Ayurvedic Winter Reset Workshop with The Veda Lab

Coaching as a Career

THINKING ABOUT A CAREER AS A COACH? Join us for a free event to explore the possibilities of a career in fitness. You’ll hear honest insights from people who have built successful careers in the industry, understand the pathway to becoming a qualified coach, and discover whether coaching is the right career for you. Stick around to the end for your chance to ask our experts any questions you may have! Meet the Industry Experts of One Playground Justin Ashley - CEO & Founder With 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Justin has held several club-based positions before co-founding the award-winning gyms, One Playground and The Bunker. As the leader of the company, he has successfully expanded it to four locations, with over 35k members and more than 300 staff. Justin is most proud of being recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 Great Places to Work. Tom Merriman - Head of Education As Head of Education at One Playground, Tom is dedicated to elevating the standard of fitness coaching in Australia. With deep experience across coaching, business management, and exercise programming, he develops people-first, practical education that prepares coaches for real careers – not just certificates. Tom leads the Academy’s mission to reshape fitness education, empowering professionals with the skills, confidence, and hands-on learning they need to create meaningful, long-lasting change for their clients. Matt Duncan - Head of Coaching Matt’s nationally recognised ‘Breakthrough’ program as a youth worker inspired him to help people through fitness. He now works with a diverse client base, including stroke survivors, cerebral palsy patients, athletes, business owners, and actors. Matt also provides structured education on movement and personal development to over 100 coaches at One Playground. Laura Basta - Head of Group Training Laura is our Head of Group Training, leading the vision behind our diverse and industry-leading class offering. Her journey has taken her from performing in the circus in France to shaping the future of fitness in Sydney. Today, she leads our Group Training department, driving trainer development, fostering a culture of excellence, and bringing to life the innovative studio concepts and unforgettable class experiences that define One Playground. We look forward to supporting you in unlocking your future!