Our People

President
Bernice Dickie

Board Members
 Andrew Wharton – Interim Chairman Joshua Dorman
   Andrew is a member of the Wellington Scottish Athletics club and has the Board portfolio of Health & Safety. Andrew joined the Board in 2018 and took over the role of Chairman when Jake Inwood departed in 2022. Andrew is a former multiple National Masters Champion over a variety of distances and is the Masters Captain at Wellington Scottish. Andrew has 20+ years of commercial and procurement experience and is currently the Manager Procurement Assurance at NZ Government Procurement. He is kept extremely busy as the father to 4 young boys but finds time to also coach a select group of Wellington Scottish athletes.

Joshua is a health and safety leader who has vast experience in industries such as Media, Print Manufacturing, Mass-Gathering Events, Local Government, Tertiary Education and Central Government. Joshua is Australian by birth and educated at Curtin University in Perth. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, going on road trips and a regular at the beach during summer. 
Josh Ledger  Eric Speakman

Josh joined the board in May 2020 at age 23. Josh has a strong background in athletics growing up winning a national Under 18 400 metre title in 2014 and multiple medals across the senior level. Alongside competing Josh is also a keen sprints coach focusing on developing the junior athletes into the senior age grades.

Originally from the Hawkes Bay, Eric joined the board in 2019, after spending some time in Wellington. The 2017 National 1500m titleholder has developed a strong range of performances across all middle distance disciplines after attending Stonybrook University in USA. Eric currently ranks 10th On NZL all time 5000m list with a time of 13.22.08. 
Kirsten Kilmister
Abi Skelton
 
Kirsten was a competitive sprinter for Wellington up until the age of 20, and now with two teenagers who have been doing athletics since they were seven, Kirsten has been involved with athletics in a variety of roles and clubs over the years. In her role as Community Development Manager for Nuku Ora, Wellington’s Regional Sports Trust, Kirsten oversees areas of work including coach development, participation, diversity and inclusion, governance, volunteerism, Good Sports®, and the implementation of the Sport NZ Balance is Better philosophy
Abi has spent over 25 years in the marketing and communications industry including six years sitting on the Advertising Standards Complaints Board. Two of Abi’s three children are competitive athletes in track and field disciplines respectively. She has been a regular marshall for events and more recently a  most valuable technical official at events around the country.
Recent Board Members  Honorary Board Treasurer – Todd Stevens
During this term 2022-23, Jake Inwood [Chairman] and Julia Ratcliffe have both concluded their time on the board due to work commitments taking them away from Wellington. Michael Wray has resigned from the board.

 

Todd is a former Board Chairman and life member of Athletics Wellington with may years experience in the sport especially in Cross Country and Road. he has many years experience in the finance industry with PWC
 
General Manager – Tony Rogers  

Tony is NZL Olympian #496. He represented New Zealand at the Los Angeles Olympics [1984] and Brisbane Commonwealth Games [1982]. He has vast experience in wide-ranging facets of Athletics. His previous roles both professionally and voluntary include serving on the World Athletics Athletes Commission, as Competition and Performance Manager for Athletics New Zealand, an elite athlete, coach and team manager. Tony has extensive experience, credibility, knowledge, and an understanding of athletics from regional, national, and international settings.
Tony worked and coached extensively in Wellington for 10 years from 2002 and returns to Wellington with a wealth of knowledge and empathy in the youth sector across a variety of sports. He is current NZ Secondary Schools Athletics Association President, former Director of Sport at Rangitoto College and more recently the Executive Director of Waikato Secondary Schools Sports.

Tony is well-known in the Wellington track & field community as Director of the annual Team Ledger Harcourts Capital Classic. Tony’s an experienced coach, guiding many New Zealand representatives for track and cross-country to the World Championship level.

Community Engagement Lead – Tamsin Harvey
Tamsin will support the General Manager Tony Rogers to drive the engagement and promotion of athletics in the greater Wellington region with a strong focus on schools and our junior club structures. Tamsin will support the day-to-day facilitation of school’s athletics days in the community and at Newtown Park along with some new initiatives. Tamsin will add support to our community volunteer team leads.  The role will also aid greater engagement of officials and coaches with the sport’s volunteer leads to increase capacity for quality athletics experiences.

Tamsin is a current active athlete competing in sprints and hurdles with regional titles in both Auckland and Otago and a medallist at the NZ Championships. The former Aucklander comes to Wellington via Otago University a year ago to complete her Practice for a Master of Applied Science in Advanced Nutrition. She has work experience in the field of Nutrition consultancy including supporting Sport Canterbury’s Healthy Lifestyle Advisory with particular focus on clients in the Green Prescriptions programme.

OUR LEADERS  
National Officials Education – Eddie Soria Coaching Lead – Andrew Matsuoka-Webber
Officials Lead – Vaughan Oates  
Equipment LeadMike Ritchie Chairperson[s] of Special Project
 2023 Athletics NZ Track & Field Championships – 
 
Chairman Senior Track & Field – Yarride Rosario Chairman Junior Track & Field – Willy Szeto
Yarride moved to Wellington in 2008 from Gisborne hoping to progress in Athletics and under the guidance of Mike Beable, managed to win a few national titles and compete internationally with the highlight being representing NZ at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in the 100m. After hanging up the spikes he took up coaching and worked with some wonderful sprint and hurdle athletes who were successful on the national stage. Now working for DSport in Wellington, he’s keen to give back to the sport in a different capacity and aiming to help revitalise and grow Track and Field in Wellington.  
Chairman Cross Country and Road – Todd Stevens  
 
ATHLETICS WELLINGTON  HONOURS  
Athletics NZ Award Recipients – Click Here   

Leaders Contacts

ATHLETICS WELLINGTON KEY CONTACTSNameContact
Athletics Wellington General Manager Tony Rogersgm@athleticswellington.org.nz
Athletics Wellington Community Engagement LeadTamsin Harveycommunity@athleticswellington.org.nz
Athletics Wellington Board ChairAndrew Whartonboard@athleticswellington.org.nz
Senior Technical Official LeadVaughan Oatesv.oates@GNS.CRI.NZ
Technical Officials Education LeadEddie Soriaeddie_soria@fastmail.com
Cross Country & Road Chair [Out of Stadia]Todd Stevenstoddstevens6@gmail.com
Junior Committee ChairWilly Szetoawjcinfo@gmail.com
Senior Track & Field Committee ChairYarride Rosarioyarride.rosario@gmail.com
Athletics Wellington Coaching LeadAndrew Matsuoka-Webbercoaching@athleticswellington.org.nz
Athletics Wellington Equipment LeadMike Ritchiempritchie@xtra.co.nz
For all inquiries or to get in touch please email info@athleticswellington.org.nz
PO Box 1734