Ross Jamieson - Chairman
With a lifetime involvement in playing or administering sport, including Rugby, Surf and Multi-Sport, my involvement with the facility at Kilbirnie Park spans almost 20 years. I was privileged to project manage the concept, design and construction of the venue from a local Rugby club, to the active sporting and community hub it is now. A previous owner of Williment Sports Travel, I am now the owner / operator of BCD Travel in Wellington. I am a Director of the Wellington Rugby Football Union and Hurricanes Professional Rugby Team. I am married to Joanne, with three active children, two of whom are working / studying in Auckland, with our last at home with us still in Hataitai.
Glenn McGovern - Secretary
I have lived in the Wellington region for over 50 years.
I have had a life time of participating in sport and recreation activities such as athletics, football, rugby, tennis, swimming, mountain-biking, and tramping.
I've also been involved in sport coaching, refereeing and administration.
I have worked for over 30 years in the parks, sport and recreation sector - mostly in Local Government. I have been working for Sport New Zealand since 2020. This work experience has involved me in a number of sports and recreation hub projects in Wellington and nationally.
I have a particular interest in environmental sustainability.
I am married to Adriane and we have 3 wonderful children.
Nick Wealleans - Board Member
Originally from the Hawkes Bay, I moved to Wellington in 1990 and now consider myself a fully-fledged 'Wellingtonian'. I am also Secretary of the Poneke Football Club and can see the benefits that aligning with other sports and forming a Hub environment brings to all parties involved in securing their long term future. When I am not standing on the side-lines watching Rugby I participate in Triathlon and have complete the IRONMAN 4 times, noting that the Wellington Tri-Community is also based out of our great facility. I am looking forward to serving our local community and ensuring Toitu Poneke's ongoing success.
James Hardaker – Board Member
Head coach for Wellington Diving Association and Head Coach for the NZ Olympic Diving Team
Nicky Hunn - Board Member
I have been involved in community organisations for over 20 years and am a strong believer in the value of clubs in both bringing people together and supporting life-long engagement in active recreation. As an economic and financial consultant in my day job, I feel privileged to be able to apply my strategic and governance experience as an inaugural Board member of thehub. I am a keen and vocal sideline supporter of both rugby and netball (to my daughters’ dismay), and spend quite a bit of time chasing after my dog Pepper.
Lisa Jones – Board Member
I was born and raised in the Eastern Suburbs and Kilbirnie Park was very much a part of my childhood. I moved to Kapiti a few years ago with my husband and children, but work in Berhampore, so find myself continuing to spend a lot of my time in and around Kilbirnie.
I am passionate about community sport having been involved in various sports clubs and organisations for many years.
I was the Operations Manager at Capital Football for eight years, then worked as the CEO for Wellington Hockey, and now I am the GM of Community Cricket with Cricket Wellington, a job that is greatly rewarding as it allows me to be involved in community sport at a grassroots level. Something I feel very privileged to be able to do on a daily basis.
The sporting landscape is continually evolving and I am looking forward to using my experience of working in the sports sector to support the great work that is already being done at Toitu Poneke.
Jane Lawrence – Board Member
John Neho - Board Member
John is a committee member and dedicated Darts player for Wellington Association Darts over 30 years. Not only is he committed to that Association he also belongs to another committee Taita Returned Services Association where his current role is Secretary and previous was Vice President, he plays Darts for them too.
In my spare time with my fur baby we love catching up with family and friends, taking walks along the beach and watching sports on tv.
Jen Stephens - General Manager
Coming from a strong background in the sports/fitness industry and community project involvement, becoming part of the Toitu Poneke family was a natural step for me.
My family have been involved in grassroots sports for many, many years. I watched my parents consistently being involved in supporting local clubs year after year which is something I greatly admire. I grew up in the Bay of Plenty playing all manner of sports; swimming, athletics, volleyball and tennis at a local level with a focus on equestrian in my later school years. My 4 children have also all played some sort of weekend sport over the years.
Since 2018 I have been managing Snap Fitness Gyms around the Palmerston North area with a big focus of just keeping people moving. A highlight was seeing our local high school Tamariki making use of the programs we had set up for them and watching them flourish. I was also very involved in our local Sands Community for 10 years, something I hold dear to my heart.
I moved to Pukerua Bay with my partner almost 3 years ago and fell in love with area. A year later I took up a Team Lead role at Habit Health and Fitness to manage the 3 health clubs here in Wellington.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my children and partner, my horse and getting out on the water on our Jetski.
Rebecca Acheson - Operations Manager
Rebecca joined thehub on May 1st 2019. Rebecca comes to us by way of Toronto, Canada. She grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, and then carried on to Montreal for university.
Her career in sport has largely been through aquatics, working for seven seasons with the Toronto Police Lifeguard Service as well at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
Rebecca moved to New Zealand in October of 2017, and to Wellington in February of 2018. She thought she may only stay in the country for six weeks, but like many before her has fallen in love with Wellington, and is very excited for her future here. Rebecca is very happy for the opportunity to continue working in the sporting world. She has always felt most comfortable around people who can’t help but keep themselves moving. She’s excited for the future of sport and the way it is being increasingly used to promote mental health and community engagement.
