NZWP Board
Alex Howieson - Board Chair
Alex was elected to the NZWP Board of Directors in March 2021 and now calls New Zealand home after moving to Auckland in 2014. Alex’s corporate career spans a variety of industries including aviation, logistics, transport in an executive capacity inclusive of reporting to various Boards. Since moving to New Zealand, Alex has performed senior and leadership roles at Air New Zealand, Fletcher Building, Fonterra and most recently Kiwibank. During her time in Australia, Alex most recently performed leadership roles at Broadspectrum and Qantas.
Alex has a lifelong passion for sport at all levels as a player, coach and administrator, and has a keen interest in diversity, inclusivity, grass roots sport growth and participation. Her governance experience includes being a Board Director of Netball South Australia including the Adelaide Thunderbirds franchise as members of Netball Australia and Priceline Stadium Adelaide South Australia.
Megan Thomson - Deputy Chair
Rachel Cade - Board Director
Mike Bignell - Board Director
Mike is an experienced sporting and business governor and professional. He thrives working with small teams with big ambitions but limited resources. He helps support and constructively challenge strategies and their execution to ensure the core objectives of the organisation and its stakeholders are being achieved.
Mike is currently a Partner at the Deep Tech Venture Firm, Outset Ventures having completed a 30 plus year career at PWC in June 2022, 19 years as a Partner. He has had a lifetime involvement in sport, from player, coach, administrator and governor from grass roots to high performance. Most recently he has been the Chair of Hockey New Zealand for over 5 years finishing that role in August 2023. His involvement in Water Polo has arisen through his kids which has given him the opportunity to become a real fan of the game and want to support its growth and evolution.
Cecilia Lambie - Board Director
Fiona Oliver - Board Director
Fiona is a highly experienced director and holds governance roles that span several business sectors including transport, renewable energy, natural gas, technology, commercial property, sport, and financial services. Fiona was awarded the New Zealand Shareholders Association Beacon Award in 2021. This recognises outstanding performance in leadership and corporate governance.
Prior to having a governance career, Fiona held Executive leadership roles in financial services, with a focus on investment businesses. Before that, she practised as a senior corporate and commercial lawyer both in New Zealand. Fiona brings a unique background that combines managing businesses and professional technical skills and experience.
Fiona is passionate about sport and the role that it plays in providing children with essential life skills and maintaining healthy communities. Fiona was an amateur swimmer, swimming for Northland where she grew up. During school holidays, Fiona trained with the original North Shore Swimming Club when Lincoln Hurring was the squad coach.
Ruth Sio-Lokam - Board Director
Sam Saxton - Board Director
Sam brings to the Board expertise across strategy, governance, technology and operating organisations at Scale. Sam developed his experience through operating & mentoring startups along with delivering transformation programs and developing a dynamic culture across teams. The common thread has been an ability to prioritise on high impact initiatives, accelerate decision making and unleash the organisations potential using scalable playbooks. Along the way, Sam has learnt some hard lessons as well as had the privilege of celebrating some great wins.
Sam was involved in high performance sport across a number of codes including Surf Life Saving, Swimming and Waterpolo. Growing up with water sports in Christchurch, Sam played his first game for Wharenui Waterpolo Club when he was 11. He grew up through club, provisional and national team age groups representing New Zealand at U15, U16, Schoolboys, U20, University & Seniors at FINA World Championships; Rome (1994) & Perth (1998). Sam continues to play today with Patu’s Pirates, a Marist Club affiliate team, that showcases the depth of the Waterpolo community being made up by a collection of previous teammates from around New Zealand and the globe.
