Sport New Zealand names Raelene Castle as new Chief Executive

November 4, 2020

Raelene Castle, the former Chief Executive of Rugby Australia and the NRL’s Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, has been named as Sport New Zealand’s new Chief Executive, replacing long-serving postholder Peter Miskimmin, who announced in August he would be leaving in December after more than a decade in the role.

Announcing Castle’s appointment, Sport NZ Chair, Bill Moran, said her experience made her the ideal fit for the vacant role, advising “Raelene brings tremendous breadth and depth of experience as a CEO in sports administration and is a proven people and organisational leader.

“The board of Sport NZ see her as the ideal person to lead our organisation forward as we continue our important work in addressing declining participation among young people and protecting the strength and integrity of our sector.”

Castle’s appointment comes after she resigned from Rugby Australia in April after being told that she “had lost the support of the board” following her handling the Israel Folau homophobia incident and for not having been able to secure a new broadcast deal before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Castle advised that she is looking forward to helping solidify and reshape sport in her native country, explaining “my time in Australasian sport has shown me the critical role sport and recreation play in bringing communities together and the positive impact those experiences have on society.

“I believe I am joining Sport NZ at a key moment in our sector’s history.

“COVID-19 has had an enormous impact at all levels of the sector, but with the Sport Recovery Package, there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to solidify the sector and reshape it to be more robust and deliver more participation opportunities.

“I’m looking forward to being part of that work.”

Miskimmin, when announcing the end of his tenure at the government agency, said there are great opportunities for the organisation moving forward.

He stated “I am extremely proud of what this organisation has achieved over the past 12 years and how well equipped it is to serve our sector moving forward.

“This has been a period of unparalleled sporting success for New Zealand on the world stage.

“It has also been one which has seen Sport NZ make a major step change in addressing the declining participation of our young people and the impact this is having on their wellbeing.”

Castle will be the first woman to lead Sport NZ.

Before her controversial time at Rugby Australia and the Bulldogs, Castle was Chief Executive at Netball New Zealand.

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25th February 2020 - New Zealand sports launch campaign to change youth sport

27th September 2020 - Sport NZ encourages people to get out and exercise

27th August 2020 - High Performance Sport NZ launches new initiatives for female coaches and leaders

24th August 2020 - Sport NZ opens applications for new $68 million community fund

7th May 2020 - Sport NZ provides guidance on activity under Alert Level 2

10th September 2019 - New Zealand Rugby names former All Black as new Chief Executive

15th October 2019 - NZ Rugby secures stake in Sky TV as part of new broadcast deal

20th August 2020 - New Zealand Rugby looks to stage full series of Tests in coming months

2nd June 2020 - New Zealand Rugby announces details of new domestic competition

11th May 2020 - Coronavirus and financial losses push New Zealand Rugby to lay off half its staff

21st April 2020 - New Zealand football clubs benefit from FIFA Women’s World Cup funds

8th July 2020 - Eden Park looks to hosting of multiple World Cup events over next three years

26th June 2020 - Australasian cities and venues look forward to hosting of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

24th April 2020 - Rugby Australia Chairman condemns ‘abhorrent’ bullying of departing Chief Executive Raelene Castle

23rd April 2020 - Raelene Castle steps down from Chief Executive’s role at Rugby Australia

4th December 2019 - Rugby Australia and Israel Folau settle legal dispute with mutual apologies

24th May 2019 - Rugby Australia Chairman acknowledges reputation damage from Israel Folau saga

20th May 2019 - Israel Folau will not appeal termination citing lack of confidence in Rugby Australia

20th May 2018 - Raelene Castle shares plan to revive Australian rugby

16th January 2018 - History making Raelene Castle looks for stability in new Rugby Australia role

13th December 2017 - Rugby Australia makes history with appointment of Raelene Castle as Chief Executive

26th May 2017 - Raelene Castle to step down from Chief Executive role at Canterbury Bulldogs

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