do helps keep people safe, supports participation, and creates positive experiences for customers every day.

8. What does receiving a LIWA Industry Service Award mean to you?

Receiving a LIWA Industry Service Award is a very meaningful recognition. To be acknowledged for 30 years of service in an industry that I care deeply about is something I genuinely appreciate.

For me, the award is not just a reflection of individual service. It also reflects the teams, colleagues, mentors, and industry peers I have worked with over many years. Aquatics is never delivered by one person alone — it relies on committed teams working together to provide safe, professional, and welcoming environments.

I am grateful for the opportunities I have had, the people I have worked with, and the contribution I have been able to make. The aquatic industry has been a major part of my working life, and receiving this recognition is both humbling and appreciated.

Looking back, I never imagined that a career in aquatics would become such a significant part of my life. The friendships, challenges, achievements, and opportunities over the past 30 years have shaped me both professionally and personally. I am grateful for every person who has been part of that journey and proud to have spent my career contributing to an industry that makes a genuine difference in people's lives.