Milestone event for Women in High Performance Sport coaching
Bringing together participants from across HPSNZ and Sport NZ programmes, the summit created a unique opportunity for connection, reflection and shared learning across a wide range of sports, with representation spanning at least 23 sports through Te Hāpaitanga alone.
The event opened with an address from Sport NZ Group Chief Executive Raelene Castle, who set the tone by reflecting on the journey of women in sport and the importance of continued progress and visibility. Her remarks provided valuable context for the conversations that followed, reinforcing both the gains made and the opportunities ahead.
Across the summit, three interactive workshop streams explored key themes shaping coaching in high performance sport. These included “the lifecycle of a coach”, facilitated by HPSNZ Coaching Consultant, Angie Dougal, alongside sessions focused on “pathways and people” and “leading within complexity”, led by Te Hāpaitanga Lead Jody Cameron and Women in HP Sport Lead Helene Wilson respectively.
Together, these sessions encouraged coaches to reflect on their own journeys, navigate career pathways and build confidence in leading within increasingly complex sporting environments.
A highlight of the summit dinner was the evening panel discussion, hosted by Jenny-May Clarkson and featuring leaders including Michelle de Highden (Australian Institute of Sport), Elyse Fraser and Raylene Bates.
The panel created a candid and engaging space, with questions ranging from early coaching influences through to personal experiences of navigating barriers in high performance sport. The conversation resonated strongly with attendees, offering both inspiration and practical insights drawn from lived experience.
“The summit aimed to connect aspiring HP coaches to our expert coaches, our system advocates, mentors and allies who have deep coaching and system knowledge to share,” says Helene.
“New Zealand’s competitive advantage is how connected our people are and we have some significant women who have contributed to our success. We wanted everyone together to ensure stories were shared about the realities of HP coaching and the commitment required to keep uplifting each other.”
The summit also attracted strong engagement from across the wider coaching community, including senior coaching leaders, reinforcing the collective commitment to supporting and advancing women in high performance coaching.
HPSNZ Head of Coaching, Nathan Luce, says it was a great opportunity to acknowledge the evolution of Te Hāpaitanga since its inception.
“The presence of five cohorts of women now embedded across NSOs and teams around the country clearly reflects the impact of the work lead by pioneer coach Lyn Gunson, Jody, Helene and the wider team.”
Nathan says a personal highlight for him was Michelle de Highden’s keynote speech in which she used the analogy of the ‘leaky pipeline’ in relation to women’s coaching pathways.
“This really resonated and speaks to a structural challenge we need to stay conscious of and continue to address through our policies and everyday practices.”
Nathan was also struck by the idea of ‘nudging’ the system in the right direction.
“Small, intentional shifts can create meaningful and lasting change, which feels particularly relevant as we continue to support and grow women in coaching across the system.”
Complementing the formal sessions was the Women in HP Coaching Gallery — a visually compelling showcase of women coaches’ journeys within Te Hāpaitanga and other HPSNZ programmes. Through photography and audiovisual storytelling, the gallery captured the energy, passion, determination and sacrifice that underpin success in high performance coaching. The installation proved a standout feature, with many attendees spending significant time engaging with the stories on display.