Andrew has head start

New Dunedin Netball Centre operations manager Joyce Andrew is enjoying the fresh challenge. Photo...
New Dunedin Netball Centre operations manager Joyce Andrew is enjoying the fresh challenge. Photo: Peter McIntosh
Joyce Andrew has switched codes from netball to tennis and back to netball again.

The former Tennis Otago operations manager left that role in September 2016 and went on her OE.

She returned late last year and early last month popped up as the new operations manager of the Dunedin Netball Centre.

The organisation has recently restructured and the 26-year-old is effectively replacing two part-time staff.

"It is going well so far," she said.

"Obviously it is a big role, having previously been split between Lee-Anne Anderson, the general manager who did an amazing job ... and Talei Anderson, the competitions co-ordinator.

"So it is a slightly different set-up but I think it will work."

Andrew is familiar with her surroundings. She worked at the Dunedin Netball Centre as the competitions co-ordinator in 2015, so has had a head start in her new role to some capacity.

While she will run the sport on her own, the player development and high performance work will be contracted out.

She is used to working solo, having been a "one-woman band" while at Tennis Otago.

"Coming into this role there are a lot of aspects that aren’t new to me. But at the same time some of them have changed, like the software system ... and just picking up a few more specifics of the business."

"There is always challenges no matter what sport you are in but I guess we are lucky in netball because it is quite a popular sport.

"The [player] numbers are healthy but last year we were piloting some new software ... but there were a few teething issues.

The software is used for the draws and results and the members were left "a little bit in limbo with some of that".

Andrew said her focus was smoothing out those issues so she could deliver the draw and results with confidence and "make it really easy for our users".

Andrew, who has a masters degree in sports management from the University of Otago, hails from Dipton, near Gore, and played competitive tennis until she was 18. She has also played club netball but got further umpiring and has officiated at national level.

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