Our People

President
Bernice Dickie

Board Members
    Andrew Rook – Chairman
  Andrew  in his youth was an aspiring 400m runner representing Whanganui & West Coast North Island (now MWA Centre) at a number of Regional, Colgate Games and IP’s. He now enjoys watching his own boys representing the Olympic Club and Wellington at those same events. Andrew is a Chartered Accountant with over 20-years experience across the public and private sectors, and brings to the Board a range of commercial and sports administration experience having held management roles with the New Zealand Rugby and the IRB. His Involvement included organisation of two Rugby World Cups and IRB regional  & age grade tournaments in the IRB strategic investment program. Andrew was elected to the board at the 2023 AGM.
Joshua Dorman
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 
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.
Eric Speakman
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
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 Skelton
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.
Todd Stevens – Honorary Board Treasurer
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. Todd is an active member of the Wellington Scottish Club following in the family history of father Alan and Grandfather Alf.
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Tony Rogers – General Manager
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