Trustee Profiles
Professor Tania Cassidy – Chair (Appointed as a board member in September 2015, then as Chair in October 2024. In the latter position Tania replaced Steve Brocklebank who served on the board for 20 years).
Professor Tania Cassidy (retired in 2024) worked at the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago for 26.5 years. Her area of teaching and research interest was sports coaching, specifically coach and athlete development. She is the first author of two co-authored texts; 1. Understanding Sports Coaching: The Pedagogical, Social, and Cultural Foundations of Sports Practice, and, 2. Understanding Strength and Conditioning as Sport Coaching. Bridging the Biophysical, Pedagogical and Sociocultural Foundations of Practice. Tania has extensive local, national, and international networks, as well as being on advisory groups for Hockey New Zealand and New Zealand Football she is also the Chair of the Otago Hockey governance board. In her capacity on the board of Otago Academy of Sport Tania has co-coordinated the three biennial Connecting Coaches conferences. Whilst working at the University of Otago Tania also developed bespoke coach development programmes for the Chinese Culture University (Taiwan), and the Otago Rugby Union. In pre-COVID times Tania was a Visiting Professor at the University College Cork, Ireland. In her retirement Tania played for New Zealand in the Masters Hockey World Cup in 2024 and has been selected to play in the Trans-Tasman series in May 2025. She is also a volunteer Watch Officer on the Spirit of New Zealand.
James Nation (Appointed in March 2023)
James is the current CEO of Sport Otago, he has experience over the last 15 years working across a number of sectors, a Government organisation (ACC), CEO of a Dunedin based technology company, The Tarn Group and recently GM of PKF Dunedin, an accounting firm. James was part of the New Zealand Black Sticks Mens Hockey team between 2003 and 2010, during which time he participated in two Olympics (Athens and Beijing). He continues to play/coach for a Dunedin club hockey and coach a local secondary school 1st XI hockey team. At a Governance level he thoroughly enjoys the challenge of working strategically as a Board member with current roles in at Physical Education New Zealand, Otago’s Orokonui EcoSanctuary and is a member of the NZ Olympian Committee that provides support to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Dr Anne Marie Jackson (Appointed in September 2024)
Anne-Marie Jackson (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu o Whangaroa, Ngāti Wai) Ahorangi Professor (PhD, Dip Pīnakitanga ki Te Reo Kairangi, MInsD). Anne-Marie is currently the Kaihautū Managing Director of Rehutai Consulting and a Co-Director at the National Centre of Research Excellence Coastal People: Southern Skies.
Anne-Marie has a university research and teaching background and is passionate about addressing the health, social and environmental issues that affect the well-being of Māori communities. She has been a coach, manager, volunteer, trustee, chairwoman, committee member for a number of local sports organisations, clubs and schools. She is an advocate for young people in our region.
Tom Willis (Appointed Trustee in September 2024)
A former All Black, Tom joined Gallaway Cook Allan in 2012 and is a member of their Agribusiness team.
Tom’s area of expertise is property law. This includes residential, commercial and rural conveyancing and leasing, subdivisions and development work. A large part of Tom’s work and client base also involves Trusts and succession planning.
“Most of my work is transaction-based – helping people work towards achieving their goals. I take great satisfaction from helping people get their business done in a manner for them which is clear, practical and avoids all the legalese.” he says.
Tom studied law part-time while being a professional rugby player- a career spanning twelve years, playing within New Zealand and the UK. He retired from professional rugby in 2011 and was admitted to the Bar in May 2013.
“Twelve years of rugby exposed me to a lot of different people, cultures and backgrounds. One of my strengths is my ability to deal with people from all walks of life.”
In his spare time, Tom enjoys fishing, surfing, supporting local rugby and spending time with his family.