Netball New Zealand Announces new Board Chair

Netball New Zealand Announces new Board Chair

16 April 2014

Netball New Zealand (NNZ) Board member John Bongard has been appointed the new NNZ Board Chair effective immediately, with outgoing Board Chair Raewyn Lovett stepping down after contributing an outstanding nine years to the governance role.

John Bongard is into his fifth year on the NNZ Board and brings more than 30 years’ experience in high to executive level positions within the Fisher & Paykel Group, most recently as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer before retiring in 2009.

John was previously involved with Netball for more than 13 years through the Fisher & Paykel sponsorship with NNZ before joining the Board and was awarded an ONZM for services to business in the New Year’s Honours List 2010.

Other Boards which John serves on include Meridian Energy, Narta International PTY Ltd, The Rising Foundation, PSCTH Thailand, HJ Asmuss Ltd and Counties Manukau Pacific Trust.

He says his appointment to the Board Chair position is a humbling proposition.

“Certainly I have big shoes to fill with Raewyn’s departure, however I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

“It’s a very busy time for Netball in New Zealand with the introduction of a new Junior Netball programme this year for example, and I’m excited to be part of driving the sport forward into the future.”

“I have been involved with Netball for over 18 years now in various roles and I am fortunate to have a very supportive and capable NNZ Board around me.”

Raewyn Lovett’s contribution has been immense over the past nine years. She oversaw the introduction of the ANZ Championship which is now in its seventh year.

Raewyn was Chair of the TTNL Board which owns the ANZ Championship from 2009-2013 and she was integral in implementing the new Netball Zone structure throughout the country over a period of many months in 2011-2012.

Raewyn has worked seamlessly with three different NNZ Chief Executive’s and numerous other Board members to craft the future of NNZ and Netball in New Zealand and a great deal of credit must go to her for strategic leadership and the progression of the sport over the past decade to where it is today.

Raewyn’s exit from the NNZ Board Chair position has left a vacated seat on the Board for an Appointed Director.
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