2023 Pacific Leadership Programme
In August 2023, WISPA and Pasifika SiS: Sisters in Sport, in collaboration with key funding partners the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and the U.S. Department of State, launched a groundbreaking three-week leadership development programme for 10 emerging female leaders from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. The aim was to support these wāhine toa through mentorship, cultural exchange, and hands-on leadership training, setting them up to drive positive change in their communities.
A Comprehensive Leadership Development Approach
The programme kicked off with a powerful first week focused on talanoa/whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships) and a series of workshops led by WISPA, Pasifika SiS, and other wāhine toa from the sport and recreation industry in Aotearoa. Participants explored a range of key topics, including:
Personal leadership styles and growth
The intersectionality of leadership and its implications
Human-centred design approaches
The significance of the tapa framework in Pasifika leadership
Discussions also centred on the unique models of indigenous Pasifika leadership, fostering a deeper understanding of cultural nuances and frameworks that can support their work.
Mentorship and Immersive Experiences
Following the first week, participants were hosted by seven key organisations in New Zealand, where they spent eight days immersed in their organisational culture, programmes, and team environments. The host organisations included:
Sport New Zealand
High Performance Sport New Zealand
Harbour Sport
Sport Waitakere
Rugby New Zealand
Tennis New Zealand
Warriors Community Foundation
This hands-on experience exposed the wāhine to a range of activities, from attending the Sport New Zealand Disability Hui and high-performance coaching courses to developing a Pacific wellbeing strategy and meeting with community networks such as Probation, Cause Collection, and Waka Ama. One of the highlights was the opportunity to visit TVNZ and the Sky commentary box at an NPC game.
Action Plans for Sustainable Impact
As the programme progressed, each wāhine was paired with a mentor who provided dedicated support to help them develop an actionable plan for their return home. The final two days of the programme were spent presenting these "action plans" to the group and their mentors, which were thoughtful, strategic, and impactful.
The plans addressed key issues such as:
Increasing female participation in rugby
Connecting Waka Ama to Pacific culture to boost female involvement
Creating girls' and women's basketball leagues
Enhancing the visibility of disabled community members through sport
Each participant received a grant from WISPA to help kick-start their action plan, empowering them to put their ideas into action in their home countries.
A Lasting Network of Support
WISPA is immensely proud of the individual journeys undertaken by the 10 wāhine toa throughout the programme. Over the three weeks, the group formed a strong, supportive leadership network, with participants committed to supporting one another in implementing their projects.
Ongoing research, led by Elika Consulting Group, will track the progress of these action plans. Plans are in place for WISPA to visit each participant in their home countries to report on the impact of their initiatives and to offer continued support.
Looking Ahead
The success of the inaugural 2023 Pacific Leadership Programme marks a significant milestone in empowering Pacific women in leadership. WISPA is already planning to expand the programme in future years, with efforts underway to secure further funding and resources to continue fostering the next generation of Pacific female leaders.
