PEOPLE WHO SHAPED SMA A MOMENT WITH WARREN What has been your career highlight? There have been many career highlights, including working as part of the team to establish Exercise and Sports Science Australia and educating many hundreds of exercise and sports scientists. Undertaking research in health and sport which has influenced significant public policies has also been incredibly rewarding, as well as working as a sports scientist to assist many elite athletes to achieve their dreams The most rewarding highlight was the recent ranking of Victoria University as one of the World’s top 400 universities. Rankings are strongly influenced by the quality of an institution’s research. To help lead my young university (now only 27 years old) to achieve this significant outcome was extremely satisfying. What do you believe is your most important contribution to your industry? AYNEThe establishment of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is clearly mymost important contribution to my profession. I was part of the founding team ofconcerned sports and exercise scientists who met at the 1991 SMA conferenceunder the leadership of Professor Tony Parker to tackle the problems arising dueto the lack of a professional voice for the rapidly expanding number of sports andexercise scientists. I was a member of the inaugural ESSA executive. The creation of ESSA has had a profound and positive influence on many thousands of our colleagues. Australia after completing my post- graduate studies in the USA. I What is your advice to those starting out in their career? immediately became an active member of the Victorian Branch attending its First, to be flexible in your approach to the development of your career. There are monthly meetings and participating so many options available now and so many options that will emerge in the future. in a range of activities; especially its Second: keep learning. Change is constant so you need to continually learn to continuing education program. My first maintain your relevance and quality of your work. Third, to engage in your formal roles were as Chairperson of the profession and community. Not only are you being a good citizen by engaging in Education and Research Sub-Committee your profession and community, the rewards, both personally and professionally, and Treasurer of the Victorian Branch are significant. Finally,know your values and principles. You will be continually in 1987. confronted by challenging questions and issues. To have a firm set of values and principles will stand you in good stead and help you make the right calls. After your initial period at SMA, Do you have any career regrets? what positions did you hold during your time at SMA? Not really. My approach has been to seek out and to make the best out of the opportunities that arise. After reflecting on outcomes that may not have been In addition to acting as Treasurer and ideal, I have tried to take these learnings and move on to tackle new and exciting Chair of the Education and Research challenges wherever they may arise. Sub-Committee of the Victorian Branch of SMA, I was also Secretary, Vice- President and President. At the nationalWhat were some of the major level, I have held positions as the Victorian along with community service. It was Delegate to the National Council, Vice decisions you helped make or quite general in nature and largely relied President (Sports Science), Vice- changes you implemented while upon a volunteer workforce. SMA has President (Science) SMA Order of at SMA? evolved into a professional organisation Fellows, member of the SMA Research that now has a strong political as well as Foundation Executive, Member and Chief SMA has grown and changed enormously professional voice. It now collaborates Judge of the Australian Conference in over the past three decades. When I firstwith a range of specific professional Science and Medicine of Sport Organisingjoined SMA, it was a relatively small, groups that operate across the sports Committee and Associate Editor of the federated organisation devoted to medicine and science spectrum. I was Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.professional engagement and education heavily involved in the changes that VOLUME 36 • APRIL ISSUE 2018 53