Dave Candler is CEO of the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA), a position he has held since 2016 after more than 25 years in swimming instruction and leisure management, including a stint as Operations and Swimming Manager at one of the UK's largest swimming lesson providers. He also previously served as STA's youngest and longest-serving President.
Candler guided STA through the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing free professional development for instructors, financial relief measures for pool operators, and new best practices for the aquatics sector, helping the organization maintain an unusually high satisfaction score among its members.
He also serves as CEO of the International Federation of Swimming Teachers' Associations, which represents member organizations across 23 countries, and received an industry leadership award in 2021 for his work expanding access to swimming education.
