AFL legend and former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley delivered the keynote address to the attendees.
The fifth edition of Karting Australia’s annual Club and State Association development conference, the 2025 Building Better Kart Clubs (BBKC) Conference, held at the Sea World Resort and Conference Centre from February 7-9, was an outstanding success, bringing together more than 100 club and state delegates from across the country.
Themed “Australian Karting – Powered By Experience, Propelled By Vision,” the conference delivered three days of invaluable insights, expert-led sessions, and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening the future of the sport at all levels.
The opening day was focused on professional development across three critical areas – Circuit Inspection and Safety, Scrutineering and technical training and Race Officiating. For the first time the conference was spread across three separate locations including the Ipswich Kart Club track at Willowbank, Karting Australia HQ at Coomera and the main conference venue at Sea World
A main highlight of the event was the keynote address by AFL legend and former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, who shared his experiences on “Building a Members-First Club.” Drawing from his extensive leadership background, Buckley emphasised the importance of prioritising members’ needs, fostering engagement, and developing a strong club culture. His engaging session provided the attendees with key takeaways on leadership, teamwork, and long-term sustainability.
Karting Australia CEO Kelvin O’Reilly set the stage for the conference, outlining the organisation’s vision and priorities for 2025 and beyond. The opening plenary session, led by Karting Australia Director Michael Masi, revisited key learnings from BBKC 2024, with club representatives reflecting on their progress and setting future goals.
Legal, insurance, and Risk Management were also key areas of focus. Matthew Krog – Sports Law Specialist, Terry Berryman – lead motorsport broker for Gallagher Insurance, and Tony Manson – Karting Australia’s Safety Risk and Compliance Manager provided essential guidance on minimising hazards, understanding public liability, and implementing Karting Australia’s updated KARM BASIC risk management program. The introduction of this new framework reinforces Karting Australia’s commitment to safety and sustainability.
A compelling panel discussion on Customer Experience was hosted by Samantha Reid featured industry leaders Andrew Westacott, Lauren Batchelor, Tim Watsford, and Jason Spiteri, highlighting strategies to improve club engagement and event execution. Additional sessions explored the future of karting with the launch of the Emerging Leaders Program, an update on the Girls Race Too initiative, and practical workshops on race meeting planning.
The 2025 BBKC Conference concluded with a forward-looking discussion on club development, encouraging collaboration and innovation within the karting community.
Karting Australia Chair Kevin Davis closed the event, reinforcing the importance of continued learning, strategic planning and a shared vision for the sport’s growth.
With a strong foundation built over the past three days, clubs across Australia are now better equipped to drive karting forward in 2025 and beyond.
