Apprentice of the Year competition: Gabriela Flessak

Working in this industry has allowed her to serve her community and support people who use the facilities she manages. “It is both a privilege and fulfilling to contribute to an industry that promotes a wide range of benefits to the community, including physical fitness, mental health, and the joy of sport.”

While Gabriela may have completed her apprenticeship in facility operations earlier this year, she began her career in sport and recreation over a decade ago at Community Leisure Management. When she joined Queenstown Lakes District Council in 2022 and started working on the retrofit of an old Mitre10 building into a new sports and community facility, she realised that the apprenticeship was “a perfect fit” for her new role.

“It offered me the opportunity to gain new skills, refine my knowledge and prepare me for the eventual transition from construction to the day-to-day operations of this new facility. I wanted to enhance my understanding of operational management and industry best practice, and this qualification not only aligned with my career goals but also equipped me to effectively manage all essential aspects of running a sports and community facility.”

The facility operations apprenticeship offers practical, hands-on learning that Gabriela found directly applicable to her role. “Completing the apprenticeship provided me with an in-depth understanding of facility management and operational performance.” As she’d hoped, it set her up well for her new role at the Wānaka facility. “This blend of research and practical on the job application, all focused on continuous improvement, really prepared me to manage any facility effectively.”

As with any journey, it wasn’t always easy going. “One of the main challenges I faced was anticipating the needs of the new building, as I didn’t have an existing facility to manage at the time. However, completing the qualification made me feel well prepared and ahead of the curve for when the facility would open.

“Navigating the operational requirements of a new facility was certainly challenging, but the apprenticeship equipped me with practical knowledge that proved invaluable during our preparations. As a result, I felt confident and ready well ahead of the game!”