'What can we learn when we do this together?': a public lecture by Lesley Ferkins
| Date: | Tuesday 1 Oct, 4:30pm - 5:30pm |
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| Location: | AUT City Campus WA Building, WA Conference Centre Auckland New Zealand |
| Cost: | Free |
Inaugural professorial address by Lesley Ferkins
Researching with sport organisations in order to grow potential and purpose is the essence of Professor Lesley Ferkins’ research endeavours in sport leadership and governance. In her inaugural professorial address, Lesley will tell the story of how a commitment to the organised sport sector led to a programme of research centred on developing leadership and governance capability. The ultimate purpose of this is to realise the potential of sport to positively impact the lives of New Zealanders. It’s founded on a research approach of partnership, change and learning (action research), working inside sport organisations as they seek to understand their relevance and contribution to a changing world. Lesley will discuss how such collaborative and developmental efforts have led to re-imagining traditional assumptions about leadership, developing board strategic capability, bringing leadership thinking closer to governance practice and embracing diverse contributions at the top tables of decision-making in sport. Students and colleagues have been central to this research journey and their influence is a fundamental element of this collaboration.
Lesley has always involved herself in sporting endeavours. Originally from the Kapiti Coast, she has been an active participant and athlete in the sports of tennis, multisport, and skiing – and a passionate rugby spectator and supporter. Her sporting and educational influences track unmistakeably to her family across multiple generations. Late to academia, Lesley has held senior roles in sport and recreation, and has been positively influenced by her ten years at Unitec and three years at Deakin University. Now based at AUT Millennium, Lesley is currently Director of the AUT Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ).