KEN SOWDEN, MNZM
GENERAL MANAGER​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Ken joined ParaFed Canterbury in 1995 after a very successful 20 year career with the New Zealand Army.

Since that time he has overseen the growth of ParaFed Canterbury and is responsible for ensuring the strategic plan is implemented and supports all staff in achieving their respective goals.

​​​​​​​Ken is a member of the ParaFed Canterbury Board and has input into the future direction of the organisation. His vast experience enables him to assist and advise others within the sector.

​​​​​​​021 057 5992 
ksowden@parafedcanterbury.co.nz 

HADLEIGH PIERSON
​​​​SPORTS MANAGER

Hadleigh first worked for ParaFed Canterbury between 2001-2007, before taking up a position with Paralympics New Zealand in 2008 as their Talent Identification Manager.

​​​​​​​He rejoined ParaFed Canterbury in 2015 and is responsible for overseeing our Academy, sports clubs, and recruitment of new athletes.

He also manages the ParaFed Canterbury website and social media. Hadleigh represented New Zealand in swimming at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

022 064 3001
hpierson@parafedcanterbury.co.nz 

CHARLOTTE PAWSON
​​​​​​​JUNIOR SPORTS MANAGER

Charlotte joined ParaFed Canterbury in 2014. She is responsible for running our Junior Sports Club, school visits and competitions, and managing the ParaFed Canterbury team to the Halberg Games.

She has a Bachelor of Sports Coaching from the University of Canterbury and a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood. She has worked with children and youth through different roles as a volunteer, swim coach and preschool teacher.

​​​​​Charlotte was the winner of the Westfield Riccarton Local Hero Award for her dedication supporting ParaFed Canterbury's junior members and families. In December 2018 she became a mum to daughter Freya.

021 226 9080
cpawson@parafedcanterbury.co.nz 

ABBEY SMALE
​​​​​​​STUDENT INTERN

Abbey, a student at the University of Canterbury, joins us as our student intern for 2024.

Abbey is in her third year studying a Bachelor's degree in Sports Coaching and Management. She is a competitive swimmer, who has had success in the pool and in open water competitions. Abbey is also a qualified Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety.

​​​​​​​She will be working across a number of different programmes, including volunteering at tournaments, and assisting with our school visits.

Previous Student Interns

KERRY JENKINSON
​​​​​​​ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Kerry rejoined ParaFed Canterbury in 2019 in the role of Administration Manager.

In addition to working for ParaFed Canterbury, she has also worked for CCS Disability Action and Paralympics New Zealand. Her roles include managing the accounts and the Burwood Hospital Hydrotherapy Pool sessions. Kerry has been involved in supporting boccia at all levels, including team manager of the New Zealand boccia team at the Paralympic Games. She is an international classifier for boccia.

​​​​​​​Kerry loves being active, and being outdoors, with her husband and three children.

021 108 3257
kjenkinson@parafedcanterbury.co.nz 

JODIE KILSHAW
​​​​​​​SPONSORSHIP MANAGER

Jodie joined ParaFed Canterbury in 2017 as our Sponsorship Manager. She is responsible for managing and renewing our current business sponsors and liaising with any potential new sponsors. ​​​​​​​Jodie has a background in sales, marketing and event management.

027 967 3303
support@parafedcanterbury.co.nz 

BOARD

The ParaFed Canterbury Board can be emailed at board@parafedcanterbury.co.nz

SIAN RUTH - ​​​​CHAIRPERSON

​​​​Sian joined the board of ParaFed Canterbury in 2012, having first become involved with ParaFed Canterbury through her daughters interest in Para swimming.

She is a Chartered Accountant and Authorised Financial Adviser. She is also a shareholder in an engineering business employing eight staff. ​​​​​Sian has an interest in governance and financial management.

Sian has a background in sports administration at club level in the sport of swimming.

ANNETTE MELROSE - ​​​​​​DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON

​​​​​​​Annette joined the board of ParaFed Canterbury in 2009. She is the manager at Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs, who manufacture custom made lightweight manual wheelchairs.

She is interested in management, especially strategic management, and has great skills in process evaluation and development.

Annette's involvement in quality management and understanding the need for good processes assist in ensuring productivity within our organisation.

NICKI TURNER, MNZM

Nicki joined the board of ParaFed Canterbury in 2020. She is the founding Director of NTM Consulting and has extensive sports leadership, academic, management, coaching and playing experience.

She played international cricket for New Zealand for ten years and has held coaching roles for both New Zealand Women's Cricket and Canterbury Men's Cricket. She as one of two coaches to start the modified children's cricket programme, Canta Cricket (later to become Kiwi Cricket). ​​​​​​​

She was National Manager for the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation from 2010 to 2016. She was President of Coaching New Zealand in 2007 and has been a board member of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sport NZ) and GymSports NZ.

​​​​​​​Nicki has a passion for sport and has both personal and professional experience with disability sport and physical activity. In 1998, Nicki was awarded a Queens Honour for services to the community and cricket (MNZM).

GERALDINE RAE

​​​​​​​Geraldine joined the board of ParaFed Canterbury in 2020. Her first involvement with the organisation was through her grandson when he started competing in Para sport.

She has held leadership positions for over thirty years within New Zealand Pony Club, from the grassroots level through to New Zealand President. She has extensive sports administration experience, and a strong understanding and working knowledge of governance, policy writing, strategic planning, risk management and health and safety.

​​​​​Geraldine has a volunteer role at St Bede's College in learning support and is a qualified Level 2 Steward for Equestrian New Zealand. She is passionate about ensuring all people have access to sport which enables them to meet their dreams and goals.

CURTIS SMITH

Curtis joined the board of ParaFed Canterbury in 2024. He has been a member of the organisation for many years, starting as a junior athlete competing in the Independence Games in early 2000, then moving into playing wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball for both Canterbury and New Zealand.

Curtis has been working for Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs for 6 years as their South Island Sales Rep. The job sees him travel around the South Island, meeting a range of people from all walks of life. He is married with two young children.

MIKE TODD

Mike joined the board of ParaFed Canterbury in 2024. He first became involved in disability sport in 2008, when he started playing wheelchair rugby for Canterbury. In 2015 he made his debut for New Zealand in wheelchair rugby and is still an active player.

He made his Paralympic Games debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He works full time training staff for a Government agency. Mike has served on several boards and has a passion that sport can inspire and overcome barriers.

KEN SOWDEN, MNZM

Ken has been the senior staff member representative on the board of ParaFed Canterbury since 1997. He has over 25 years experience on various local, national and international committees, including a role as Vice President of the World Wheelchair Rugby. As the senior staff representative, he has input into the future direction of the organisation.