Dunedin woman new Athletics NZ president

Joan Merrilees
Joan Merrilees
Joan Merrilees has stepped into one of Athletics New Zealand's top roles.

The longtime Dunedin coach and Athletics Otago life member has been elected president of the national body.

She will step into the role for a two-year term - a change that was written into the constitution last year. Previously it had been a one year term.

Merrilees' election follows Ian Babe's resignation after one year because of ill-health.

''I've always thought it would be really interesting to see how we govern our sport,'' she said.

''There's lots of decisions made that us on the other side, we don't really fully understand that.

''I was approached by one of the life members of Athletics New Zealand to see if I would be interested, because they hadn't had anyone from Otago since Ron Cain - that's quite a while ago.

''So I thought this was a great opportunity and I put my name forward.''

Governance at this level was reasonably new to her and she was excited to step into it.

She added it was a ''real honour'' to be voted into the role.

It may take a few months to get her head around the role, something she said was a reason it had been extended to two years.

She hoped to ensure the ''people's voice'' was heard at board level, particularly that of officials and coaches.

Having plenty of experience in many other areas, she hoped she would be able to bring that into the governance space.

''I'd hope so.

''There's the talks I've had with the people on the board - they're really keen to listen to what you've got.

''I know that Ian Babe in the year he was on there he got involved a lot in promoting a new community coach qualification.

''He was really involved in that, so that could be an area I could get involved in.''

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