Dear Triathlon ACT Members & Community,

The most valuable asset a sport has, is its community of people. We quite often see a particular club with a strong sense of connectivity, vibrancy and growth. It is very rare to see a region of clubs who come together with a common goal and desire to work collaboratively together for the good of the whole sport. Over the past 6 years we have seen a positive change with ACT clubs thriving individually to now working collectively. Club collaborations to develop participation programs; with sponsors to provide education and event opportunities; with all clubs and Triathlon ACT to deliver events; and most recently developing strategies to ensure that a sport can exist and thrive no matter what environmental, financial and pandemic challenges are thrown at the sport, is very special. It heartens me to leave Triathlon ACT with a strong, vibrant and connected triathlon community that continues to have the highest members per population of any state or territory across Australia.

After careful consideration and six years as Executive Director, I have decided the time is right to depart Triathlon ACT, as an employee (final day 25th September). I would like to thank all of you, as valuable members, stakeholders, sponsors, colleagues and friends, very much for the opportunity to serve you in this wonderful sport of triathlon. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with so many wonderful Board members, staff, Club Presidents, participants, coaches, technical officials, volunteers and most importantly you, the members. I am pleased to leave the organization in good health - financially, resource-wise, participation opportunities and clarity - even in a world of uncertainty. I feel now is the right time for me to move on, and allow new ideas and leadership to take Triathlon ACT to the next level. 

Arriving in 2014, Julie and I were greeted by an incredibly warm, caring and open triathlon community. The sport was ready to Bring Triathlon Back To Canberra. Since then we have seen an increase in clubs, participation, membership, coaches, and achievements from a local to a global stage. The quality of events has grown with the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon being sold out for the last year 5 years; Elite Energy supporting the rise of inter-state event participants; National Championship events returning to the Nation's Capital; and this season we see a new series for primary school children with the Little T's Triathlon series making its debut. Canberra has become the home of world class triathlon education courses with Triathlon Australia Foundation, Development and Performance courses taking place at the Australian Institute of Sport. The Triathlon Young Women Leadership program won an ACT Government Sport and Recreation Innovation award, and we continue to see our technical team rising to national and international placements. 

The most rewarding part of my role has always been seeing people achieve something for the first time and change their lives for the better. Whether it be crossing the finishing line in their first triathlon, coaching someone in their first training session, volunteering at their first event, chairing their first committee meeting, winning their first Paralympic gold medal or even sponsoring a club or event, I love seeing the excitement and emotion people experience. I feel very proud of the amazing people involved in delivering ACT's Club Novice Programs, over the past 2-3 decades, and take every opportunity to acknowledge and share how amazing they are. There is nothing, that I have found around the globe, that compares. They are 100% world-class and are a huge part of of why ACT's triathlon community continues to thrive. We are all very privileged to be part of such a special sport and most importantly community. 

Triathlon is a sport of resilience, achievement and belonging. You train together, experience tough times together, share laughs together, shed tears together, celebrate achievements together, cross finish lines together, see new arrivals into the world together, give back to the community together and lend people a helping hand together. Whatever is thrown at us, we are conditioned to get back up on our feet when knocked down or find a way home when you have run out of water and energy on a long ride. We have experienced and overcome the challenges and adversity of lake closures, catastrophic bushfires, devastating storms and most recently a global pandemic. It's not what happens that matters, but how you respond. 2020 presents an opportunity for all of you to continue bringing the community closer together. I know all of you are well placed to respond in a positive and meaningful way. 

Julie and I would like to thank you to everyone for a wonderful 6 years. Canberra will continue to be our home as I focus on my own business interests as a leadership performance expert, speaker and coach. The Triathlon ACT Board will be announcing recruitment details for the Executive Director role in the coming weeks. 

This is your sport. Without you, the sport of triathlon does not exist. I wish you all well for a bright future and will be cheering you on from the sidelines. 

Thank you

Craig Johns