Chairman and CEO Report

CHAIRMAN AND CEO REPORT 2020

GERRY DWYER,

Chairman of the Board

SIMON PETERSON,

Chief Executive The year in review will be historic for what did not happen, as much as for what was able to be achieved prior to a COVID-19 lockdown.

The Rocket Foods New Zealand Rowing Championships became a solitary ‘main event’ for the calendar year, with the Aon Maadi Cup, Aon New Zealand University Rowing Championships, New Zealand Masters Rowing Championships and all international regattas sadly cancelled.

HIGH PERFORMANCE

We worked with our elite athletes and coaches to ensure their training and support continued away from Lake Karapiro throughout New Zealand’s lockdown. Our sincere thanks go to HPSNZ for continuing elite athlete’s PEG payments throughout this time, HPSNZ funding also allowed our programme to continue, albeit without international travel at any level. HPSNZ provided early and clear communication that our support would be extended into 2021. Our athlete representative group (ARG) provided guidance on our 2021 planning, and in consultation with our coaches and staff we enter 2021 with a postponed 2020 Olympics now scheduled for July 2021.

DOMESTIC

The rowing community adapted quickly to 2020’s challenges through multiple indoor rowing challenges with Commonwealth countries, including the introduction of the ANZAC Indoor Rowing Challenge supported by the Colgan Foundation, which will remain on the domestic rowing calendar for years to come.

Our Coach Development education programmes were hosted online for the majority of 2020 which has allowed for wider participation across the country. A very significant change was the first ever virtual AGM but we were pleased to hold the Whole of Sport forum as a face to face meeting in the Waikato in October.

MANAGEMENT

2020 saw the departure of Chief Operating Officer Rachelle Stoddart after 10 years, throughout which she provided outstanding leadership in the commercial and financial management of Rowing NZ. Tim Wilson departed our Domestic team after three years as Rowing Coordinator, and Jared Cummings undertook Rebecca Beattie’s Coach Development role throughout her maternity leave. South Island Rowing’s Trevor and Cath Wilson completed a wonderful tenure looking after all aspects of rowing at Lake Ruataniwha.

Doctor Chris Milne retired after many years of wonderful medical support to an ever growing HP programme. Chris was appropriately acknowledged by our athletes and staff having cared for our athletes and teams both within New Zealand and throughout multiple tours.

We thank them all for their fantastic contribution to Rowing NZ.

PARTNERSHIPS

We are very grateful and respectful of having Rocket Foods and Aon recommit to 2021 and the

ongoing positive support of Sean & Bibi Colgan, David Richwhite, Peter Masfen, Peter & Kate Harris and Campbell Myers. Our relationship with the Waikato River Authority including athlete restoration work on the Waikato River banks has continued as a positive strategic alignment.

The uniqueness of 2020 provided financial challenges that will be felt well into 2021 and we acknowledge the wonderful support provided by Derek and Judy Jones and to Geoff Blampied, Russell Bailey and the team at Aon for standing alongside us in uncertain times.

Our thanks to Grassroots Trust and NZCT for their continued support in 2020.

GOVERNANCE

We welcomed Jane Davel and Thornton Williams to the Board and farewelled Tonia Cawood and Jerry Rickman, both of whom have provided professional and positive leadership in their Marketing/Communications and Finance/ Governance fields respectively.

We acknowledge the sad passing of international rowers Jim Hill (also a life member), George Paterson, David Gould, Eric Verdonk and Keith Heselwood, all of whom contributed much to New Zealand rowing.

To New Zealand’s domestic rowing community, thank you for your patience and understanding during uncertain times within our sport. We look forward to carrying your spirit of positive resilience into a better 2021 and beyond.

Postscript

Since time of writing this report for the year ending 2020, Rowing NZ has accepted with regret, the resignation of CEO Simon Peterson effective April 2021, after 12 years of outstanding service to our sport. On behalf of the whole community Rowing NZ expresses our sincere gratitude to Simon and extends every best wish to him for the future.