A talk coming up later this month will give girls and women the chance to learn from inspirational women in sport and leadership.

Kereyn Smith grew up on a farm in Clinton, South Otago, and like many of our current Olympians, coming from a rural background was no barrier for her. She is now the most powerful person in sport in New Zealand.

Pauline Harrison has been the chief executive of England Netball and is now living in New Zealand. With a passion for sport and people, and in particular, supporting women and girls to achieve their dreams, Pauline is helping to organise the next International Women in Sport (IWG) conference to be held in Auckland in 2022.

Both these global champions for women in sport and leadership will be in Wanaka for the presentation on August 24 at the Lake Wanaka Centre.

Hosted by Raylene Bates of Women in Sport Otago (WiSPO) and brought to Wanaka by the Upper Clutha Sports Community, WiSPO and Sport Central, the aim of the presentation is to give inspiration and motivation especially to the women of Otago, and an opportunity to network. 

Kereyn’s journey from Clinton, via South Otago High School, to PE School at Otago University and into a teaching career is the start of an amazing story: She is now secretary general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee and has overseen our most successful period in terms of medals won in Olympic and Commonwealth Games history.  

Awarded the Queen’s MNZM in 2015 for Services to Governance in Sport, Kereyn is respected around the world for her integrity, impact and ambition. 

Pauline is a coach and consultant, specialising in coaching and leadership development. She has more than 20 years experience at national governance level and is co-founder of ‘Females Achieving Brilliance’ (FAB), an international leadership network for women in sport.

Pauline also leads a Women in Coaching project for the International Council of Coaching Excellence (ICCE). 

The ‘Women in Sport and Leadership’ presentation will take place on August 24, 7pm, at the Armstrong Room in the Lake Wanaka Centre. Tickets cost $10. They can be purchased at the Sport Otago website.

PHOTO: Supplied