2023 has been ceiling-shattering in many ways, from matters on the pitch to movements in the boardroom. An exceptional move came from the appointment of Diana Puketapu-Lyndon as the first woman and first Māori person (Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand) in the history of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to fill the role.
This appointment signals a significant step forward for gender diversity and inclusivity in the world of cricket administration and governance.
“I’m definitely celebrating women moving forward in that space, but from my perspective, I’m just making sure I do the best job I can in each role and bringing that each time.”
Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, First Woman Chairperson of New Zealand Cricket
This announcement came after Martin Snedden, a former chief executive of NZC, stepped down after serving three terms as the director on the board.
Puketapu-Lyndon was first appointed to the NZ Cricket board in 2017 and is now the second-longest-serving director. She is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors, and a fellow chartered accountant.
As things stand now, Lyndon is the most powerful women in New Zealand sport, at the head of two of the sport-mad nation’s largest sporting organisations, NZC and she also chairs the New Zealand Olympic Committee. She was appointed to this role in 2022 after serving in the committee since 2015.
She brings a wealth of commercial and sporting administrative experience to the position, including two stints as chief financial officer in America’s Cup sailing campaigns, and one as a director of the World Masters Games.
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and twice world track champion cyclist Alison Shanks has also joined the board.
Shanks has extensive governance experience in the sports sector having served on the High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) board, Cycling New Zealand board, and is a current member of the NZOC Athletes Commission.
Internationally, Shanks currently represents the Oceania Region on the Commonwealth Games Federation Athletes Commissions.
Shanks is a champion for women in sport and diversity and inclusion, having graduated from the NZ Olympic Committee Women in Sport Leadership Academy.
Photo Caption: Diana Puketapu-Lyndon is regarded as the most powerful person in New Zealand Sport since her appointment as the first woman – and first Māori – Chair of New Zealand Cricket in a giant leap forward for the advancement of diversity and inclusion. Photo: Supplied
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
