Brent Eastwood

Network Director

Brent.Eastwood@rstnetwork.org.nz

Brent has been the Pou Herea/Director of the RST Network since December 2023, bringing with him significant knowledge and experience of RSTs. Prior to this role he was the Chief Executive of Sport Northland for 25 years, after starting his working career in the fledgling fitness industry in Auckland.

He gained a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Otago and is also an experienced governor, having served on many national, regional, and local sporting/community boards.

Felicity Connell

Network Administrator

admin@rstnetwork.org.nz

Felicity is the Network Administrator, working closely with the Network Director and the team, managing high-level administrative functions, coordinating travel, and facilitating communication across the Network. 

Debbie Curgenven

Geographical Priority Communities Lead

Debbie.curgenven@rstnetwork.org.nz

Debbie has more than 20 years’ experience working in the sport and recreation sector, having spent time working in England, the USA and New Zealand.

Prior to arriving in New Zealand, Debbie was Head of Sport for a local authority and also spent time developing sports lottery projects on behalf of Sport England and local government.

Whilst in New Zealand, Debbie has worked for a Regional Sports Trust, had experience working in local government and, immediately prior to joining Aktive, with Sport New Zealand.

Manu Pihama

Māori Lead

Manu.pihama@rstnetwork.org.nz

Manu is of Tainui, Patuharakeke Ngāti Pākehā descent, and joins the RST network from Aktive with a focus on the Māori patnerships. He also brings a broad background of relationships and experience across Private sector, Central and Local Government.

He has worked at KPMG, Auckland Council and the Ministry of Social Development in management and strategic leadership roles including collaborative sessions between Central and Local Government, Iwi and Non-Government Organisations in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau.

​Manu is passionate about partnering to achieving positive outcomes for our communities and whanau through sport and active recreation.

Megan Harlick

Organisational Capability Lead

Megan.harlick@rstnetwork.org.nz

Megan is the Sector Support Manager at Sport Canterbury, having joined the organisation in October 2022. Megan has over 25 years’ experience in the sector, including governance roles on both local and national boards across sport, recreation and education.

Megan understands the importance of a capable workforce in ensuring sustainable and viable organisations, and is passionate about the role of physical activity in health and wellbeing.

Andrew Currie

Communications Lead

andrew.currie@rstnetwork.org.nz

Andrew has taken on the Network Communications Lead portfolio since May 2025. Andrew is currently the Strategic Communications Manager at Sport Canterbury, a position he has held since March 2023.

He brings 15 years of communications management experience and a strong background in television news and international sports production to the organisation. Having previous communications experience within the RSO space – Mainland Football - and at the NGO level while at Fish & Game NZ, he is well-positioned to understand the needs of the RST Network.  

A proud father of three and Andrew is passionate sports lover, his main interests are football, mountain biking, and, more recently, multi-sport events. Andrew is excited to bring his skillset to the Network, with a strong focus on relationship building and strategy, visual storytelling, along with his extensive leadership experience.  

Jason Shoebridge

Chair

Jason is currently Chair of the RST Network Steering Group, as well as being Chair of Aktive, the Regional Sports Trust for the Auckland region. Prior to his involvement with Aktive, Jason was Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee of Sport New Zealand.

Jason’s executive role is Chief Executive of the NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER). Prior to that role, Jason was CEO of Kantar Insight New Zealand. As well as having responsibility for Kantar’s operations in New Zealand, Jason led Kantar's Analytics Practice for 12 markets within the Asia Pacific region.

Over a consulting career of more than 20 years, Jason has led assignments for high profile corporate and public sector clients across a diverse range of industries and disciplines in New Zealand and overseas. Before his consulting career, Jason held senior commercial and financial management roles in large corporates in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and roles within an international chartered accounting firm.

Jason has an MBA and Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics and Finance from the University of Auckland, and is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Directors

Vanessa Hughey-Pol

Chief Executive of Active Southland

Vanessa has held the Chief Executive role at Active Southland since December 2022, with a focus and passion for building leadership both within the organisation and in the wider Southland community.

Vanessa has held previous roles as Chief Executive of The Y Southland, General Manager of Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre, WA, and Regional Manager, Graeme Dingle Foundation.

She is also no stranger to governance holding numerous board member roles on national and local boards with a focus on recreation and sport.

