Celebrating our colleagues: Daniel Lawlor

Daniel Lawlor - Manager Sport Development, Adelaide University Sport and Fitness 

Sport has always been in Daniel Lawlor's DNA. Growing up in Port Pirie, with a ten-pin bowler Dad and a softball-playing Mum (who still graces the field at 70), Daniel was always encouraged to play sport and whether it was softball, baseball or tennis, he gave everything a crack.

“A lot of my love for sport comes from my parents, but particularly Mum, because from when I was a little tacker I was on the sideline with my sister watching her play,” says Daniel. After finding his true calling in basketball, Daniel became an obsessive player and spent much of his youth on the court. 

Daniel’s first significant career was in banking, but it was the world of sport that beckoned him to change directions, starting in a local government role where he supported different sports clubs across the mid North.   

Upon making the move to Adelaide, Daniel furthered his career in sport, working in lawn bowls before diving into SwimmingSA for the next six years. Feeling the need for a new challenge, Daniel had caught wind of an opportunity at Adelaide University’s Sport & Fitness team which was looking for someone with experience working with sporting clubs.  

“I had never experienced university growing up, so this was a chance to see what role it plays in the sporting sector,” he says. Daniel soon started working as Club Development & Support Coordinator for the University’s sporting clubs, before being appointed as Manager, Sport Development in 2023.  

With 40 clubs under the Adelaide University Sport & Fitness banner, there is a lot for both students and the community to get involved with, from popular team sports through to athletics, motorsport and scuba diving. “I help guide the clubs through the process of managing things and ultimately serve as a sounding board for their ideas. Whether it’s just running the club day-to-day or applying for grants and managing the volunteer process, there’s a lot that goes into it,” says Daniel.  

But the big question that Daniel’s team often asks, is “What does sport look like? What does sport mean to different people?”. For some it’s purely traditional, competitive and fitness driven; for others it’s more social and fun without the hefty commitment on top of study, work and other responsibilities.

"One of the stories I recall involved an individual who thought they’d never play a sport and felt a bit hesitant to join a club, but on a whim they decided to give rugby a go and fell in love with it. It was a joyous moment for them as they found their home and their family in that club."

Inclusion in sport is particularly important to Daniel. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, he developed the idea of the Play With Pride initiative as a driving force of conversation and action across the club space at AU Sport & Fitness. The idea stemmed from a night out at the Fringe where he saw Isaac Humphries, the Adelaide 36ers basketball centre and first openly gay player in the NBL, perform and speak about his experiences.  

“Hearing Isaac's story, and to just see him perform in that space was really eye opening,” he says. “It just dawned on me that there was more we could do in the pride space and increasing the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community in sport”.  

Sport can mean different things to different people and for so many members of the LGBTIQA+ community their experiences can vastly differ.  “I found a safe space in men’s netball to be authentic so I was fortunate to have a positive story to tell. I am aware that for other community members such as the trans and gender diverse it hasn’t been as positive by comparison. But I know that sport can be a great vehicle for education, awareness, and more open conversations that can create an inclusive and safe space for all to participate,” says Daniel.  

“I found a safe space in men’s netball to be authentic so I was fortunate to have a positive story to tell. I am aware that for other community members such as the trans and gender diverse it hasn’t been as positive by comparison. But I know that sport can be a great vehicle for education, awareness, and more open conversations that can create an inclusive and safe space for all to participate.” 

When he’s not managing the clubs at AU Sport & Fitness, exercise is still very much a part of Daniel’s life. Upon his initial move to Adelaide, Daniel became heavily involved in men’s netball, and played in the State team. It was during his time on the netball court that he tore his ACL, thus causing him to take some time off to recover.

These days Daniel trains six times a week at Body Fit Training, which presents a mix of cardio, strength and conditioning based exercise over an intense 45-minute period. Training at such a high level led Daniel to compete in his first ever Hyrox competition in Melbourne last year, a gruelling race that entails a 1km cardio-based exercised followed by a strength workout… repeated eight times, “It was probably one of the toughest things I’ve ever done,” he says. “But it was awesome!”.  

Daniel’s vision for the future of Adelaide University Sport & Fitness remains clear: to foster a welcoming, supportive, and thriving sports community at the University. His efforts have already made a significant impact, and he hopes to continue to inspire and lead with the same passion and dedication that has defined his journey thus far. 

Written and photographed by Isaac Freeman, Communications Officer.