Shaping the future of Gymnastics in Aotearoa

 The nine-member strong Gymnastics NZ Steering Committee has shared its Shaping the Future of Gymnastics in Aotearoa Work Plan in response to the 2021 Independent Review. The Work Plan is the next step in  continuing to forge positive cultural changes in our sport. 

The development of the Shaping the Future of Gymnastics in Aotearoa Work Plan was led by independent Chair Sally McKechnie.  Since January 2022, the Steering Committee has met eight times to consider the recommendations and classify them into themes to provide a framework for robust consideration.

 The four themes identified by the Steering Committee are:

1. Integrity
2. Health & Wellbeing
3. Environment & Culture
4. People & Programmes

There will be plenty of opportunities for the community to get involved in working groups and workstreams that the committee identifies, and we encourage the community to be active in helping us to shape the culture and future of gymnastics in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Contact: chair@gymnasticssteeringcommittee.co.nz

Terms of reference and roles descriptions for the Steering Committee can be found here.

Shaping the Future of Gymnastics in Aotearoa Work Plan  from the Steering Committee is published. Keep up to date with  latest media releases and  community updates (February 2023).

The Independent Review report and our Statement of Commitment to enact the recommendations from the report.

The Steering Committee is made up of the nine gymnast and specialist members below. An ex-officio position is held by the CEO of Gymnastics NZ.

Chair
A public and administrative lawyer, and partner at Simpson Grierson, Sally has advised on several high profile and sensitive matters, including inquires, investigations, and Royal Commissions. She has years of experience working on issues relating to the abuse of children and vulnerable persons, and holds a particular interest in youth and community sport and in safeguarding. Sally is currently a director of Cricket Wellington.

Gymnast Member
Bronte Coluccio has been involved in the local gymnastics community for more than 20 years. She represented New Zealand in Aerobic Gymnastics, has held coaching and judging roles and served on numerous sporting and judicial committees. She has a BA with a double major in criminology and sociology and currently works as a stunt performer.

Gymnast Member
Carmel Leslie is a former New Zealand gymnast competing at an elite level internationally. Her diverse experience including sport development, athlete/coach mentoring, sport science lecturing and gymnastics coaching at a regional and national level. She is currently a programme manager at the Otago Academy of Sport working with athletes, coaches, parents, and sport science providers.

Gymnast Member
Jacqui Godfrey is a New Zealand representative in artistic gymnastics, formally as a gymnast and currently as an FIG brevet judge. She has built a 20 plus year career in sport operations and governance, including senior management roles in gymnastics, diving, and netball across three countries. She currently serves as the Director of Trampoline & Tumbling at USA Gymnastics.

Gymnast Member
Kierran Tuhi is a former New Zealand trampoline athlete who has competed at four world championships including a world championship final and is a world cup silver medallist. He has served many years as a national level judge and has coached many aspiring athletes. Kierran is a qualified civil engineer currently working in the commercial construction industry.

Gymnast Member
Olivia Jöbsis is a former gymnast representing New Zealand at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She has coached preschool to competitive gymnasts, judged, choreographed, and been a programme manager. Since completing her law degree, she has volunteered at Community Law (Women’s Sessions) and Youth Law Aotearoa gaining important insights into the challenges that vulnerable women, young people, and marginalised individuals face when accessing advice, remedy, and justice; as well as the need to build trust and informed consent to ensure constructive engagement.

Human Rights Specialist
Dr. Claire Achmad is an international human rights law and policy specialist, with an interest in children’s rights, and advocacy for children. She holds a PhD in international children’s rights law and has worked across the NGO, social services, government, inter-governmental and international development locally and abroad. She is currently the chief executive officer of Social Service Providers Aotearoa, a peak body for community-based social services. She also holds a number of advisory and governance roles in New Zealand and internationally in the areas of children’s and human rights.

Child and Youth Specialist
Willow Duffy is a vocal child advocate and an expert in child protection and creating child-safe organisations. She is a founding member and CEO of Safeguarding Children, a charity dedicated to preventing child abuse. Her team has trained over 23,500 New Zealanders in child protection and developed systems and processes to keep children safe in organisations. Willow led projects to develop child protection and safeguarding resources for Sport New Zealand and the Ministry of Education.

Sport New Zealand Representative
Rebecca Rolls leads diversity and inclusion at Sport New Zealand. Rebecca (Ngāti Porou) has a justice sector background spanning over 20 years. Prior to joining Sport New Zealand, she was a general manager at the Department of Corrections, leading the integrity and assurance functions. She served 10 years in police, seven of those spent in the Criminal Investigation Branch working in several areas including child abuse and sexual assaults.