Peter Wooden
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Peter Wooden
ACPE GRADUATE 2004
(SPORTS BESINESS)
What inspired you to study at ACPE?
I was working in Financial Advising and playing cricket professionally in the UK and had a passion for coaching. I spoke to a good mate who informed me about ACPE and how they supported athletes who were pursuing sports careers. After a tour of the campus I knew it was the place for me.
Tell me about your sporting career and the assistance that ACPE provided.
Whilst studying at ACPE I was assisted in every possible way to pursue my sporting career, both in Australia and in the UK. ACPE and the lecturers were very understanding and I have never forgotten the assistance and personal touch they gave me over the years. Without the support of Dr. Scott Dickson, Angelee Boyd and the fantastic lecturers who mapped out a plan so that I could successfully complete my degree, it would not have all been possible. I recommend any aspiring athlete to speak to ACPE about the courses offered. Studying a degree took the pressure off my performances and gave me life and business skills that are transferable in every facet of my life.
How did you enjoy your time at ACPE?
ACPE was a great place to study, I wanted to immerse myself into college life as much as possible so I joined the first ever Student representative Council at the college. I will never forget the fantastic social functions, Pub Golf in the rocks and the end of semester Harbour cruises. Some of my closest friends are from ACPE and are now working all over the world. ACPE taught me a lot about planning, organisation and management. Those tips are well and truly helping me now.
What have you done since graduating from ACPE?
After graduating from ACPE I played a further two seasons of professional cricket in the UK and it was here I met my future business partner, Stevie Gilmour. One sunny day down at the local ground in Edinburgh, we discussed the idea of setting up a Sports Academy in Sydney. As experienced coaches and with financial and teaching backgrounds, overnight Sydney international Sports Academy (SISA) was born! I now divide my time as the Managing Director of SISA, coaching cricket and casual teaching.
Tell me about Sydney International Sports Academy.
SISA provides aspiring athletes from Australia and internationally an opportunity to play and train in their chosen sport. We currently specialize in cricket and are in the process of setting up other sports. David Moore from ACPE has been instrumental in the development of the company and the program, assisting us every step of the way.
What challenges does cricket face into the future?
Internationally, over the next 5 - 10 years we need to keep strengthening associate cricket countries (Scotland, Ireland, Kenya and Netherlands). This can be achieved by taking a sizeable squad of their best players, putting them on professional contracts and providing opportunities to play against the current test playing nations. In the immediate future, the ICC needs to keep thinking vertically and strengthen the standard of the current test playing nations by improving first class cricket.
Domestically, the gap between first class cricket and grade cricket is widening due to facility improvements and more advanced training methods being made available to the more elite players. These improvements need to be made at all levels of the game.