On Thursday 29 October 2020, a quorum including 18x of the original 22x Foundation Members gathered for the fourth Annual General Meeting of Women in Sport Aotearoa, Ngā Wāhine Hākinakina o Aotearoa (WISPA).
The meeting was chaired by WISPA co-chair and co-founder Sarah Leberman MNZM with support from fellow co-chair and co-founder, Julie Paterson. WISPA presented its Fourth Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements. This covered the financial year 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020.
The WISPA CEO Rachel Froggatt presented the operational elements outlined in the Annual Report, providing an update on progress against the five pillars of the WISPA Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022:
- Challenge the System (Uia ngā Pātai) – Provide evidence-based research creating a strong case for change
- Lead the Change (Kōkiritia kia tōkeke) – Support increased representation of women and girls in leadership
- Be the Voice (Whakapuakina te Reo) – Ensure women and girls have a powerful and respected voice
- Take it Global (Ki te Ao!) – Drive an innovative future globally for IWG, while honouring the heritage
- Secure the Future (Herea kia ngita) – Establish and grow a respected and sustainable organisation
She was supported in presenting Pillar 4 by IWG World Conference Chair and WISPA board member, Pauline Harrison. The Audited Financial Statements were then presented by Audit & Risk Committee Chair and WISPA board member, Nicki Nicol. All other members of the WISPA board attended to support the presentation, including James Gibson, Martin Snedden CNZM and Louisa Wall MP (by ZOOM) and WISPA’s three newly-appointed board members, Erin Roxburgh-Makea, Tim Corbett and Kelly Evans.
Whilst it was acknowledged that COVID-19 has presented WISPA with significant challenges, Members were buoyed by the way that WISPA has adapted to changing circumstances and emerged in a strong position heading into the new calendar year, 2021. The mood of the meeting was very positive and the Members commended the work of the WISPA Board and CEO in managing change positively and particularly, ensuring that women and girls have continued to have a voice across play, active recreation and sport throughout the pandemic.
The Fourth Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements were unanimously adopted, with one typo that has now been corrected. The 2019 AGM Minutes were also unanimously adopted with one formatting change.
The Board Appointments Panel (composed of Foundation Members, Chair – Pam Elgar; Raewyn Lovett ONZM and Michelle Hollands) and the WISPA Auditor (Charity Audit) were also re-appointed with unanimous support.
The WISPA co-chairs and CEO commented in their opening remarks in the Annual Report:
“The past year has been a game of two halves for Women in Sport Aotearoa (WISPA). Since March 2020 we have had to constantly evolve and adapt our on-field strategy as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately impact the ‘women in sport’ movement globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are incredibly grateful to the government and crown agency, Sport New Zealand, for their ongoing positive intervention to protect the growing momentum around women’s sport at a time where resource and funding is being challenged across the board. With four global women’s sporting events also coming to our shores between now and 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand is currently leading the world.
WISPA is very appreciative of support from our main funding partners – Sport New Zealand, ATEED, NZ Community Trust, the US Consulate and Tourism NZ, along with our pro bono legal firm Simpson Grierson. We would like to especially acknowledge the many people at Sport New Zealand, and within the play, active recreation and sport sector, who are continuing to work so hard to deliver the government Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation strategy, despite current challenges. We would like to say an enormous thank you to our friends at the Trans – Tasman Business Circle (TTBC), and acknowledge the fantastic support of the NZ Olympic Committee, Paralympics NZ, Aktive, The Shift Foundation, LockerRoom, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Ministry for Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE) and Ministry for Women.
WISPA could not be more thankful for the outstanding set of volunteers that orbit us, providing advice, insight, connections and most importantly – time. A huge mention must go to the 16 members of the Local Organising Committee of the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport, along with past and current members of the Board.
WISPA has now re-launched its global commercial strategy under the “Change Inspires Change” theme. Over the next 12 months, we will be searching for opportunities with potential commercial partners, grant and trust funders and others with shared value sets around gender equity to support our work in Aotearoa New Zealand and enable us to fully deliver the journey toward and beyond the 8th IWG World Conference in May 2022.
We are incredibly excited about what the year ahead will bring!”
Click to see our Fourth Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements 2019-2020.
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Foundation Members attending included:
- Julie Paterson, CEO Tennis New Zealand (WISPA Co-Chair & Co-Founder)
- Sarah Leberman MNZM, Professor, Massey University (WISPA Co-Chair & Co-Founder)
- Pauline Harrison, Specialist in executive coaching, strategy and leadership development (IWG World Conference Chair, WISPA Board Member)
- Louisa Wall, MP NZ Labour Party, former Black and Silver Fern (WISPA Board Member) – by ZOOM
- Pam Elgar, CEO, Make-A-Wish Foundation
- Dianne Williams, Independent Director
- Kereyn Smith MNZM, CEO, NZ Olympic Committee
- Laura Menzies, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Sport NZ
- Gaye Bryham, Head of Department, Auckland University of Technology
- Toni Bruce, Professor, University of Auckland
- Debbie Curgenven, Community Sport Manager, Aktive Auckland
- Sarah Sandley, CEO, Aktive Auckland
- Ingrid Cronin-Knight, Country Manager, MYOB
- Sarah Beaman, Business Improvement Consultant, Strategic Reality – by ZOOM
- Meg Luff, Marketing Consultant and Business Owner, Sharpe Marketing – by ZOOM
- Kirikaiahi Mahutariki, Principal at Taiiti Advisory – by ZOOM
- Kirsten Patterson, CEO, Institute of Directors New Zealand – by ZOOM
- Toni-Maree Carnie, CEO, Volleyball New Zealand – by ZOOM
Apologies were received from:
- Steph Bond, Executive Manager, New Zealand Players Association
- Sue Emerson, Team Lead Academic Programme Manager, Unitec Institute of Technology
- Michelle Hollands, Strategic Projects and Partnership Manager, Te Waka
- Raewyn Lovett ONZM, Partner at Duncan Cotterill (Co-Chair of the IWG 2018 – 2022)
