Dr Betul Sekendiz

Dr Betul Sekendiz is the Associate Dean (Scholarship) at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS).

Dr Betul Sekendiz is a visionary leader in the academia, renowned for her profound commitment to promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of risk management with a high impact research track record. With a career spanning over two decades in public and private higher education, Dr Sekendiz has consistently demonstrated excellence and a strong commitment to scholarly pursuits, research innovation, and educational leadership. Raised in a culturally diverse environment in Turkiye where east meets west, she developed a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of global perspectives throughout her career.

Dr Sekendiz was a chief investigator in a highly competitive nationwide research project (Australian Fitness Industry Risk Management [AFIRM] Project) funded by the Australian Research Council and industry partners AUSactive (formerly Fitness Australia) and Sports Medicine Australia that emanated from her PhD study and has informed policy and best practices in the industry. Dr Sekendiz has extensively presented in international congresses and published in leading academic and industry journals in the areas of risk management, work health and safety, emergency management and legal liability issues in exercise and sport settings.

Committed to nurturing intellectual growth, knowledge exchange and empirical inquiry, she has supervised many research higher degree students, convened workshops, seminars and symposiums. Dr Sekendiz also conducts risk management consultancy work and is a founding member and the Chair of the Health & Fitness Industry Standards Council responsible to advise, review and develop best practices, standards and guidelines for the fitness, exercise and physical activity industries. In recognition of her expertise and contributions to the field, Dr Sekendiz has been widely cited and gets regularly invited as an expert witness on legal liability cases.

Dr Betul Sekendiz holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Sport Management specialising in risk management and minimisation of legal liability from Bond University on the Gold Coast in Queensland; a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Physical Education and Sports specialising in sport management, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Foreign Language Education from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkiye.

Memberships

• Health & Fitness Industry Standards Council – Chairperson
• Governance Institute of Australia
• Sports Medicine Australia
• European College of Sports Science
• European Association of Sport Management

Publications

Click here to see the citation database of Dr Betul Sekendiz.

Dr Sekendiz is a thought leader in her field having published more than 50 papers including in leading academic and industry peer-reviewed journals and invited international conferences.

1. Sekendiz, B. (2021). Incidence, bystander emergency response management and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at exercise and sport facilities in Australia. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 33: 100-106. https://doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.13595

2. Sekendiz, B. (2020). An epidemiological analysis of yoga-related injury presentations to emergency departments in Australia. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 1-5. https://doi:10.1080/00913847.2020.1717395

3. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Fit for kids: Risk management for health/fitness facilities. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 22(3), 33-36. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000382

4. Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Coyle, I. R., Gray, S., & Finch, C. F. (2018). Emergency preparedness in fitness facilities: Bridging the gap between policy and practice. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 8(1), 71-85. http://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=90595

5. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Utilisation of formative peer-assessment in distance online education: a case study of a multi-model sport management unit. Interactive Learning Environments, 26(5), 682-694. https://doi:10.1080/10494820.2017.139622

6. Del Vecchio, L., & Sekendiz, B. (2017). Managing risks of training with kettlebells to achieve optimum benefits. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal, 21(2), 8-12. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000279

7. Gray, S., Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., & Finch, C. (2017). A comprehensive observational audit tool for use in Australian fitness facilities. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 18(4), 306-317. https://doi:10.1080/1463922X.2016.1265692

8. Sekendiz, B., Ammon, R., & Connaughton, D. P. (2016). An examination of waiver usage and injury-related liability claims in health/fitness facilities in Australia. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 26(2), 144-161. https://doi:10.1123/jlas.2014-0025

9. Sekendiz, B., Gray, S. E., Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Eickhoff-Shemek, J. M., & Finch, C. F. (2016). Safety alert for treadmills in health & fitness facilities in Australia: Results from a pilot study of an observational audit tool. Journal of Fitness Research, 5(1), 24-28.

10. Sekendiz, B. (2016). Risks of treadmills in health/fitness facilities: ready, steady, go?. ACSM`s Health and Fitness Journal., 20(4), 10-14. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000216

11. Gray, S., Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Keyzer, P., Coyle, I., & Finch, C. (2016). The development and application of an observational audit tool for use in Australian fitness facilities. Journal of Fitness Research., 5(1), 29-38.

12. Gray, S., Keyzer, P., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Sekendiz, B., Coyle, I., & Finch, C. (2015). The role of equipment, the physical environment and training practices in customer safety within fitness facilities: The perspectives of fitness industry employees. Journal of Fitness Research, 4(2), 26-33.

