Faumuina¯ joins Sport NZ board
Women now dominate the Sport New Zealand board following the appointment of former Olympic discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina¯ .
Sport NZ announced the appointment of the two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist yesterday.
She is the first Pasifika woman to be appointed to the board.
Faumuina¯ is ‘‘beyond excited’’ about taking her place at the table but is aware of the responsibility the position presents.
‘‘I’ve been given a rare opportunity,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m extremely grateful.’’
Five women, including Faumuina¯ , now sit on the ninemember Sport NZ board.
She joins former Black Fern, New Zealand Rugby Board member and academic Dr Farah Palmer, former Netball New Zealand chair Raewyn Lovett, former Netball New Zealand and Hockey New Zealand CEO Hilary Poole and former Black Stick and New Zealand Olympic Committee board member Kylie Clegg.
Faumuina¯ is thrilled Sport NZ is a ‘‘front runner’’ by continuing to diversify the board.
‘‘Sport NZ has taken a leap of faith,’’ she said.
Following her retirement from elite athletics in 2011, she became a senior New Zealand diplomat in New York and was the inaugural CEO of the Best Pasifika Leadership Academy and Charitable Foundation.
The 2004 Athens Olympic team captain and flag-bearer has also been active in promoting health and wellbeing in Auckland communities.
‘‘Being physically active has huge potential to enrich lives,’’ Faumuina¯ said. ‘‘I’m passionate about Sport NZ’s powerful new vision to get ‘Every Body Active’. We’re talking about a mass movement to improve the wellbeing of young people in all of our country’s diverse communities, and I’m excited to be part of this journey.’’
Faumuina¯’s experience is an ‘‘ideal addition’’, according to Sport NZ board chair Bill Moran.
‘‘Beatrice is a champion athlete and a proven leader,’’ he said. ‘‘She has worked extensively within her communities and understands the importance of health and wellbeing, and what it takes to help young people reach their potential.
‘‘This makes her an ideal addition to the Sport NZ board. I look forward to working with Beatrice and the diversity of thought she will bring to board discussions.’’
Sport NZ’s appointment of Faumuina¯ aligns with the Government’s target of having 40 per cent of board positions filled by women by 2021. Sporting bodies which do not reach this target risk losing funding from the Government.
This was outlined in the Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy released by Minister of Sport Grant Robertson and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in October, 2018. The aim of the strategy is to close the inequities within sport for girls and women in New Zealand.
Robertson appointed Faumuina¯ to the board, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, Sport NZ’s monitoring agency.
Former world champion Faumuina¯ has been appointed to the board for three years and will attend her first meeting next month.