Exciting Opportunity Beckons Board Member Gabrielle Rush Abroad

Gabrielle Rush has been an invaluable member of the Swimming New Zealand Board over the last year. Having worked in the private and public sectors as a senior lawyer and diplomat, policy analyst and advocate, she brought a unique skill set and background to the Board.

Gabrielle has had a lifelong passion for swimming as a former competitive swimmer and swim teacher, and more recently as a Board member of NZ Swim Coaches and Teachers Association. One of Gabrielle’s children swims competitively for the North Shore Swim Club in Auckland, and her niece swims for the Karori Pirates Club in Wellington.

She is returning to work for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and will be based in the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing from mid-August.  One of the unfortunate consequences of being out of the country is that she will be unable to complete her term on the Board of Swimming New Zealand.

When asked what she enjoyed the most about being on the Swimming New Zealand Board she commented, “Working with a group of high calibre individuals with a passion for the sport of swimming to help implement the findings of the Independent Working Group Review and enhance the future of swimming in New Zealand in a forward-looking and transparent way.”

Gabrielle is happy with the direction that swimming is heading in after a difficult period.

“I feel very optimistic about the future of swimming in New Zealand.  After some difficult years, a number of positive changes have been made in a comparatively short period of time.  A lot of good people from the club and swim-school level, through to the regions and the national organisation, are working hard to ensure a positive future for swimming. I feel privileged to have been able to make a small contribution to that effort and wish my colleagues all the very best for the future.”

Board Chairman Brent Layton said, “Gabby has made a very valuable contribution to the new Board progressing the changes called for by the Independent Working Group report. Her sound judgement and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by her colleagues at Board and Audit and Risk Meetings. At its most recent meeting, the Board thanked Gabby for her contribution and wished her well in her new and important role supporting New Zealand’s representation to China.”