Kereyn Smith has often been a woman in a man's world - but sport is changing, and she is helping lead the charge. In the final part of our Women In Sport series, Hayden Meikle talks to the head of the New Zealand Olympic organisation.
Kereyn Smith: I played a lot of sport. I was a tomboy and my aspiration was to be an All Black. It was just a way of life. I played netball, athletics and tennis constantly. I would have played rugby if I could. The first opportunity to play rugby I had was at Otago University, where we had a women's team. Then I played for a team called the Crusadettes, believe it or not.
HM: Did you feel disadvantaged or held back in your younger days because you were a girl?
KS: Not really. I grew up in rural South Otago. In my era, primary school in the '60s, you just played the sports that were available. My option was mainly netball, so that's what I did. There was no rugby. I don't think women's football existed. You just did what you could.
HM: Did you always want to make a career in sport?
KS: I got into physical education with a view to going teaching. I taught at Marlborough Girls', then South Otago High School. I guess I got into various sports roles at school, coaching and management and things. Then I went overseas, came back when I was 27 or 28 and started working at Sport Manawatu. I rose to chief executive, then started to think about getting involved in netball. It all just grew from there.
HM: What's changed for women's sport during your time?
KS: Massive changes. Massive. Particularly on the field of play. As more money has become available for high performance sport, our top athletes are becoming significant ambassadors and role models. In terms of global sports, you've seen the IOC saying every sport has to have an equal number of events for men and women. So you've got women's football and women's boxing. In Athens 2004, I think the New Zealand team was about 19% women. In Beijing, it was 33%. And in London, it was up to 48%. Look at the Football Ferns. They played the opening game of the 2012 London Olympics. When would we have thought that would be possible? Plus we've got women's rugby in Rio.
HM: Off the field, are things also improving for women in sport?
KS: In terms of coaching, there's been very little change. It's strong at a community level, but at high performance level we are not seeing the female coaches coming through. Boardrooms are still a challenge. I think there's been an increase of 10% in women at the board table in Olympic and Commonwealth codes, but it's still below 30%. And there are some areas where there are no women at all involved in leadership. With officials, we're seeing some good women coming through.
HM: What about at Olympic level around the world?
KS: Women are still a significant minority in the IOC. About 10% of national Olympic committees have women in the top role. Many are in unpaid positions. I think that will rise. Change can be quite slow in some countries. But you look at these athletes getting opportunities and those are the women putting their hands up for leadership roles in the future - Barbara Kendall, Lesley Rumball, Chantal Brunner, Sarah Ulmer. You're seeing more and more athletes getting involved.
HM: What is the make-up of the New Zealand Olympic Committee board?
KS: It varies from 30% to 50% female. Currently it's 35%.
HM: Does a male-female split determine who gets selected for Olympic or Commonwealth Games teams?
KS: No. In terms of Olympics, it's about having athletes capable of making the top 16. For the Commonwealth Games, it's the top six, or a team that can win a medal. We don't make any compromise in selection standards. That's for the athletes. For officials and management, we are conscious of having a gender balance.
HM: Is ''sex sells'' still part of elite sport? Are top female athletes still often judged by how they look?
KS: Sport is so diverse. I guess you look at someone like Anna Kournikova. She was a very good tennis player but obviously there were female athletes in other codes who were far more successful but did not get thee same attention or commercial support. It's certainly not a disadvantage to be an attractive, high-performing athlete. But I also think the world has changed. There is so much diversity. The ability of an athlete to convert their performance into money or profile often depends on who they surround themselves with.
HM: Do you feel it is an exciting time for women's sport?
KS: Absolutely. It's a massively exciting time for young female athletes in a country like New Zealand. There are massive opportunities. There is a much better support system in place now, and women are benefiting.
Kereyn Smith: Woman of many talents
• Born in Clinton.
• Educated at South Otago High School, University of Otago and Christchurch Teachers' College.
• Former Hillary Commission general manager.
• Chief executive of the New Zealand Academy of Sport (South Island), 2000-11.
• First woman to be appointed head of New Zealand Olympic Committee.
• New Zealand Centenary Medal (1990), IOC Women in Sport Award (1999).
• Former Netball New Zealand chairwoman and world netball vice-president.
• Only female member of the New Zealand Rugby Union rugby committee, an advisory group to the board.
• Other roles have included Forsyth Barr Stadium trustee, University of Otago councillor, and Highlanders board member.
