Staff Profiles

You are here

Sport & Recreation Staff Profiles

Grace O’Leary
Tutorial Assistant
Tutorial Assistant Grace O'Leary

Born and bred in Rotovegas, I went down to the depths of the South to study Physical Education at Otago University. After 4 years at that I went on to do an extra year of Postgraduate study in Sociology for good luck. Naturally then, I am passionate about the role of sports in society and individuals’ experiences of physical activity. My sporting background is competing nationally in the best sport in the world: gymnastics. I have also been involved in coaching and judging at regional competitions since starting out. Nowadays though I prefer less competitive sports where I can just have fun like surfing and snowboarding (I’m a big fan of the great outdoors). I’m also gearing up for my Master’s degree in 2012. Bring it on!

Qualifications: Bachelor of Physical Education (BPhEd), Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (PGDipArts)

Written On: Monday, 29 August 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Janine Nikora
Administrator
Sports Administrator Janine Nikora

I am the frontline face & administration for the Sport & Recreation Department.  I am your first port of call when it comes to our sport programmes.

I am passionate about sport health and wellness myself, enjoying and making full use of the terrific aqua/gym facilities we have here at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

I enjoy challenging myself with doing some of the great nature walks here in NZ, namely the Tongariro Crossing, Abel Tasman National Park, Redwoods, Mt Mauao, Otanewainuku.

I can be found in our sports office W31 across from our aquatic centre Te Pare.

Qualifications: Nat Cert in Business (Firstline Management) (BoPP), Poutiriako Cert in Tertiary Teaching (BoPP)

Written On: Monday, 8 August 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Kelly Pender
Programme Coordinator of Certificate in Fitness
Programme Coordinator Kelly Pender

As a past Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Sports student, Kelly has been actively involved in the sport and fitness industry for 16 years. Areas of experience and passion include sport specific team fitness training, personal training with an outdoor focus, exercise prescription and aquatic based fitness as a training alternative.

Since retiring from 16 years of senior rugby (including two years in Ireland), Kelly has redirected his training time to endurance off road running such as the infamous “Goat” on Ruapehu. Kelly rides racehorses each day before the sun comes up and enjoys spending as much time as he can with whanau.

Qualifications: Certificate Sport & Rec (BoPP), Certificate Adv Strength Training, CAT / CALT, BSR (Massey) CC, NITFIT Fitness Instructor & Strength Conditioning, Aqua-Fit Certificate

Written On: Monday, 25 July 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Lisa Weaver
Academic Staff Member
Academic Staff Member Lisa Weaver

As a New Zealand Academy of Sport accredited physiotherapist and level 3 anthropometrist, Lisa has worked with top sports teams and individuals within the fields of physiotherapy and sports science, as well as working within the rehabilitation setting.

Lisa received a Prime Minister’s Scholarship from SPARC in 2006 through her involvement as lead physiotherapist for NZ Squash. She has also been involved in co-authoring the Young New Zealanders Challenge / Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Adventurous Journey Training Manuals.

Lisa has a strong interest in youth development and the influences of current society, both from a physical perspective in terms of postural adaptations but also personal growth and leadership. 

Qualifications: Masters in Health Science specialising in Advanced Sports Science & Human Movement/ Biomechanics  

Written On: Monday, 25 July 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Mike Dudson
Academic Staff Member
Academic Staff Member Mike Dudson

Mike was born locally and completed his secondary education at Tauranga Boys’ College before attending Canterbury University. Mike taught Physical Education at Hillmorton High School for ten years, leading the Department for three years.

Mike played for and has coached New Zealand Volleyball teams and is currently the Beach Volleyball High Performance Manager. Mike tutors Sport Psychology, Coaching, Management and Marketing and Industry Experience and Research.

Qualifications: M.Sc (Canterbury), Dip.Tch (Chch College of Ed)

Written On: Monday, 25 July 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Paul Winwood
Academic Staff Member
Academic Staff Member Paul Winwood

Hi, I'm Paul Winwood. I have recently obtained my Master of Health Science (with first class honors) through AUT. I specialised in physical conditioning in my postgraduate diploma and researched the sport of strongman for my master’s thesis. This is a relatively new sport in which very little research has been done. Consequently the studies from my thesis were published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

My interest in ‘strength athletics’ and ‘functional performance’ originated came from many years of resistance training in which I competed in bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions.

I teach across the sport and recreation degree and work in our new sports science laboratories.

Written On: Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Pete Sommers
Group Leader
Group Leader Pete Sommers

Pete has been active in the sport and facility management field for over 15 years, managing sporting facilities ranging from the National Indoor Area in Birmingham, England, through to the University of Wales, Newport.

A former officer for the Welsh Sports Council and chief executive with Welsh Cycling, Pete is responsible for managing the Polytechnic’s Sports Department as it continues to move forwards. He also teaches on various papers across the sports programmes.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Human Movement Studies, MA Sport and Leisure Management, MILAM, ISRM (UK)

Written On: Monday, 25 July 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Sheree Trotter
Academic Staff Member
Academic Staff Member Sheree Trotter

Sheree’s passion is the fitness industry and working with people. She also has a love of the region, having lived, completed schooling and worked locally all her life.

Sheree has a background in competitive swimming, competing nationally and setting a number of Bay of Plenty and two New Zealand junior records. After completing tertiary study in 1991, Sheree went on to employment within local fitness facilities and has been tutoring for five years. Sheree feels fortunate to be amidst some truly inspiring students in the fitness ‘family’ and relishes each day she goes to work. 

Qualifications: Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness (BoPP), Pou Tiri Ako – Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (BoPP)

Written On: Monday, 25 July 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Stephen Lasslett
Programme Coordinator for Diploma in Sport and Recreation
Programme Coordinator Stephen Lasslett

Involved in sport his entire life, Stephen has a passion for passing that knowledge on to others. In tennis he was a junior national champion and New Zealand representative, and is currently the Western Bay of Plenty residential champion. As a coach, Stephen has taken representative teams to national events throughout New Zealand and has over ten years experience in the coaching field.

Stephen’s specialist areas of teaching are sports coaching and nutrition. He believes students should ‘walk the talk’ and be involved in what they aspire to in their future career. Stephen is currently researching high performance netball players as part of his masters thesis.

Qualifications: BSR (AUT), Grad Dip Tertiary Teaching (AUT), Post-Grad Diploma in Sport & Exercise Science (WINTEC)

Written On: Monday, 25 July 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation
Tracey Clissold
Academic Staff Member
Academic Staff Member Tracey Clissold

As a high performance athlete herself, Tracey knows better than anyone the benefits of high quality training and advice for athletes and coaches. Tracey has more than 15 years experience as a lecturer in sports science, specialising in sports nutrition and exercise prescription.

As a Fitness and Nutrition Consultant, Tracey also works with a wide range of clients, ranging from new exercisers to elite athletes and teams. In her personal life, Tracey is a competitive marathon runner who holds several NZ titles, including a World Masters Championship title. She has won the Auckland Marathon four times!

Qualifications: Bach of Physical Education, Post Grad Diploma in Sports Medicine, and is currently completing Masters in Physical Education at Otago University

Written On: Monday, 25 July 2011
Subject Area: Sport & Recreation