Graeme Robson - Coach Performance Manager

Graeme was a former international badminton player and National Coach for Badminton NZ from 1995 – 2002. In his coaching career he has been a volunteer, part-time and full-time coach so understands the demands of each position. In his former life, Graeme was an Exercise Physiologist so can provide good support in integrating performance services into a coaching programme. He has managed the Coach Support Program for the regional Academy since 2003 but still works one on one with coaches from a variety of sports. Graeme is especially strong in the planning area and also has a good understanding in the use of technology in coaching.

Bruce Blair - Coach Performance Advisor

Bruce Blair was appointed in January 2007 as the Coach Advisor for the Waikato / BOP region. He has filled the roles of Head Coach of the State Northern Knights and Assistant Coach for the Blackcaps on their tour of India in 2003. Currently Bruce works with the NZ Women’s Team as Assistant Coach and does some one on one work with ND and Blackcap players. Bruce played for New Zealand (1982-86) and also represented his province at Soccer & Golf.
Bruce has a passion for Coaching and is a student of the learning process.

Lynda O'Cain - Coach Performance Advisor

Lynda has been a volunteer softball coach for over 20 years including head coach of the Czech Republic Woman’s team and 10 years with the NZ Junior team as both head and asst. coach and has attended 1 Senior and 3 Junior World Championships. Lynda is an ex NZ Softball rep and played at the top level for numerous years. She began working in coaching at the Hillary Commission and then joined the Academy team after 3 years as the Regional Manager at Netball North. She is particularly interested in how people learn and applying leadership principles within a coaching context. Lynda has a Diploma in Business, and has interests in music, travel and the outdoors.

Alex McKenzie - Coach Performance Advisor

Alex joined the Academy of Sport in October 2008 in a dual role as Coach Accelerator Manager and Coaching Services Advisor for the lower North Island. Alex has a PhD in sport psychology from the University of Victoria in Canada, and taught for 10 years at the School of Physical Education at Otago University. He was the Professional Development Manager for the Highlanders and Hurricanes Super Rugby franchises for six seasons before joining New Zealand Post as a Team Development Specialist. He has been coaching rugby for the past 20 years at various levels.

Paul Smith - High Performance Advisor

Paul joined the NZASNI team in May 2009. His role focuses on attracting, developing and retaining key coaches and HP Directors. Paul has had 8 years experience in High Performance leadership roles, most recently as a Performance Consultant in SPARC’s High Performance Team, and previously as High Performance Manager for Tennis NZ, and Bowls NZ. Paul worked with many Olympic athletes and coaches over his 10 years as a sport psychologist and was the NZ Olympic Team Sport Psychologist at the 1996 Olympic Games and sport psychologist for a variety of sports at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games. He’s coached cricket for 16 years including co-coach to the NZ U19 Cricket Team at the U19 World Cup in 2000. Paul is passionate about people and performance. He enjoys, but can’t play golf and has entered (but not started) the Coast to Coast.