Meet our People - Brianna Newland

Brianna Newland

Brianna Newland is a lecturer in Event Management in the School of International Business. She started with VU in July 2011. Prior to starting at VU, Brianna was a lecturer in Sport Management in the Department of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Texas in Austin. Brianna has a doctorate in Sport Management, and a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Sciences.

Brianna’s research interests focus on the study of sport development in various capacities. From a broad perspective, these areas include: how sport organisations sustain their future by attracting and nurturing participation –both elite and mass participation; what fosters/hinders adult participation in sport and how our sport delivery systems might be modified to foster growth; how key stakeholders impact the development and delivery of sport’; and how sport events can be leveraged to develop sport and community, especially at the grassroots level. My work explores the overlap between sport policy, the future patterns of sport delivery, and development of sport.Brianna and a group of her students recently volunteered for the inaugural Ironman Melbourne, and says of the event, 'It was a great opportunity to work with them in the field and to expose them to an event they had yet to experience'

Brianna is proud of finally following her heart and taken a job abroad. 'Melbourne provides an excellent environment for my research interests. I’m excited to work with industry and explore my many unasked questions!'

Currently, Brianna is exploring the meaning of sport in the lives of adult sport participants, and how that fosters and/or hinders involvement in sport throughout the lifespan. She is also examining what drives athletes to partake in destination races; what is driving intentions to race and travel great distances – is it the event features or the destination attributes?

Lastly, Brianna is exploring the impact of key stakeholders on the development and delivery of triathlon in the US and Australia.

In her ‘spare’ time, Brianna trains for triathlon. She completed her first Ironman distance triathlon in November 2010, but she enjoys all the distances. ‘I’m looking forward to my next Ironman next year. I also love to travel and look forward to exploring this side of the hemisphere!’