The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) has announced the appointment of Julie Anne Fabsik-Swarts as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective from 4 August 2026.
Fabsik-Swarts succeeds longtime DEMA President and CEO Tom Ingram, who retired at the end of 2025 after more than two decades leading the organisation.
The appointment follows a national search process led by a board-appointed search committee, which chose Fabsik-Swarts based on more than 35 years of executive leadership. She is also a NAUI Master Diver with more than 1,000 logged dives and more than 28 years of recreational diving experience.
‘After a thorough and thoughtful search process, the Board is confident that Julie is the right leader to guide DEMA forward,’ said DEMA Board Chair Dan Orr. ‘With a strong track record of leadership and a clear vision for the future, she brings valuable perspective and experience that will help strengthen and grow the association and the industry it serves.’
Fabsik-Swarts most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association International. During her tenure, she oversaw operations across 40 countries and transformed loss-making conferences into consistently profitable enterprises, with an associated 400 per cent growth in membership.H
Her background, as detailed in a DEMA press release, includes extensive experience in conference and expo production, exhibitor and sponsor relations, membership development, marketing, advocacy, and financial management.
She also serves on the Board of Directors for the US Center for SafeSport and is a national-level women’s gymnastics judge officiating for USA Gymnastics and the NCAA
‘I’m honoured to join DEMA and to have the opportunity to serve an industry with such a strong sense of community and purpose,’ said Fabsik-Swarts.
‘I look forward to working closely with the Board, staff, and Members to build on the organisation’s strong foundation and to explore new opportunities that support business growth and long-term success across the industry.’
DEMA said its priorities under the new leadership will include support for dive businesses, member engagement, development of the annual DEMA Show, and programmes intended to expand participation in diving.
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