As soon as the Gold Coast won the right to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Adam Jarrett wanted to be part of the big event.

That was in 2012 when Adam was studying Building Design and Technology. A few years later, however, Adam was studying a Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Town Planning at Griffith University when the opportunity arose to truly follow his Commonwealth Games dream.

Selected for an internship as part of Griffith’s partnership with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (GOLDOC), today Adam is Venue Transport Manager for the event next April.

With responsibilities including integrated planning and decision-making, transportation administration, streamlining communications with partners, and making presentations to stakeholders such as City of Gold Coast and Transport and Main Roads, Adam is relishing his busy and vital role.

He believes the Commonwealth Games will be stellar moment in the history of the Gold Coast.

“I went to the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and I felt the pride, saw the excitement and the togetherness that emanated from that event,” says Adam.

“I was very young, but it had a big impact on me and I think the Commonwealth Games will do the same for our city.”

Adam’s studies at Griffith fitted neatly with his role at GOLDOC when he joined in 2016.

“When I started my degree I wanted to apply planning as a means of social cohesion and bringing the community together,” he says.

“I’m passionate about creating something that people want, that they can use and which provides a great legacy, so the Commonwealth Games position was absolutely ideal for me.

“This is such an exciting opportunity for the Gold Coast, one that puts our city in a different kind of spotlight.”

One of Adam’s most important tasks has been his involvement in the development of an integrated online mapping system for the city during the Commonwealth Games.

“It can be amended as the data indicates. You can turn data sets on and off as required and the information we’ve collected can be implemented during the Commonwealth Games to ensure a smoother, successful delivery of the event.”

With the Games just a few months away, Adam says anticipation is building among everyone on the GOLDOC team.

“Studying at Griffith has been great preparation for me, especially with the development of professional skills, coping mechanisms, and finding different ways to approach different scenarios for better outcomes,” says Adam.

“Working on an event like the Commonwealth Games is a constant challenge, but it’s one that I enjoy.

“It’s broadened my horizons personally and professionally and I would love to further that growth by working on other major events after the Commonwealth Games, such as the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.”