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.

Featured projects and activities

Watch: The NSCS and 2022 Matariki Award

Our activities

A selection of current research projects:

  • Sport Integrity - Community Sport Organisations (Tracy Molloy)
  • Sport Integrity - NSO Transparency & Accountability (Tracy Molloy)
  • National Sport Club Survey (Mel Johnston)
  • Leadership in Sport Governance (Lesley Ferkins)
  • NZOC Wāhine Toa Leadership Development Programme (Lesley Ferkins)
  • WILspace – global conversations for WIL practitioners (Patricia Lucas)
  • Glory Days: Sports Reminiscence & Recreational Therapy Research in Aotearoa New Zealand (Richard Wright)
  • Social media abuse and its effects on the wellbeing of professional athletes in New Zealand and Australia (Sarah Wymer)
  • Alumni and student perspectives on quality WIL experiences and outcomes (Yvonne Wood)
  • Leadership in nonprofit sport boards (Lesley Ferkins)
  • Alumni and student perspectives on Quality WIL experiences and outcomes (Yv)
  • Gender Equality Playbook (Mel Johnston)
  • Leadership Research Directions in Sport Management: Synergising the Locker Room and the Boardroom (Lesley Ferkins)
  • Looking for the ‘ah ha’ moments in action research understanding (Lesley Ferkins)
  • The Wellbeing of Work-integrated Learning students (Jenny Fleming)
  • Quality frameworks for reflective practice (Patricia Lucas)
  • Moving Manuwera Programme Evaluation (Sport NZ) (Mel Johnston, Simon Walters)
  • Digital broadcasting in niche sports in Australia (Sarah Wymer)
  • Diversity and Inclusion on Sport Boards (Lesley Ferkins)
  • CrossFit digital engagement strategies for promoting physical activity (Sarah Wymer)

Our team are experts in a number of areas and can supervise students in these fields:

Gaye Bryham

Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Athlete Life Management, Sport Development

Lesley Ferkins

Leadership, Management, Governance, Action Research, Sport Development

Jenny Fleming

Cooperative Education, Work-Integrated Learning

Mel Johnston

Events, Marketing, Clubs, Women in Sport, Sport Development

Tricia Lucas

Work-Integrated Learning and Cooperative Education, Learning and Teaching, Reflective Practice, Physical Activity and Health

Tracy Molloy

Governance, Leadership, and Integrity

Yvonne Wood

Work-Integrated Learning, Cooperative Education, and Student Voice

Richard Wright

Active Ageing, Serious Leisure, Events, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Facilities, Creative Analytical Practice

Sarah Wymer

Marketing, social media, digitisation, broadcasting and fan engagement

Contact us

Get in touch to find out more about our research or to partner with us.

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