New Zealand Rugby appoint more women to board

Former Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and respected rugby administrator Rowena Davenport have been appointed to the New Zealand Rugby Board.

New Zealand Rugby board members Dame Patsy Reddy and Rowena Davenport
Photo: Supplied/New Zealand Rugby

Dame Patsy brings extensive skills to the NZR Board following a career as a lawyer, director, and crown negotiator before serving as New Zealand’s Governor General from 2016 to 2021. Made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM) for services to the arts and business and a Grand Companion of the Order (GNZM) in 2016 for services to the nation, her CV includes numerous high-profile governance and consulting roles in both the private and public sectors.

Davenport, who is the chief executive of Dunedin-based law firm Gallaway Cook Allan, recently finished her term as chair of the Otago Rugby Football Union completing nearly a decade of service to the union’s board.

In 2019 when Davenport was appointed chair of the ORFU Board she became the first female chair of a major Provincial Rugby Union in New Zealand.

Davenport was nominated by ORFU and selected by the Appointments and Remuneration Committee (ARC) after Jennifer Kerr chose not to seek re-appointment to the NZR Board.

Dame Patsy replaces former NZR Chair Brent Impey, who was not eligible for reappointment after serving four terms on the Board.

The duo join New Zealand Māori board chair Farah Palmer on the board and NZR board chair Stewart Mitchell acknowledged the organisation still had work to do around gender diversity in rugby governance.

“It is an area we are committed to, and the introduction of women like Rowena and Dame Patsy will only strengthen and enhance the administration and governance of our game. Their influence could not come at a better time as we head into a massive year for women’s rugby.”