13. Sekendiz, B., Gass, G., Norton, K., & Finch, C. (2014). Cardiac emergency preparedness in health/fitness facilities in Australia. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 42(4), 14-19. https://doi:10.3810/psm.2014.11.2087

14. Sekendiz, B. (2014). Implementation and perception of risk management practices in health/fitness facilities. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management., 5(3), 165-183. https://doi:10.1504/IJBCRM.2014.066148

15. Keyzer, P., Coyle, I., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Jones, V., & Finch, C. (2014). Legal risk management and injury in the fitness industry: The outcomes of focus group research and a national survey of fitness professionals. Journal of Law and Medicine, 21, 826-844.

16. Sekendiz, B. (2014). Personal fitness trainers giving tough love: Risks and consequences. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal, 18(3), 8-11. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000032

17. Sekendiz, B. (2013). Book review : W. Jennings, Olympic Risks, Palgrave MacMillan (2012). p. 263, ISBN: 978-0-230-30006-4. Sport Management Review, 16, 409-410. https://doi:10.1016/j.smr.2013.01.004

18. Dietrich, J., Keyzer, P., Coyle, I., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Jones, V., & Finch, C. (2013). Train the trainers: Maintaining standards to minimise injuries and avoiding legal liability in the fitness industry. ANZ Sports Law Journal, 8(1), 89-106.

19. Sekendiz, B., & Quick, S. (2011). Use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in managing risk and liability in health/fitness facilities. International Journal of Sports Management and Marketing, 9(3-4), 170-184. https://doi:10.1504/IJSMM.2011.041570

20. Sekendiz, B., Cuğ, M., & Korkusuz, F. (2010). Effects of Swiss-ball core strength training on strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance in sedentary women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(11), 3032-3040. https://doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d82e70

21. Sekendiz, B., Kocak, M., & Korkusuz, F. (2009). The status of the professional development programmes of the health and fitness industry in Turkey. International Journal of Sports Management and Marketing, 5(4), 465-476. https://doi:10.1504/IJSMM.2009.023372

22. Sekendiz, B., Altun, O., Korkusuz, F., & Akın, S. (2007). Effects of Pilates exercise on trunk strength, endurance and flexibility in sedentary adult females. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 11(4), 318-326. https://doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2006.12.002

Industry Reports/Publications

23. Sekendiz, B. (2022). Gone too far? Dr Betul Sekendiz questions limitations of liabilities. Australasian Leisure Management, (153), 36–39. https://www.ausleisure.com.au/magazine/

24. Exercise and Sport Sciences Australia (ESSA). (2019). 2019 Future Workforce Report. ESSA. Retrieved from https://www.essa.org.au/

25. Sekendiz, B. (2018). The time is now. Australasian Leisure Management, (129), 40-43. https://www.ausleisure.com.au/magazine/

26. Dietrich, J., Eickhoff-Shemek, J., Finch, C., Keyzer, P., Norton, K., & Sekendiz, B. (2014). The Australian Fitness Industry Risk Management Manual. Retrieved from https://fitness.org.au/articles/exercisesafe/exercisesafe/72/689/19

Conference Presentations

27. Sekendiz, B., Maskey, R., & McMorran, V. (2023). An analysis of academic stress and academic integrity issues in online higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. European Conference on Education 2023, 13 – 17 July, London, UK.

28. Sekendiz, B. & Del Vecchio, L. (2022). An epidemiological analysis of boxing-related injuries at fitness facilities presented to emergency departments in Queensland, Australia. ESSA Research to Practice 2022, 19 – 21 May 2022 (virtual conference]

29.  Sekendiz, B., & Scanlan, A. (2020). An investigation of the quality and safety of work-integrated learning programs in exercise and sport sciences. 25th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science [virtual conference COVID19]

30. Sekendiz, B., & English, P. (2019). An analysis of the efficacy of incident reporting systems for sustainable development in the health/fitness industry: the case of a public multipurpose fitness facility. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) Conference, Twin Waters, Queensland, 2019]. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22, S17–S74. https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2019.08.276

31. Seger, D., Millett, C., Shim, A., & Sekendiz, B. (2019). Does a relationship exist between core endurance and static balance scores in adult female college women?. In V. Bunc, & E. Tsolakidis (Eds.), 24th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science: Book of abstracts (pp. 367). http://ecss-congress.eu/2019/19/

32. Sekendiz, B. (2019). Privacy and confidentiality in exercise and sports sciences work placements: Legal and ethical considerations. In V. Bunc, & E. Tsolakidis (Eds.), 24th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science: Book of abstracts (pp. 108). http://ecss-congress.eu/2019/19/

33. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Emergency response management and outcomes of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest patients at exercise and sport facilities in Queensland, Australia. [Paper presented at European Resuscitation Council Conference, Bologna, Italy, 2018]. In Resuscitation Vol. 130 (pp. e55). Europe: Elsevier. https://doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.07.100

34. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Incidence of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest at exercise and sport facilities in Queensland, Australia. [Paper presented at European Resuscitation Council Conference, Bologna, Italy, 2018]. In Resuscitation Vol. 130 (pp. e88-e89). https://doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.07.182

35. Sekendiz, B. (2017). How to improve quality of pre-exercise screening in the fitness industry?. 13th Australasian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference: book of abstracts (pp. 246). Ballarat, Victoria: Australian Injury Prevention Network. https://http://event.icebergevents.com.au/

36. Sekendiz, B., & Finch, C. (2017). An analysis of injury risks associated with yoga: A silent time bomb?. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) Conference, Melbourne, 2016]. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20(S1), e54-e55. https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2017.01.146

37. Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Development of a web-based pre-exercise screening tool to support risk management in the fitness industry. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. 1). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.022

38. Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Sharpening appreciation of scope of practice limits in the Australian fitness industry. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e4). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.018

39. Sekendiz, B., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Jones, V., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Supervision and instruction in fitness facilities: A safety and legal risk management framework. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e5). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.020

40. Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). The Australian fitness industry risk management (AFIRM) project: Building best practices. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e3). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.016

41. Gray, S., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., & Finch, C. (2014). The development and application of an observational health and safety audit tool for use in Australian fitness facilities. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e4). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.019

42. Dietrich, J., Keyzer, P., Jones, V., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Train the trainers: Maintaining standards to minimise injuries and avoiding legal liability in the fitness industry. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e3). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.017

43. Sekendiz, B., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Jones, V., Eickhoff-Shemek, J. M., . . . Finch, C. (2014). Treadmills: Are our backs against the wall?. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e5) https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.021

44. Perera, N., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Jones, V., . . . Finch, C. (2014). Awareness and use of the adult pre-exercise screening system (APSS) in the Australian fitness industry [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 48 (pp. 651). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.243

45. Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Coyle, I., Jones, V., & Finch, C. (2014). An evaluation of emergency plans and procedures in fitness facilities in Australia: implications for policy and practice. In International Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC 2014), Integrative risk management: The role of science, technology and practice, 24-28 August 2014, Davos, Switzerland: Book of abstracts. (pp. 180). Davos, Switzerland: Global Risk Forum.

46. Gray, S., Keyzer, P., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Sekendiz, B., Coyle, I., & Finch, C. (2014). Equipment and environment of fitness facilities: the perspective of fitness industry employees. [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 48 (pp. 601-602). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.113

47. Keyzer, P., Finch, C., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Sekendiz, B., & Coyle, I. (2014). Key issues influencing the management of risks in the Australian fitness industry: combining legal perspectives with injury prevention approaches. [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 48 (pp. 618). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.157

48. Keyzer, P., Finch, C., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., & Sekendiz, B. (2014). The findings of the Australian fitness industry risk management (AFIRM) project. [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 48 (pp. 618). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.158

49. Sekendiz, B., & Ammon, R. (2013). An analysis of the use of waivers, sources of injuries and liability claims in the health and fitness facilities. In 21st European Association for Sport Management Conference (EASM 2013): Sport management for quality of life, Istanbul, Turkey, 11-15 September 2013: Book of abstracts (pp. 37). Istanbul, Turkey: EASM.

50. Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Finch, C., Norton, K., & Sekendiz, B. (2013). Risk management in the Australian fitness industry: The results of the first national survey. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Sydney, 2013]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Vol. 16 (pp. 23). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2013.10.057

51. Sekendiz, B. (2012). An investigation of risk management practices in the health and fitness facilities in Queensland: minimising the likelihood of legal liability. In 27th Annual Conference of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM): Book of abstracts (pp. 181). Seattle, WA: NASSM.

52. Sekendiz, B. (2012). Emergency preparedness in the health and fitness facilities in Queensland. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Sydney, 2012]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Vol. 15 (pp. 109-110). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2012.11.267

53. Sekendiz, B., & Quick, S. P. (2010). Is the Australian health and fitness industry going to be the biggest loser?. In 15th European College of Sport Sciences (ECSS) Congress: Book of abstracts (pp. 199-200). Turkey: ECSS.

54. Sekendiz, B., & Quick, S. (2009). Use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the health and fitness industry. In European Association for Sport Management (EASM) Conference 2009: Book of abstracts (pp. 385). Netherlands: EASM.