From First Lessons to High Performance: SWIMCONZ26 Connects Swimming Pathways
Less Than One Month To Go Until SWIMCONZ26
Australian Dolphins Head Coach Rohan Taylor and Aquablack Hannah McLean OLY will headline SWIMCONZ26 in Auckland from 6–8 November 2026, joining speakers from Swimming NZ, Swimming Australia and industry experts from NZ and Australia, for three days of learning across teaching, coaching, leadership and business.
Held at the Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments, with practical pool sessions at the University of Auckland’s Hiwa Recreation Centre, the conference will welcome swim teachers, coaches, swim school leaders and water safety professionals from across Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
On the back of their successful Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs campaigns, Australian Dolphins Head Coach Rohan Taylor will share insights and experiences on leadership and success, alongside a dedicated session exploring team building.
Athens Olympian, Hannah McLean OLY, will draw on her journey from Olympic athlete to high-performance leader and program manager. Her presentation will explore what swim schools, coaches and teachers can do to develop good people and great swimmers.
SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia & New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Brendon Ward said the conference would highlight the shared responsibility of everyone involved in a swimmer’s development.
"From a child’s first swimming lesson through to competitive and high-performance swimming, every teacher, coach and program leader has a role to play," Ward said. "Bringing together speakers from Swimming NZ, Swimming Australia and experts from across the Tasman gives our community a valuable opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another and strengthen the connections that support swimmers at every stage."
The coaching stream will centre on connected pathways for athlete development, combining theory with pool-based sessions to help coaches translate ideas into practice.
For swim school owners and managers, the program will explore how businesses can adapt for the future, including the data and insights they should be accessing to inform decisions and support their programs.
Swim teachers will have opportunities to build their teaching toolkit through practical sessions featuring skills, drills and approaches they can use in their classes. Ward said,
"We want delegates to leave with practical ideas they can put to work, whether that means a new approach to a lesson, a stronger development pathway or a more informed decision about their swim school. "Bringing teaching, coaching, leadership and business together creates valuable opportunities to share knowledge and build stronger connections across our swimming community."
The conference will also celebrate achievements at the annual Vorgee Awards Gala, held in conjunction with Swimming NZ, recognising success and contributions across the swimming community.
"The awards are an opportunity to recognise the people whose commitment makes a difference every day," Ward said. "Celebrating their achievements reminds us of the impact our community has, from building confidence and water safety skills to supporting swimmers to reach their potential."
Registrations are open now. Check out the full programme and register via the link below.
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