Businessman Paul Collins has been appointed Chair of the Board of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully announced today.
Mr Collins, a recently appointed SPARC board member, has held directorships with over 50 listed companies in New Zealand and overseas. He served on the New Zealand Sports Foundation, and was a member of the Rugby World Cup 2011 bid committee. He is currently a director of the Wellington Rugby Football Union, and Chair of the Hurricanes Super 14 franchise and the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.
Mr McCully also named four new board members today, with Bill Birnie, Don Mackinnon, Waimarama Taumaunu, and Katie Sadlier all appointed for three-year terms.
"The new chair and members announced today bring a wealth of governance expertise and strategic planning to the SPARC Board, as well as a diverse knowledge of sports participation and administration," Mr McCully said.
"Their appointment will be of considerable value as the Board responds to the government's policy of getting more New Zealanders participating in sport and recreation, and achieving success on the world stage."
Bill Birnie is Chairman and Managing Director of a private equity firm, and until recently was a director of Equestrian Sport New Zealand. He has previously served on the Hillary Commission, and was a founding trustee of the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.
Mr Mackinnon, an Auckland lawyer, has significant experience in employment law and sports law. His governance experience includes the Variety Club, World Netball Championships NZ Limited, and chair of Netball New Zealand. He was also a member of the New Zealand Rugby League independent review committee.
Former Olympian Katie Sadlier has a wealth of management experience, including two years as general manager of the New Zealand Academy of Sport. Her directorships include the Sports Hall of Fame, Wellington City Council's indoor sports stadium advisory committee, and the International Association of High Performance Sport Training Centres.
Waimarama Taumaunu MBE has been a leading netball figure for many years, firstly as a player and captain, and then as a coach. She spent five years in the United Kingdom as national performance director for the All England Netball Association and as a foundation director of the English Institute of Sport, before returning to New Zealand where she has held a number of executive management roles.
