We Welcome Three New Team Members

Anna Robertsone-News, Member Updates

We are super excited to welcome three new people to the Gymnastics NZ team.  Rachel Murphy has filled the role of Upper South Relationship Manager.  Rachel has a big interest in all things sports and spent the last three years working for Softball New Zealand, where her focus was policy and strategy and ran national tournaments.

Hockey is her number one sport which Rachel plays competitively, umpires at a national level and is an active member of her Club’s committee.  She also holds an honours degree in Sport and Recreation Management from Lincoln University and looks forward to combining her theoretical knowledge with her sports industry experience, whilst she gets to know gymnastics.

 

We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Annabelle Palmer to the position of National Support Administrator.

Annabelle returns to the sport sector after previous administration and coordinator roles at the Auckland Rugby Union, The Blues, New Zealand Rugby and All Blacks Hospitality (The Experience Group). She has a strong connection with children through her current role of teacher aide at Kings College, and is an avid dance and ballet teacher in her ‘spare time’.

Annabelle will bring a bright and bubbly personality to the role and has a real can-do attitude which will resonate well with our team and members. She is a welcome addition to the team, offering a wide skill-set.

Annabelle will commence in the role on Monday 30 April.

 

Starting a week later, on Monday 7 May, is Luke Dobney as International Tours Coordinator.

Luke’s extensive knowledge in men’s artistic gymnastics as a current international athlete, coach, judge and governance role will provide valuable insight into how we continue to best service and organise international tours. Strong skill sets from his engineering background and academia in sport management will further complement the role.

Luke made a comeback to the sport four years ago after a thirteen-year break.  Since doing so, he has been on tours to Australia, Hungary, Taipei and is off to Columbia in a couple of weeks to compete at the Pacific Rim Championships.  Outside of work and gymnastics, he enjoys snowboarding and wakeboarding, or a good movie or book when the body needs a rest.

Current International Tours and Education Co-ordinator Ayla Huber will hand over to Luke the week commencing 7 May, before starting her new role of Events Manager.  Ayla has been involved in the National Championships in numerous capacities.  She provides a great skill-set and personality and a strong knowledge of artistic gymnastics and the wider community.  We very much look forward to Ayla’s skill set transferring to the events space.