A new leadership training programme, Wāhine Toa Oceania, is being launched by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to empower retired female athletes from the Pacific Islands.
The course aims to turn their skills from high-level sports into leadership roles in various sectors, including sports, business, and public service.
The programme will include two workshops in Fiji, project work, and online sessions. It is designed to foster female leadership in sport and create more inclusive, healthier communities across the Pacific. The training programme is based on a successful format from New Zealand and is set to expand to more Pacific regions in the future.
The first group of participants includes athletes from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu, with a mix of Olympians and Commonwealth Games competitors, all of whom have represented their countries at the Pacific Games. The programme aims to provide equal opportunities for women and help them become role models and mentors in their communities.
The participants for 2025 are: Agnes Chan Sau (American Samoa), Julieanne Westrupp (Cook Islands), Cheyenne Rova (Fiji), Matelita Vuakoso (Fiji), Makelesi Bulikiobo (Fiji), Kalala Tanuvasa (Samoa), Gabrielle Apelu (Samoa), Olivia Hogarth (Samoa), Penateti Feke (Tonga), Calina Panuve (Tonga) and Matie Stanley (Tuvalu).
