The game of basketball is in good health in New Zealand, with years of strong growth at all levels underpinned by the recent COVID influenced Sal’s NBL men’s competition capturing worldwide attention, the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns performing strongly on the international stage, the SKY Sport Breakers lighting up the ANBL and upcoming high profile Schick 3X3 competitions and Sal’s NBL Women’s League set to further underline the sports’ popularity.
It is no surprise then that the game is attracting directors of high quality to its Board, with the recent AGM introducing a number of new names while at the same time farewelling long serving Chair and board members Greg Williamson, Sally Farmer and Robyn Clements.
New members include Megan Compain and Rodger Thompson. Leading the way is new Chair Brian Yee and new Deputy Chair Rob Gold who returns to the group. Both are excited to be at the pointy end of a sport that enjoys such great support throughout the country.
Yee is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and a passionate basketball follower through his high school coaching role and as a father of four basketball playing children: Charlotte, Hayden, Cameron and Matthew. Yee is married to Sharon – his childhood sweetheart. Together, they make up a passionate basketball family as players, coaches, and administrators.
Yee has been a Basketball New Zealand Director since 2014 and says he feels honoured to lead the organisation in its next phase and see continued growth at all levels.
“Basketball in New Zealand has made incredible strides in profile and professionalism over the past few years. It is the fastest growing sport in New Zealand and in particular our National Secondary Schools Championship is considered one of the best on the secondary schools’ stage. Before 2020, I have been lucky to experience 12 nationals and they just get better and better,” said Yee.
“My hope is to continue to support and grow the game at the grass roots level, particularly in women’s and girls’ basketball, as well as ensuring our high-performing athletes find their path to the world stage.”
Rob Gold is another to find added responsibility, having been elected Deputy Chair of the new Board. He previously served a four year term on the Board from 2015-2019 and is back to continue with unfinished business. The Tawa College custodian brings extensive experience from the world of employment law as a practicing Barrister and Solicitor, working in industrial and employment relations.
His reputation in his professional employment is matched by his passion for the game, as a self-confessed bench player for Tab Baldwin’s Otago team in the late 80’s to representing the Auckland Stars, Hibiscus Coast, Toa, Kapiti and Mana, to his role as Tawa College coach since 2015.
Rob is married to former Silver Fern Sharon Gold and together, they have three boys who are all involved in the game.
“Basketball is a huge part of my identity having been involved in it constantly for the last 36 years. We have three boys – Thomas, Sam and Ben – who are, or have been, members of the BBNZ high performance programme.”
Ben is currently on scholarship at the NBA Global Academy.
Gold brings considerable governance experience to BBNZ through his involvement (Board, Deputy Chair, Chair) in Police Sport and his work as General Manager Operations for New Zealand School Trustees Association, providing governance and employment support for over 2,400 school boards of trustees.
Meanwhile Yee’s experience as a BBNZ Director since 2014 means he has already witnessed considerable change and is keen to keep pace with the game’s unprecedented growth.
“Our entry into the FIBA Asia zone in 2017 has provided huge opportunities for all our national teams to feature and excel on the world stage and it is fantastic that we are able to regularly host the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns to play internationals at home.
“It is also exciting to see the significant increase in the number of young and talented athletes pursuing the opportunity to play in the US on full college scholarships. However, I find it puzzling that we lose so many players from the game after they leave high school. We must find ways to provide playing opportunities that appeal to a wide range of people and encourage more people to play or contribute to the game in other capacities such as coaching or refereeing over their lifetimes.”
Yee knows that the future of the sport however lies in the health of its grassroots.
“BBNZ’s vision for the game of basketball in New Zealand is to have ‘a hoop in the heart of every neighbourhood’. We can only achieve this vision if we have a strong basketball community made up of BBNZ, associations, clubs and providers collaborating and supporting each other to deliver the game. I would love to see everyone in basketball share the same passion of broadening the reach of basketball to put happiness into more lives.”
BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brian Yee (Chair) – Appointed Director, since April 2014
A member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, Brian sits on several boards and advisory committees. Brian is a Director of MSH Consulting and has a background in strategic consulting. Brian has a long-held interest in basketball in the Wellington region, most recently as a successful high school coach. Brian also follows the sport through the involvement of his four children.
Rob Gold (Deputy Chair) – Elected Director, since 2015
As a barrister and solicitor with a specialisation in employment law, Rob currently has responsibility for the industrial and employment relations, as well as remuneration, for a large government agency. Throughout the last 36 years Rob has been passionate and committed to the game of basketball, that passion today plays out as a coach at Tawa College and as a custodian of the game. Rob has served has an elected Board member of Basketball New Zealand from 2015-2019, when his skill sets contributed to the strategic direction of basketball in New Zealand. His current knowledge and involvement in the game, along with strong governance skills, are the strengths Rob brings to the Board.
Des Brennan – Elected Director, since May 2017
Des is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Des brings extensive leadership and strategic experience gained through directorships with prominent New Zealand organisations and sporting bodies. Des is currently a council member of the Waikato Institute of Technology and a trustee of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust.
Don Jefferies – Elected Director, since April 2014
Don (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tukorehe) is a partner in Hamilton chartered accountancy firm Jefferies Nock & Associates. Don has extensive experience in the private and public sector, having worked for a number of accountancy firms, and also as a team leader of investigations at IRD. Don’s background in basketball spans over 30 years, having played and coached at multiple levels. Don also sits on the New Zealand NBL Board.
Megan Compain – Elected Director, since September 2020
With over 15 years of work experience in the sport industry, a basketball resume that includes a season in the WNBA and representing New Zealand at two Olympics. Megan was one of the first women to attend college in the US on a full basketball scholarship, becoming the first and still the only New Zealander to play in the WNBA, going on to play professionally and representing New Zealand at two Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Megan’s professional career began with the start-up basketball company And1 in Philadelphia, leading to a senior global position with Adidas. Megan has just finished a role as Head of Commercial Partnerships at New Zealand Rugby, responsible for management of over $65m per year in sponsorship revenue and commercial licensing partnerships for rugby’s national teams and competitions.
Rodger Thompson – Appointed Director, since September 2020
Rodger is an entrepreneur and independent contractor, who is currently leading the Wellington play, active recreation and sport sector’s response to COVID-19, ensuring that it comes through the crisis in as strong a position as possible. Rodger’ has 24 years’ experience in leadership roles in the British and New Zealand sport and recreation sectors acquiring extensive experience and expertise in establishing partnership and leading organisations that deliver growth. Experience that he brings to the Board. Rodger currently coaches at school, club and age group representative levels, as well as helping to run a local community basketball club. Rodger’s specialty strengths include Transformational Leadership, Strategic & Business Planning, Organisational Change and Commercialisation.
