Strong leadership is not just about delivering results within your own facility. It is also about sharing knowledge, developing others and helping move the wider industry forward.

Sarahjayne (SJ) Westberg from Cockburn ARC, City of Cockburn, was presented with the 2026 LIWA Aquatics President’s Award – Exceptional Service at the WA Aquatic & Recreation Industry Awards, proudly supported by event Platinum Sponsor Jonas Leisure. The award recognises exceptional service to WA’s aquatic recreation industry during the preceding 12 months and the positive, measurable impact created through that contribution.

Over the past year, SJ’s contribution has stretched from major operational projects at Cockburn ARC to initiatives helping strengthen professional development across Western Australia.

As a LIWA Aquatics Board Member of nine years, SJ developed and coordinated a mentoring program for emerging industry professionals, matching 12 mentors and mentees through a structured three-month program. Feedback demonstrated the program was already delivering tangible outcomes, including one participant whose successful promotion was attributed in part to their mentoring experience.

SJ also led LIWA’s Accreditation and Membership Review and contributed her expertise to the Industry Reference Group responsible for developing the inaugural Facility Managers Course. The new course attracted 21 participants in its first delivery, creating another pathway for developing capability and leadership within the sector.

At Cockburn ARC, SJ has continued to lead across aquatic operations while overseeing significant plant room upgrades, including geothermal system improvements and boiler replacements. Under her leadership, the facility achieved a remarkable 99.93% audit score – the highest recorded result in Western Australia – continuing its strong record of operational performance.

She has also focused heavily on the people behind those results, redefining team expectations and responsibilities, introducing benchmarking frameworks and creating greater access to external training and professional development.

It is the combination of these contributions that makes the President’s Award particularly fitting. SJ has delivered significant outcomes within her own facility while continuing to invest considerable time and expertise into initiatives designed to benefit professionals and facilities throughout WA.

Her approach reflects something that sits at the heart of LIWA Aquatics: an industry that becomes stronger when its people are willing to share what they know and help others succeed.

LIWA Aquatics congratulates Sarahjayne Westberg on receiving the 2026 President’s Award – Exceptional Service and thanks her for her continued contribution to the Western Australian aquatic and recreation industry.