Our Team.
Mark Band
B. App. Sci Recreation Planning and Management: University of South Australia
HND Leisure Studies: University College Salford UK
Certified Parks and Leisure Professional (CPLP)
Certified Member Chartered Institute of Management Sport and Physical
Activity UK (CIMSPA Cert)
Mark is the Managing Director of One Eighty SLS and has over 30 years’ experience in the sport, recreation, and leisure industry with a portfolio of experience gained in the United Kingdom, the USA, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.
In addition to his role as a well-respected consultant to the industry, Mark was the CEO of Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) from 2012-2022 which is the peak professional body for the industry in Australia. As part of that contract, Mark had responsibility for national coordination of the organisation and represented and advocated on its behalf to Government and partners both in Australia and overseas. He was instrumental in developing the accredited Parks and Leisure Professional Certification with the World Parks Academy, and tailored this for the Australian industry. He also coordinated 10 national professional conferences including the 2018 World Congress in Melbourne and developed several products and services for the Australian Parks and Leisure Industry.
Mark also has significant experience working with Government having been directly employed in various roles, as well as consulting to over 70 authorities across Australia. He has also assisted many private sector clients and developers and has lectured in Recreation Planning and Management at the University of South Australia. Mark is a well-respected seasoned leisure professional with a strong business mind and is flexible and innovative in his approach to his projects for One Eighty SLS.
In his spare time, Mark enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the arts, spending time with his family, and pushing his limits with adventure sports. He is a qualified scuba diver, D Licensed skydiver and wingsuit pilot, and took part in a 119 Australian ‘Big Way’ formation record in in 2015 in California, USA. He is also a qualified paragliding pilot and was also a ski instructor in Europe and in recent years has combined some of these activities by taking part in the world ski fly meets in France which is a combination alpine skiing and flying a speed wing down the European Alps.
Director
Andrew Smith
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Sport Planning (Hons) from the University of South Australia, Andrew has over 30 years local government experience holding a range of positions within Community Development, Open Space and Recreation and Sport, and Community Assets portfolios. He has developed both strategic and operational plans for service and provision, as well as land management plans for public open space.
He’s served on numerous boards and committees including the inaugural Executive Board of Recreation SA, Board Member of Australian Council Health Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER), Executive Finance Director Parks and Leisure Australia, Chair of Parks and Leisure Australia Advisory Board, State President Parks and Leisure SA, National Board Executive Environment Australia, and Course Advisory Committee University of SA.
Andrew is also a member of World Urban Parks and is a Certified Parks and Leisure Professional (CPLP) World Park Academy and a qualified judge for the International Green Flag award. He has also won several awards including a high commendation Edmund Wright Heritage Award for promotion and education of local history and is a recipient of The Frank Stewart Award which is Parks and Leisure Australia’s highest recognition for contribution to the industry.