Aaron and his family decided they wanted to live in a family friendly community and moved to Leeston from Christchurch 14 years ago. Aaron has played Team Sports all of his life and can still be found on the Rugby Paddock as an active member of the Southbridge Eels Golden Oldies Team. Aaron also enjoyed his time in Coaching and Club Administration with Ellesmere Football Club & Selwyn Football and has recently become a Committee Member for Ellesmere A&P Association as he enjoys giving back to the community that has supported his family.

e. aaron@selwynsportstrust.org.nz​​​​​​​

Emma comes from a medical background. She is the owner of Leeston Physiotherapy and co-founder of Ellesmere Road Runners. Southland born, Emma has been working in Selwyn since 2005. She has been involved in various sports as a player, coach and administrator and is currently a member of Ellesmere Netball and the Down River Kayak clubs. Emma is a co-founder of Ellesmere Road Runners, completed Coast to Coast 2013 as a kayaker in a team and Challenge Wanaka Half in 2015.

Cameron was born and bred in Selwyn, growing up on a mixed cropping farm near Dunsandel.  After completing an Ag. Commerce degree at Lincoln University, he commenced his career as a Rural Manager for the Bank of New Zealand.  Cameron has been involved in a range of team and individual sports all his life playing senior cricket and rugby in his earlier days and more latterly supporting his three young sons in their sporting endeavours whilst trying to sneak in the odd mountain biking or running event when he can.

Lou has always been an active sporting participant, enjoying the opportunity in her younger years to give a range of team and individual sports a go. It’s that experience that has seen her become passionate about what the Selwyn Sports Trust does around ensuring children get access to similar opportunities. A resident of Kirwee, Lou’s greatest sporting achievement is competing in the Geelong Half Ironman. While lately she can be found on the Rogaine circuit.

Tammy grew up on a farm in Selwyn and has played, coached and administered Netball in the district over several decades, and also enjoys outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, skiing and water sports. Tammy’s career background is in the Sport sector, after completing a Bachelor of Sport and Rec Management and a Masters in Management. She is currently working as the National Training Manager at Netball New Zealand. Tammy has a passion for the incredible contribution sport and recreation can make to the wellbeing of individuals and communities, which is why she is excited to be a trustee of the Selwyn Sports Trust.

Michael has been a director of the Selwyn Sports Trust for four years and he brings a broad range of experience from his background in Athletics. Michael was a key driver behind the growth of athletics funding models at both a local and regional level, for both Canterbury Athletics and Athletics New Zealand. Michael has a real passion for the active recreation sector and is an advocate for programmes being delivered for young people (tamariki and rangatahi).

Doug has worked in sports marketing and administration for more than 20 years, with recent roles in rugby for the Crusaders, Highlanders and women’s professional rugby team Matatū – the first South Island women’s professional rugby team playing in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

“It’s exciting to work in a role that ultimately results in the Selwyn community being more connected through volunteering and participation in sport, staying active and healthy. It is a privilege to be able to help with such meaningful outcomes but also advocate for the provision of sports and recreation within the District”

Doug grew up in Greymouth and attended Lincoln University. He played rugby and cricket growing up, and now gets his sports fix through running and golf. He also enjoys supporting his two children in their junior sport involvement.

“Growing up on the West Coast certainly gave me every opportunity to play sport and be active, and it has been a big part of my life ever since. Thinking back on it now, it gave me lots of opportunities to meet people and learn things that sport can teach you both on and off the field.

If we can help our kids stay active through participation and engagement in physical activity, not just team or traditional sport, it creates so many opportunities for them to create friendships, build confidence, be healthy and active for life, and also learn some fundamentals life skills.

Mitch was born and raised in Dunsandel. He attended Ellesmere College and then went on to complete a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management at Lincoln University majoring in Event Planning.  He is stoked to be able to stay in the District and make a positive impact to all areas of physical activity and active recreation. 

Mitch has played rugby his whole life and currently plays for Southbridge RFC. While being short in stature, he thoroughly enjoys attempting to play social basketball. Whenever he can, he also loves to be out playing golf and connecting with his mates. 

"I am incredibly excited to be leading this diverse team of awesome Activators. With the Activator Programme, we have a fantastic opportunity enhance the school's in Selwyn's ability to embrace the holistic values of physical activity to improve their students wellbeing.

This is a real driver for me and the Activator team, as sport and physical activity has given us all of the tool's necessary to lead an enjoyable life. To be able to pass these physical activity opportunities on to the next generation brings us immense pride". 

Karysa is originally from the United States and moved to New Zealand in February of 2019 to study Sports Coaching at the University of Canterbury. After graduating, she started in her current role in which she works closely alongside the local tamariki and kaiako to make a positive difference in sport and play in the Rolleston community. At some point, she hopes to take her community sport related learnings, experiences, and practices back to the States and share them with her indigenous relations. She currently lives in Sumner where she enjoys surfing, skating, and walking the trails embedded in the nearby hills

Kate grew up in Ashburton making the most of the outdoors and sporting activities the region has to offer. Being involved in netball led her to gaining a sports scholarship at Lincoln University where she completed a Bachelor of Sport & Recreation Management.  

She has played in the ANZ Premiership netball comp since 2017 and is currently with the Mainland Tactix. Her greatest achievement was being part of the World Cup winning Under 21 NZ netball team.  

Kate is excited to bring her passion for children’s growth in their physical development and looks forward to building positive relationships in the Selwyn region.

Kia ora

Ko Jacob Ahuriri-Budgen tōku ingoa, he uri ahau nō Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Raukawa. Ko au te kaimahi tāonga tākaro o Selwyn Sports Trust!

I'm Jacob and I have a huge passion for tāonga tākaro (Traditional Māori sports) specifically Kī-o-Rahi. I graduated from the University of Canterbury with a degree in Sports Coaching, majoring in Physical Education and minoring in Te Reo Māori. I've spent lots of my free time involved with Māori sports. You can find me playing module Kī-o-Rahi in Summer or running around with the Sumner & Canterbury Māori rugby crew!

I'm passionate about working with rangatahi and I believe sports is an awesome opportunity to connect and develop people beyond the sports field. I'm looking forward to creating a community that is engaged within Te Ao Māori (The Māori world) through a sporting lens that can hopefully bring some unique sporting opportunities to Selwyn that may not have been available before. 

Sarah was raised in Leeston. She attended Ellesmere College and went on to study a Batchelor of Sport and Recreation Management at Lincoln University under an Elite Sports Scholarship for triathlon.

Sarah is a part of the NZ Triathlon Development Squad and loves to share her passion with young tamariki and make a positive difference. She is particularly excited about sharing, encouraging, supporting, and enabling cycle safety skills in the Selwyn community.