Board Elections Aren’t Boring — They Shape Our Industry

You know those people who don’t just talk about change — they roll up their sleeves and make it happen? That’s Jen Dugard.

If you’ve been in women’s health or fitness for longer than five minutes, you’ll know her name. Founder of MumSafe™, creator of Safe Return to Exercise, and a relentless advocate for ensuring all mums are looked after safely and effectively in fitness. But this conversation wasn’t about her business — it was about leadership, the future of our industry, and why she’s putting her hand up (again) for another term on the AUSactive Board.

Why the Board Matters

Here’s the thing — being on the board isn’t glamorous. It’s unpaid, relentless, and full of tough decisions that most people never see. But the impact? Massive.

In the last 6 years, AUSactive has moved from being the old “Fitness Australia boys’ club” to becoming a credible national voice for the fitness industry. We’ve got seats at the table in Canberra. Politicians, health ministers, and even the RACGP know who we are now — and that matters because it means fitness is finally being recognised as part of preventative healthcare.

As Jen put it, “There was no fitness being part of the preventative health conversation before AUSactive got to the table.”

From CECs to CPDs — What’s Really Changed

One of the most controversial board conversations recently was shifting from CECs (Continuing Education Credits) to CPDs (Continuing Professional Development).

It sounds like semantics, but it’s actually about professional alignment. The change brings us in line with allied health, which is exactly where we need to be if we want the fitness industry to be recognised (and funded) as an essential part of the healthcare system.

Jen was honest about it: not everyone agreed. Some board members wanted stricter professional standards; others worried about recruitment and access. Jen — true to form — pushed for the balance between raising the bar and keeping the door open for more professionals to grow into it.

“We can bring more exercise professionals in as registered members, then we can educate them,” she said. “People are opting in because they want to better themselves — not because they’re forced to.”

The Canberra Effect

If you caught my blog earlier this year about the AUSactive Leadership Summit at Parliament House, you’ll know how significant it was. Sitting in that room and hearing MPs talk about how the current health system is unsustainable was a reality check.

They weren’t talking about “fitness” — until AUSactive showed up.

Now, thanks to the work of the board (including Jen), we’re part of the national health conversation — from the Million Moves campaign to ongoing lobbying for Medicare and health fund rebates for exercise professionals.

That’s not small stuff. That’s systemic change.

Why Jen’s Voice Matters

Jen brings something rare to the table — she’s both idealistic and pragmatic. She’s been the personal trainer paying rent in a gym, the educator mentoring fitness professionals, and the business owner supporting an entire network of women.

When she sits in that boardroom, she’s not just there as “Jen from MumSafe.” She’s there representing every trainer who’s ever wondered whether their work actually matters — and fighting to make sure it does.

“My whole reason for being in the fitness industry,” Jen said, “is to support exercise professionals to do their job better — from business to education to belief in their own value.”

That’s what she brings to the board — the day-to-day realities of real people doing real work, not corporate theory.

Her Vision for the Next Three Years

Jen’s final term vision?

• To cement AUSactive and the fitness industry as a key player in national preventative health.

• To roll out a national movement campaign (like Million Moves) that actually shifts Australia’s activity levels.

• To build stronger recognition between fitness and allied health, with exercise professionals seen — and paid — as equals.

• And to make sure trainers can build sustainable careers that reflect their skill, education, and impact.

As she put it, “We can’t have one without the other. We need to look after the workforce if we want to be part of the preventative health system.”

Time to Vote

If you’re an AUSactive member, you’ve already got a say in who shapes the future of our industry. Check your inbox (or your junk folder) for an email from True Vote — that’s your voting link. If you don’t have it, contact AUSactive before 27 October.

Jen’s the kind of person who’ll keep calling things out when they need to be called out, who’ll ask the uncomfortable questions in the boardroom, and who genuinely gives a damn about the future of our profession.

She’s got my vote. She deserves yours too.

If you’re thinking about becoming a qualified personal trainer or group fitness instructor, check out our Certificate III and IV in Fitness. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!