A leading figure in the sport on many fronts, Shirley Hooper has been awarded Life Membership of Netball New Zealand (NNZ), acknowledging her significant contribution at both local and international levels.
Netball has played a significant part in Hooper’s life for over 50 years as a player, umpire, sponsor, broadcaster, Board member and Chairperson in an expansive resume.
Hooper’s extensive experience and knowledge in executive management, marketing and sporting governance come from Marketing Director roles with Bendon, Tru-Test and TVNZ; running her own marketing consultancy business; several corporate directorships and a range of sporting governance roles with netball and synchronised swimming in New Zealand.
Last year Hooper was elected as the new Vice President of World Netball. She has been a part of the international governing body since 2017 when she was voted in as a Further Director and went on to act as Chair of the Commercial Committee and was a member of the Foundation Strategy Group.
With more than 20 million participants across 75 countries, Hooper is now at the forefront of driving the next phase of netball’s growth with an emphasis on participation, reach, revenue and capability across the world.
“I have a passion for Netball and what it brings to so many – being part of its continued growth on the world stage is exciting,” she said at the time.
Hooper, who has a NNZ Service Award, has been Chairperson for a range of netball entities including Netball Auckland-Waitakere, Greater Auckland Netball (owner of the Mystics) and Trans-Tasman Netball Ltd for the ANZ Championship. She was a Director on the NNZ Board from 2009 – 2018 and chaired the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee for two years from 2016.
Others to be acknowledged with NNZ Service Awards include Stephanie Bond, who as Executive Manager of the New Zealand Netball Players Association, has been a key figure in the semi-professional era in looking after the players’ interests and welfare.
Post-playing days, former Silver Ferns captain Bernice Mene, also a Service Award recipient, has spent her time deeply involved in leadership, governance and management experience, including 11 years on the Players’ Association Board, and in 2018 being appointed to the NNZ Board where she leads the High Performance Advisory Group.
She also plays a leading role with the Tania Dalton Foundation.
Retiring Board member Lesley Murdoch is also honoured with a Service Award. The former double New Zealand sporting international in cricket and hockey, was recognised for her sterling nine-year contribution as a board member and her role as a SKY Sport commentator.
Brenda Rowberry and Anna Stanley achieved the first mother-daughter double, the pair acknowledged with Service Awards, with both former Silver Ferns captains continuing to have a strong presence in netball post their playing days.
Rowberry has remained a regular contributing at her local club in Christchurch for many years while Stanley is heavily involved in the Tania Dalton Foundation while also being part of the SKY Sport commentary team.
Former Silver Ferns Julie Coney and Donna Wilkins have also been acknowledged with Service Awards. Coney has stayed strongly involved in netball through her governance and broadcasting roles while Wilkins has provided specialist coaching involvement at all levels, including Silver Ferns campaigns in recent years.
Awards:
Life Membership
Shirley Hooper
Service Awards
Stephanie Bond
Julie Coney
Lesley Dick
Mary Gardiner
Teresa Irwin
Genny Jarvis
Bernice Mene
Todd Miller
Lesley Murdoch
David Ronaldson
Raewyn Ronaldson
Brenda Rowberry
Anna Stanley
Katherine West
Donna Wilkins
Dianne Williams
Roger Ledingham