Wāhine Toa Oceania

Pacific Women's Leadership through Sport

In 2025, the New Zealand Olympic Committee delivered their pilot Wāhine Toa Leadership Oceania Programme into Oceania hosted in Fiji with proven effectiveness based on the New Zealand Olympic Committee Wāhine Toa model that was established in 2017.

Wāhine Toa Oceania is a women-in-sport leadership initiative led by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) in support of the Oceania National Olympic Committees. It equips emerging and established female leaders across the Pacific to strengthen their skills, expand their networks, and drive positive change in sport and their communities. The programme is delivered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through its Pacific Sport for Development Fund, the Olympic Solidarity Knowledge Sharing Fund, and the Oceania Impact Network Equity Commission.

Cohort 2 will be delivered over 2026-2027 and brings together participants from nine Oceania nations with diverse sporting, cultural, and leadership backgrounds. Through workshops, mentoring, peer learning, and practical development opportunities, they build the knowledge, confidence, and connections to take on greater leadership roles in sport organisations, athlete communities, and across the Pacific.

Grounded in Pacific values and focused on lasting impact, Wāhine Toa Oceania is building a connected network of women who support one another, advance gender equity, and strengthen sport throughout the region. By investing in women and regional relationships, the programme contributes to a more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable future for Pacific sport.

About the Programme

A twelve month programme based on three residential workshops with Cohort 2 to be delivered over 2026-2027.

  • Workshop 1: November 23-26th, 2026

  • Workshop 2: April 5-9th, 2027

  • Workshop 3: October 11-14th, 2027

Any enquiries should be directed to the Programme Manager Cathleen Bias cathleen@olympic.org.nz

Scroll down further to read MORE about the content of the programme below.

Wāhine Toa Promotional Video

Who is Wāhine Toa Leadership Programme aimed at?

Applicants for the programme are retired or retiring female athletes who:

  • have attended an Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth or Pacific Games

  • are identified as current or aspiring leaders in their organisations with a commitment to pursue a leadership pathway

  • are committed to making a difference and enhancing opportunities for women and girls in and through sport

  • demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development

Content of Programme

The programme focuses on various leadership principles and behaviours that research shows to be critical to facilitating great leadership.

  • Self and leadership - Leadership starts with self; understanding how you have been influenced; knowing self and being prepared to grow self.

  • Leadership as an influence relationship - Appreciate leadership as an influence relationship. Valuing emotional and cultural intelligence in leadership.

  • Collaborate within teams - Leadership is about teamwork – working with and through others to deliver.

  • Navigate complexities within teams - Effective and efficient teams need multiple contributions to leadership and a balance of capabilities.

  • Leadership and empowering collective change - To serve communities effectively we need to understand how a collective lens toward leadership can empower community contribution.

  • Navigate complexities and interconnectedness within relationships and communities - People and communities are complex. Appreciating interconnectedness and systems perspectives in leadership will aid the navigation of complexity

Principles behind the Programme

We know that investing in women is of the utmost importance and that time and money spent in learning and development has to pay off. We fully recognise that changes in behaviour have to be embedded and sustained over time and ensuring that individuals take responsibility for their own self-sustained learning is at the heart of everything we do.

The following principles will guide all the activities:

  • The programme will be facilitative rather than prescriptive allowing the women to focus on self-sustained learning

  • Participants will be supported to take ownership of, and responsibility for, their own learning

  • We will create a safe working environment and nurture a sense of collegiality and trust among the women

  • We will develop a set of shared values to encourage reciprocity, mutuality and respect for differences and diversity

  • We believe that a flexible approach to meet the diverse needs of specific groups, individuals, and cultures is essential

  • We draw on a variety of theories, ideas, opinions, and approaches in order to develop learning that ‘sticks’ and are innovative and creative in our approach

  • The activities will be learner-centred and highly participative using discussion, small/syndicate groups, role plays and scenarios/case studies

  • Evaluation of the Wāhine Toa Oceania Leadership Programme will take place throughout the programme and will continue post-event, when the participants have returned to their work place.

Programme Elements

Residential Workshops
Workshops are an integral part of the learning process and will be designed to meet the needs of the learners. Each workshop provides clear learning outcomes and is tailored to maximise learning; they are challenging, constructive and highly interactive. Attendance at all workshops and events is critical to maximise learning.

Personal Development Plans
The participants develop their own Personal Development Plan setting goals on leadership behaviours, career strategies, future opportunities and to consolidate learning. Mentors will assist the women to revise their Personal Development Plans and help them monitor their progress.

Mentoring
Mentoring is a vital element allowing the participants to learn from their mentor's experiences, have a sounding board and to gain additional support to achieve their goals. Each participant will build a strong relationship with one generic Mentor and other technical mentors may be used as required.

Peer support groups
This element focuses on peer support and providing opportunities for the women to define, frame and communicate their key challenges and receive support from their colleagues. The sessions allow the women to have time to reflect on their experiences and to explore ways of doings things differently.

Physical activities
A range of physical activities will be designed to indulge our love of sport, to live our principle of an active lifestyle, to provide a physical challenge, to promote team-building, and have fun!

Guest speakers

Guest speakers attend various programme workshops to inspire the women and share their experiences. They will identify what leadership means to them, what motivates and challenges them and will provide top tips for the women

Networks
Membership of a New Zealand network of Wāhine Toa Leadership Alumni and other women leaders in sport.

Special Projects

The Programme participants work in small groups outside of the formal sessions to further enhance their learning on Special Project Areas.

The projects are substantive and of direct relevance to the sector, and particularly issues relating to women in sport. The projects have been designed for maximum learning on several levels including working as a team and individually.

Wāhine Toa Programme Contact details

Cathleen Bias

Wāhine Toa Leadership Programme Manager
Email: cathleen@olympic.org.nz

Phone: +64-21-905-396