Meet the SNZ Team

	Jason Merrett Chief Executive Officer Email: Jason Phone: 027 428 7337

	Bevan Matene General Manager - High Performance Email: Bevan Phone: 021 436 273

	Aimee Russell Events & Operations Manager Email: Aimee Phone: 021 824 608

	Dave Elder Community Softball Lead Email: Dave Phone: 022 392 6390

	Sophie Vabulis Business Administration Email: Sophie Phone: 021 319 909
	Brad McLachlan Virtual Finance Team Email: Brad Phone: 022 515 0372 Softball NZ has engaged the financial services of Your Financial Team, with Brad McLachlan heading this engagement. Brad operates a Chartered Accountancy practice remotely out of the Bay of Plenty and specialises in providing Virtual Finance Team solutions to organisations like Softball NZ. They have a history of working in the sports industry and as a result have an excellent understanding of how an efficient finance function should run within a sports organisation.

SOFTBALL NEW ZEALAND BOARD MEMBERS

	Lynda O'Cain - President I have been involved with the game of softball since I was 10 years old and have been fortunate to play the game and coach at all levels both at home and overseas. I have also had other roles within NZ sport which has enabled me to expand my knowledge and experience particularly in the areas of high performance and sport administration at both government and regional levels. Currently I am employed as a People & Culture Consultant at Auckland Uniservices. I enjoy Softball's wonderful community and the great people I have met over the years and welcome the opportunity to continue to contribute to our fantastic sport.

	Hoani Lambert - Chair Audit & Risk Committee - Member Hoani is a former diplomat and career public servant, and is currently Deputy Chief Executive at Department of Internal Affairs. Prior to this he was a Deputy Chief Executive at Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children. Hoani joined the board in 2019 and previously served as a board member from 1999-2001. Hoani started his involvement with softball at a young age, and obtained his national badges for scoring and umpiring whilst still in his teens. He was appointed as statistician for the Junior Black Sox (World Champs in Auckland 1993) and the White Sox (World Champs in Newfoundland 1994, Olympic Qualifier in Auckland 1996). He was also on the organising committee - in charge of Marketing - for the 2004 Men’s World Series in Christchurch. Hoani holds an Executive Masters in Public Administration from the Australia New Zealand School of Government and has served on a number of boards, most recently as Chairman of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. He is of Ngati Kahungunu descent.

	Rebecca Annan - Deputy Chair Strategy & Performance Committee - Chair Rebecca (Becs) a Commercial Manager with over 20 years experience in the hospitality, sport and tourism industries. Her softball and working career has taken her to many different countries, travelling throughout Australasia, the United Kingdom, Europe and the America's, where currently she holds the New Partnerships Manager role for Netball New Zealand. joined the board in 2019 and is an active member of the Auckland Softball Community. Her involvement with softball started at a young age in Central Otago and has played in the Wellington and Auckland leagues here in New Zealand at a representative level, and offshore in the European Cup representing Great Britain. Early 2019 she was also named Team Manager for Major Sox Women’s Team competing at the Canada Cup. Becs holds a degree in Hospitality Management and serves on a number of different boards within the Sports and Tourism sector. Most recently holding the General Manager position for BYATA (Tourism Association) and sitting on the IWG Leadership Working Group for Integrity.

	Duncan Enoka - Board Member People & Culture Committee - Member Duncan has been involved in Softball for 25 years as a coach. He has coached softball from T Ball through to International level. He has been heavily involved with the Auckland United Softball Club. Duncan has also been involved in playing and coaching Rugby at a representative level. Duncan is currently semi-retired and working with his wife in her business in the Book Industry. He has a background as a Land Surveyor and in recent times, working in the I.T. industry mainly in managerial positions. Duncan is looking forward to his new role as a Board member and will continue to contribute to the sport he has a passion for.

	Charlene Pouaka - Board Member People & Culture Committee - Member Governance & Capability Committee (non-standing) - Member Char started playing softball at a young age and went on to compete at local and international levels. The latter in 3 World Championships and the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Char played professionally in the Italian league in the early 2000s for Softball Forli, and in a brief move to Australia, represented the State of Victoria. In recent years Char has moved into management and coaching and is heavily involved with Parklands Chch United (PCU) teams, and Canterbury teams. Char is a Youth Justice Manager at Oranga Tamariki- Ministry for Children, where she has worked for over 20 years in various roles. She is a graduate of the 2020 Women in Sport Leadership Academy. Char continues to be involved with the Olympic Movement as a NZ Olympian Commissioner. She sits on advisory groups for the Canterbury Sports Development Academy, Tatai Whetu Waitaha, and Women in Sports Waitaha. Char is looking forward to her new role with the board and contributing to the future of softball in Aotearoa. Char is of Ngati Koroki-Kahukura descent on her paternal side.

	Brooke Hurndell - Board Member Ko Mokotahi tōku maunga Ko Kopuawhara tōku awa Ko Ngati Kahungunu ki te Wairoa me Whakatōhea ōku iwi Ko Te Rakato me Tōrere ōku marae Kei Tāmaki Makaurau tōku kāinga No Ahuriri ahau Ko Brooke Hurndell tōku ingoa Brooke Hurndell is a proudly Hawke’s Bay born and bred public relations professional with experience that spans the sports, Māori and corporate sectors. A former Communications Manager with New Zealand Rugby League and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Brooke is currently a Corporate Relations Partner at Spark New Zealand where she works across the consumer portfolio focussed on how Spark’s technology and brand shows up for consumers. With strong foundations in media relations, stakeholder engagement and risk management and a passion for sport in tow, Brooke recently stepped into the world of governance serving on the North Harbour Softball and 2022 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Boards. She’s also Co-Chair of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) Northern Committee. For Brooke, softball is in her blood. Her father, Shane Hurndell was the Communications Manager for the Black Sox during their 2000 World Cup campaign in South Africa and his love for the sport was passed down to his daughter. Brooke started out playing T-Ball at a young age and progressed through the grades going on to represent Hawke's Bay for softball at Under 13, 15, 17 and 19 level attending regional, provincial and national competitions. Brooke is honoured to serve a sport that has brought her lifelong friendships and is excited to contribute to softball at a national level.

	Dr Amy Marfell - Board Member Dr. Amy Marfell is a Sport Sociologist and Executive sport sector leader, currently holding the role of General Manager at Sport Waikato – a Regional Sports Trust in the Waikato region. Prior to this role, Amy was a Teaching Fellow at the University of Waikato working across the Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, where she taught cultural geography and the sociology of sport and physical culture. Amy is a passionate sports enthusiast, leader and advocate for equity and inclusion in sport and recreation having researched, taught and delivered change through thought-leadership, influencing delivery and via work in policy and strategy over the last 10 years. Amy is also a Board Director with experience in governance at local, regional and national levels having held directorships in cricket, rugby and softball, where she aims to ensure issues of diversity, equity and inclusion have a firm place around the Board table. Amy grew up in rural Central Hawkes Bay, but now resides in Hamilton with her husband and young family. Amy is looking forward to serving the softball community and working alongside the Softball New Zealand Board of Directors and staff to drive the sport forward into the future.