Dave Candler is Chief Executive Officer of the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA), a national governing body for swimming and registered charity dedicated to the teaching of swimming, lifesaving and survival skills. He has led STA since 2016, representing more than 20,000 swimming teachers and aquatic professionals across the UK, and also serves as CEO of the International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Associations (IFSTA), representing member organisations across 22 countries worldwide. With more than 30 years’ experience in swimming teaching, leisure management and workforce development, Dave is a passionate advocate for swimming and water safety. School swimming is a particular area of focus, and he has consistently championed the need for every child to leave primary school with essential swimming and water safety skills, while highlighting inequalities in provision and the need for greater collaboration across education, government, leisure and aquatics. A Chartered Manager Fellow with CIMSPA and a member of the Swimming Alliance Steering Group, Dave continues to bring hands-on experience to his leadership. A senior STA Tutor who has trained hundreds of swimming teachers, he has recently returned to poolside coaching at his local swimming club and is also a keen open water swimmer.