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Robyn Cockburn receiving her ONOC ACE Award in 2024
The New Zealand Olympic Committee has congratulated Robyn Cockburn on being named the Oceania winner of the 2025 IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Champions Award.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) GEDI Champions Awards recognise individuals and organisations driving progress in gender equality through sport at global and continental levels.
Cockburn was recognised by the IOC for more than three decades of leadership advancing gender equality, inclusion and safe sport across New Zealand and the wider Oceania region.
In particular Cockburn was recognised for her mentoring work with the NZOC’s Wāhine Toa leadership programmes.
NZOC CEO, Nicki Nicol, said Cockburn’s work has had a massive impact on sport in New Zealand.
“Robyn’s mahi has been hugely beneficial for the advancing of gender equality in New Zealand and providing female athlete leaders with a clear pathway from their sports into governance and other leadership roles,” said Nicol.
“This IOC GEDI award is further recognition for Robyn and flows on from her winning the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) 2024 Active Champion of Equity Award in 2024.”
“She brings credibility and a thorough knowledge of the sporting landscape to everything she does. The way she can take her research and arm others with practical tools to assist them in their own environments is her superpower.”
Cockburn said she was humbled to receive the GEDI award.
"It’s amazing to receive global acknowledgement for a lifetime of work increasing the gender equity and diversity of recreation and sport participation. I sincerely appreciate the leadership and support of the New Zealand Olympic Committee as partners in many of these initiatives,” she said.
Alongside Cockburn, the 2025 award recipients include Abhijit Bhattacharya of India as the world winner, with continental winners Racheal Kundananji of Zambia (Africa), Mónica Elvira Franco Luzcando of Panama (Americas), Kim Yeon‑koung of South Korea (Asia) and Michele Kang of France and the United States (Europe).
The NZOC congratulates all recipients and acknowledges their contribution to building more inclusive and equitable sport systems worldwide.
2O25 IOC GENDER EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CHAMPIONS:
WORLD WINNER:
Abhijit Bhattacharya, India
WINNER FOR OCEANIA:
Robyn Cockburn, New Zealand
WINNER FOR AFRICA:
Racheal Kundananji, Zambia
WINNER FOR THE AMERICAS:
Monica Elvira Franco Luzcando, Panama
WINNER FOR ASIA:
Kim Yeon‑koung OLY, South Korea
WINNER FOR EUROPE:
Michele Kang, USA/France
For the full IOC GEDI awards release, click here.
*note the displayed photo is from when Robyn received her ONOC ACE Award in 2024.