Last month, 15 young women from across the country came together for two days in Christchurch for the first Emerging Leaders residential; all part of Basketball New Zealand’s (BBNZ) ground-breaking Emerging Leaders Programme for 2022.
The purpose of the Emerging Leaders Programme is to identify and empower females across the basketball system to lead the implementation of new initiatives on the ground. The participants include players, coaches, referees, administrators, and committee members from across the country.
BBNZ People Development Lead, Amy McClintock says it was a fun-filled weekend where participants were able to connect with each other and explore new ways of doing things.
It was wonderful to be able to bring the 15 Kōhine together and see their growth and development over the weekend, as we explored the four key pou (pillars) which underpin the programme – Leadership, Identity, Community Connection, and Planning,” says McClintock.
“The Kaupapa of the residential equipped them with the knowledge and skills needed to progress as leaders and enact change, and it was awesome to see their confidence flourish. I’m excited to see the journey that these amazing Kōhine will embark on as a result of the learnings that took place, and the connections and friendships that were formed.”
For Emerging Leader Olivia Carey, the experience was one that she both greatly enjoyed and gained new skills and experiences from.
“For me, it’s so inspiring to see the whole thing organised and run by women,” said Carey.
“Learning about their positions and understanding the content they provided was really good, interesting, and motivating for me and the others.”
Following the residential, participants have been paired with an influential wahine mentor; both to support them with their personal development, and to assist each Emerging Leader to connect with their Regional Groups as they begin to plan their community projects.
Find out more about the Emerging Leaders Programme here.
