Meet the SNZ Team

	Rebecca Minkley Chief Executive Officer Email: Rebecca Phone: 021 541 655

	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

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 at the Hawkes Bay Chamber of Commerce. 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 Lambert is the Deputy Secretary – Partnerships and Commissions at the Department of Internal Affairs. In this role he oversees the work of Archives New Zealand, the National Library of New Zealand, Ministerial Services, Lotteries Grants Board, Gambling Commission, Local Government Commission, Royal Commissions (including the current COVID-19 Phase two commission), Inquiries and Hapai Hapori – Community Operations. He has held a range of senior leadership roles across government including time as a diplomat and then Deputy Chief Executive at Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children. Since joining the Board in 2019, Hoani has served on several board sub-committees including People and Culture, Audit and Risk, and Governance. His background in softball began at an early age. He obtained his New Zealand Scorer’s and Umpires badges in his teens, coached senior men’s and women’s teams in the Hutt Valley and Wellington competitions, and then was appointed statistician to the Junior Black Sox and Senior White Sox teams through the mid-1990s. He was appointed Softball New Zealand’s Communications Manager in 1998 and then served on the board from 1999-2001. He was on the organising committee 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 is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

	Charlene Pouaka - Deputy Chair Strategy & Performance Committee Chair Governance & Capability Committee - Member Māori Committee 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.

	Lara Andrews - Board Member People & Culture Committee - Member Māori Committee Member Physical activity and sport are an essential part of our wellbeing and development across all stages of the lifespan. Lara Andrews ventured across the world to pursue her dreams. Graduating with her PhD from the University of Delaware (USA), Lara has returned home and is now the Co-Director of Te Hau Kori – Centre for Physical Activity and Wellbeing at Victoria University of Wellington in partnership with Sport NZ. Lara provides strategic leadership Māori for the design and development of the Centre’s new teaching and learning programmes. Lara played a key role in the establishment of Sport NZ Balance is Better which is about creating quality experiences to help all young people stay in sport for life. Since 2017, Lara has been representing Softball as a Balance is Better Champion promoting a balanced approach to sport. On the diamond, Lara has earned 107 international caps for the NZ White Sox. She also captained the University of Delaware (USA) Division 1 Softball team and became the 1st NZ female to play Professional in the United States (Pittsburgh). Lara is passionate about designing and developing youth programmes to help mentor and inspire youth to build confidence, self-esteem and skill development while creating a pathway to higher education through sport. Since joining the Board in 2024, Lara has served on the People and Culture and Māori sub-committees

	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.

	Vaughan Dennison - Board Member People & Culture Committee - Chair Since 2001, Vaughan Dennison has served as a Palmerston North City Councillor. He served on the Midcentral District Health Board prior to the national reforms, and is a director of Social Impact Property, an investment group set up to acquire, develop and operate property to provide housing outcomes for those less fortunate. Vaughan has strong operational management experience, in both business and community settings. Currently, extensively involved with Homes for People providing both vital home ownership opportunities and delivery of transitional housing with related support services for vulnerable people and households. Softball has played a big part in Vaughan’s life. His primary debut ignited a spark that developed a passion to compete and to coach, while the intergenerational environment meant his whole family have been involved one way or another. Vaughan led the Local Organising Committee which successful hosted the 2020 WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup in Palmerston North. This collaborative effort fulfilled the vision to deliver a world-class event and leave a legacy for Manawatu Softball. Colquhoun Park was given an extensive upgrade before hosting 50 WBSC officials and the best 12 national teams, with live coverage streamed across the globe.

	Richard Ward - Board Member Audit & Risk Committee - Chair Rich Ward is a General Manager at the Department of Internal Affairs, based in Wellington. He leads a group responsible for local government policy, partnerships and operations and has served on the Departments’ Financial and Investment Committee for the past four years. Prior to the Department, he has worked at the New Zealand Treasury where he led the development of the 2015 New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy. Originally starting his career in the insurance industry, he moved into the Public Sector with a role at the Ministry of Education. Rich has a Masters of Public Management, a Law degree and a Bachelor of Arts, all from Victoria University in Wellington. Passionate about youth development; sport, church and community service have been a constant for Rich over his life, coaching his first football team when he was 16, running youth groups and leading his local Paekakariki Scout Group for over ten years. Softball was an early sport for Rich, starting at the Johnsonville club in Wellington and progressing through the junior ranks before returning to the sport as a father with Paremata Plimmerton, initialling coaching a number of junior teams and is now player/coach of the club’s Premier 3 team, playing alongside both of his boys.

	Richard Ward - Aspiring Board Member William Makea is from a passionate softball whānau, so he was immersed in softball from the age of 8 years old and played at a club and national level in both Hawkes Bay and Wellington. Of Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata, and Kuki Airani descent, Will has spent the past decade working across iwi and government, with a strong focus on Māori economic development and currently works as a Senior Consultant at Volte Limited. Will brings a unique blend of financial acumen, and sporting passion to the Softball New Zealand Board. He is a current trustee of the Karamu GB & GD Ahuwhenua Trust and previously held several governance roles within the Wellington Handball Federation. An avid handballer, Will represented New Zealand in handball from 2018 to 2024, competing internationally and contributed to the development of the team’s haka. He is passionate about the opportunities and outcomes that sport can provide, and he is committed to supporting the growth and sustainability of softball across Aotearoa.