Sport Leadership and Management
Our research activities and outputs create opportunities for public and private-sector organisations operating at local, regional, national and international levels to make stratetgic, cost-effective, evidence-based decisions that will allow them to improve on past performances, increase current capabilities/capacities and build a platform for a more sustainable future.
We connect our research and postgraduate students with industry.
A selection of current research projects:
- National Sport Club Survey (Mel Johnston)
- “A crisis like no other”: assessing the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on sport event entrepreneurship and venues in Aotearoa-New Zealand, England and Japan (Richard Wright)
- Glory Days: Sports Reminiscence & Recreational Therapy Research in Aotearoa New Zealand (Richard Wright)
- Diversity and Inclusion on Sport Boards (Lesley Ferkins)
- Avenues 2 Independence: Codesigning rehabilitation and well-being resources for NZ contemporary veterans (Richard Wright)
PhD candidates
- Chris Barron
The Use of Corporate Social Responsibility to Design and Implement Socially Sustainable Sport for Development Programmes in New Zealand
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Richard Wright - Debbie Curgenven,
Alternative delivery models for women’s participation in mountain biking
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Katie Rowe, Jenny Fleming - Emmnauel Aboagye
Gender Dynamism in football, Wright & Johnston - Gaye Bryham
Exploring the social construction of leadership: A study of rugby in New Zealand
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Julia Ioane - Hafsa Ali
The Impact of the Global War on Terror on Pakistan sports policy and practice
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Geoff Dickson - Javeed Ali
Topic: Exploring the experiences of New Zealand rugby referees
Supervisors: Michael Naylor, Lesley Ferkins - Kelly McCallum
Inclusive leadership practice in sport governance through an emotional intelligence lens
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Charlotte Jelleyman - Linden Moore
Ambassadorship in women and girls’ sport: The case of women’s basketball in New Zealand
Supervisors: Michael Naylor, Melody Johnston - Olivia Baudinet,
Exploring the influence of sport participation on the wellbeing of people with limb deficiency
Supervisor: Lesley Ferkins, Katie Rowe - Ranjan Kumara Weerakoon Mudiyanselage
The Unique Selling Points of Major Sports Events: Measuring Consumer Expectation and Experience in the aftermath of the COVID19 crisis
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Melody Johnston - Rebecca Lee
Women's sport fans, technology and delight
Supervisors: Michael Naylor, Melody Johnston - Siona Fernandes
When culture speaks: Exploring Indian migrant PA and sedentary behaviour in Australia (and New Zealand)
Supervisors: Erica Hinckson, Lesley Ferkins - Sriharan Srianganathan
Adolescent physical activity and mental well-being in Sri Lanka and New Zealand: A comparative study
Supervisors: Kath Godber, Richard Wright, Denise Atkins - Tracy Molloy
Topic: The emergence of the board nomination committee as a governance feature of New Zealand national sport organisations
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Geoff Dickson - Trevor Meiklejohn
Exploring governance design in new and emerging sports: The case of stand up paddling in New Zealand
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Ian O'Boyle
Master's students
- Braityn Callaghan
Coach Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Sport Injury Prevention in Youth Basketball
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Patricia Lucas - Brooke Pryor
Understanding the sport participation organisational environment: Squash in New South Wales
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Michael Naylor - Caron Orelowitz
What is happening to me? Children’s perceptions of injuries sustained through participation in school based cross-country activities
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Kath Godber - Daniel Martin
Community Club Perceptions of High Performance Sport Pathways
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Michael Naylor - Jared Gravatt
Exploring Drop-out and Sustained Participation in Youth Sport: A Club’s Perspective
Supervisors: Michael Naylor, Murphy - Jayson Jooste
Factors influencing competitive sport withdrawal in youth athletes
Supervisors: Michael Naylor, Adrian Farnham - Marhas Pawan
Pasifika Youth, Sport, and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand
Supervisors: Denise Atkins, Michael Naylor - Susana Sututu
Pasi-strong: The makings of a meaningful sporting experience for young Pasifika girls in rugby
Supervisors: Gaye Bryham, Lesley Ferkins - Teigan Bond
Women in Sport Governance: Perceptions of Inclusion in Cricket in New Zealand
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Lesley Ferkins - Yuval Eyal
The role of secondary school sport academies in New Zealand
Supervisors: Patricia Lucas, Simon Walters
Master's students
- Karyne Ross (Graduated 2021)
How is culture perceived, understood and experienced by members of a community sports organisation
Supervisor: Michael Naylor - Mark Cameron (Graduated 2021)
Mixed ownership in sport – the case of Super Rugby in New Zealand
Supervisor: Lesley Ferkins, Trevor Meiklejohn - Zerui Chen (Graduated 2020)
Perceptions about the 2022 Winter Olympics in China
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Kath Godber - Gary Putt (Graduated 2020)
Fun playing rugby! Exploring the meaning of fun in youth sport
Supervisor: Lesley Ferkins, Michael Naylor - Chris Barron (Graduated 2021)
Selling the City of Sails: Destination branding through the 2021 America's Cup
Supervisor: Richard Wright - Sabio Chai-Udom (Graduated 2021)
New Zealanders attitudes and perceptions towards sports event tourism in Thailand
Supervisors Richard Wright, Sally Rae - Ying Zhu (Graduated 2021)
Turning international students into active sport tourists
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Richard Ajiee - Liam Hunt (Graduated 2022)
Organisational Change: The future of community football club capability within the Northern Region
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Gaye Bryham - Daniel Capeto (Graduated 2022)
The Motivational Profile of Older Sport Participants
Supervisors: Michael Naylor, Melody Johnston - Fiolla Jashari (Graduated 2019)
The influence of stadium sponsorship on consumer behaviour. A case study of Eden Park, Auckland
Supervisor: Richard Wright
PhD students
- Dwayne Wooliams (Graduated 2022)
Dyadic Relationships in the Leadership of Sport Organisations
Supervisors: Simon Walters, Kirsten Spencer, Lesley Ferkins - Katharine Hoskyn (Graduated 2021)
Increasing club membership in golf and lawn bowls: An action research approach
Supervisors: Geoff Dickson, Michael Naylor - Richard Ajiee (Graduated 2021)
The Contribution of Community Sport Programmes to Immigrants Inclusion and Integration
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Geoff Dickson - Shima Beynoosh (Graduated 2018)
Celebrity athlete endorsement and social marketing: Promoting participation in sport and physical activity
Supervisors: Michael Naylor, Geoff Dickson
Our team are experts in a number of areas and can supervise students in these fields:
Tricia Lucas
Work Integrated Learning and Cooperative Education, Learning and Teaching, Reflective Practice, Physical Activity and Health
Mel Johnston
Events, Marketing, Clubs, Women in Sport, Sport Development
Gaye Bryham
Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Athlete Life Management, Sport Development
Richard Wright
Active Ageing, Serious Leisure, Events, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Facilities, Creative Analytical Practice
Lesley Ferkins
Leadership, Management, Governance, Action Research, Sport Development
Michael Naylor
Marketing, Management, Consumer Behaviour, Sponsorship Participants, Fans and Clubs
Jenny Fleming
Cooperative Education, Work Integrated Learning
Dion Enari
Leadership, Management, Mental Health, Pacific Studies, Indigenous Studies, Trans-nationalism
Research group leader
Members
- Lesley Ferkins
- Michael Naylor
- Gaye Bryham
- Jenny Fleming
- Patricia Lucas
- Mel Johnston
- Tracy Molloy
- Dion Enari
- David Howman (SLAM Adjunct Professor)