Serena Lusk, BHK 1997, found her beginnings in recreation as a competitive swimmer in her early teens. As a junior swim coach at age 13 and a lifeguard at 16, Serena knew early on that she wanted to be involved in sport and recreation as a career. Her jobs as a swim coach and a lifeguard provided opportunities for a high level of responsibility and accountability at a young age and have helped shape her approach to work today.
When she entered her undergraduate years at UBC, Serena sought out the Leisure and Sport Management Program. With support from KIN faculty and staff, particularly from Professor Emeritus Dr. Jack Kelso, her first year faculty advisor, Serena enjoyed a number of valuable experiences in recreation and intramural activities, including working at the UBC Aquatic Centre and swimming on the UBC Masters swim team.
Serena’s early career was sparked by an internship opportunity with Badminton BC. This experience eventually lead to a full time administrative position with Swim BC, where fellow KIN Alum Ken Radford (BRE 1981, MPE 1988) became an excellent role model in terms of leadership and team-building. Leaving Swim BC to pursue an MBA at the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Center for Sports Business was a difficult decision for Serena, but one which lead to further learning beyond the sport and recreation field, and a widening of career opportunities.
Since 2005, Serena’s career has been with the City of Richmond. The organization has provided progressive opportunities for her in a variety of areas and she currently leads one of five divisions in the City: Community Services. Community Services includes Parks, Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture, Heritage and Social Development. Together, these disciplines contribute to overall Community Wellness – a passion for Serena – and she has been fortunate to be able to be invited to speak worldwide about Richmond’s healthy, active, caring and connected community.
As a resident of Richmond, with her husband and two children, Serena has the benefit of seeing the changes she and her team create in the community, which inspires her every day!
