6 Decades of advocacy International Business View Oceania interviews Chris Samartzis, CEO of Master Pool Builders Association Australia , for our Construction View. Formed in 1961, the Master Pool Builders Association Australia (MBPAA) is Australia’s premium body organisation for leading pool builders, retailers, technicians, manufacturers, designers, and industry associates. Originally established in Victoria to support the state’s industry landscape, MBPAA has evolved over the last six decades to support members through advocacy, brand credibility, mentorship, networking, marketing, and events opportunities, training discounts, participation in the Awards of Excellence Program, social media support, regular industry updates, and information and resource distribution. MBPAA currently represents 300 company members across Pool Builder, Retail, and Corporate membership tiers. Chris Samartzis, CEO of MBPAA, shares his insight into the association’s work and benefits for members. He begins, “We are the peak body organisation for leaders in our industry. Many of our members are small to medium sized businesses, and they’re very state centric. We view ourselves as the umbrella serving Australia’s state markets, planting seeds in their communities for industry growth. We also foster relationships with other industry bodies such as Master Builders Australia, Master Plumbers, SPASA, and Aquatics & Recreation Victoria, to help shape the future of our industry and influence policy that is beneficial to our members and our market.” MBPAA’s primary goals are to champion world-class industry standards and advocate on behalf of members. The association believes strongly in positive incremental change, making consistent yet manageable improvement and innovations and keeping members up to date throughout the journey.
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This approach has been particularly important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Samartzis explains. “Our involvement has been critical in maintaining consumer education and sustainable development following the boom we’ve experienced during the pandemic. Low interest rates, ‘staycation’ trends, and the backyard revolution have all contributed to the massive growth of our industry- Australian backyards are no longer just a humble lawn, clothesline, maybe a cricket pitch or a veggie patch. They are aesthetic gold, and the pool / spa is at the centre of it all. More homeowners are putting in pools and spas now than they ever have, which is great for our members, but it also means there is a level of strain on the industry that we need to keep a very close eye on. Supply chains at the moment are shaky at best, so we are doing everything we can to keep our members abreast of any changes and provide them with the means to build their own support networks as well.” In 2021, MBPAA celebrated their 60-year anniversary with an awards and recognition event that not only honoured the association’s longevity, but that of its members and partners.
On their history, Mr. Samartzis says, “Everything has to start somewhere. From our first ever meeting in St Kilda in 1961 as The Swimming Pool Association of Victoria right through to our rebranding as MBPAA and 60-year anniversary in December of last year, we have championed only the best standards for our industry. Sometimes, it can be too easy to brush aside the history of an organisation such as ours to focus entirely on the new. Of course, we are excited “Australian backyards for the future and we are continually are no longer just a looking towards the next big thing for our humble lawn, clothesline, members, but we believe it is important maybe a cricket pitch or to respect where we came from. Our a veggie patch. They are awards night did just that- we even had a aesthetic gold, and the past member who was 98 years old and pool / spa is at the still a part of our industry! So, being able centre of it all.” to honour our roots, our evolution, and the people that made it happen was wonderful, despite having to postpone a few times.”