Tania King

Chief Executive | Kaiwhakahaere Matua of Sport Whanganui

Tania is the Chief Executive / Kaiwhakahaere Matua of Sport Whanganui, a role she has held since March 2025. With a strong background in leadership, education, and community development, Tania is passionate about improving hauora and ensuring people across the Whanganui, Ruapehu, and Rangitīkei regions have access to sport, physical activity, and wellbeing opportunities.

She previously served as Corporate Business Manager at Sport Whanganui for three and a half years and has also held leadership roles as Chief Operating Officer at NZICPA and Principal at Whanganui Girls' College—reflecting her broad capability across education, corporate, and community sectors.

Tania holds a Master of Educational Administration and first trained as a Health and Physical Education teacher, gaining a Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching.

Her academic and cultural grounding informs her inclusive, community-first leadership style.Alongside her executive roles, Tania has extensive governance experience across council-controlled organisations, school boards, and local trusts. She also facilitates governance and strategic planning workshops, supporting others to strengthen their impact through sound leadership and clear direction.

Driven by a deep belief in equity, wellbeing, and opportunity for all, Tania continues to champion initiatives that build stronger, healthier communities across the region

Ryan Hambleton

Chief Executive of Sport Hawke’s Bay

Ryan has a passion for community sport and physical activity and sees the value it can bring to our communities through social cohesion, pride, and health benefits.

He has seen these benefits through his roles with Sport Hawke’s Bay and in the numerous of senior management roles he has held at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park, Sport Wellington, and Wellington Zoo. Ryan also held various governance roles in education and sport and is proud of the organisations Ryan has been able to have a positive contribution towards.

He hopes to use my experience and involvement in the RST Network to be able to support existing and new opportunities for people across the motu to improve physical activity, health and wellbeing outcomes for themselves and their whānau.

David George

Chief Executive of Chief Executive of Tuia Waitākere​​​​​​​

David (Tangata Tiriti) is a proud husband and father of two young daughters. He is driven by a deep belief that everyone should have the chance to be active, to be well, and to realise their potential. Growing up, he saw too many people miss out on opportunities for reasons that should never have been barriers, and that experience continues to shape his commitment to ensuring no one is left behind.

With over 25 years of experience across the sport and health sectors in Aotearoa and internationally, David leads with purpose, guiding a values-driven team to create lasting impact through sport, arts, movement, and culture in and with communities. He strongly believes in the power of the Regional Sports Trust network as a collective working towards a thriving Aotearoa, and sees being part of this network as both an honour and a responsibility not to be missed for our communities.

Alongside his role, David contributes through voluntary governance roles on two community boards and still participates in as much sport as his body allows, staying connected to the very kaupapa he is so passionate about.

Devena Ruwhiu-Edmonds 

Locally Led Advisor, Sport Bay of Plenty

Devena has whakapapa connections to Ngāti Raukawa, Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and Ngāti Porou. She is a proud māmā who, alongside her partner Whakauekaipapa, is raising their daughter within te ao Māori and Kura Kaupapa Māori, reflecting their commitment to tuakiritanga and Māori excellence.

As a locally led advisor, Devena is passionate about empowering intergenerational wellbeing, strengthening local leadership, and supporting thriving communities through sport, recreation, and hauora. She holds qualifications in Māori and Indigenous Development, and in sport, recreation, and exercise.

As a member of the RST Network Steering Group, Devena is committed to growing her governance capability and contributing to equitable opportunities through sport and active recreation. She also aspires to complete an MBA in Sport Management to further strengthen her leadership and service to whānau, hapū, iwi, and hāpori.

David Norgate

General Manager - Māori Capability and Māori Partnerships at Sport Tasman 

E tātou mā, ka pāorooro te reo o mihi i runga i a koutou, mai i ngā tai o Te Tai Tokerau.

Born in Whakatū and blessed with the opportunities that come from growing up here — including sport, the outdoors, and the strength of whānau — I have also been fortunate to live with my whānau in Te Tai Tokerau, which has further shaped who I am.

My wife and I have two tamariki whom we endeavour to raise in the whakaaro of “Hoki whakamuri, kia anga whakamua” — looking to the treasures of the past to help forge new paths and awaken the souls of our tamariki and mokopuna.

I sit as part of the Sport Tasman whānau, which inspires me every day to strive to be better and to add value to our waka as we forge ahead toward our “Hawaiki Hou.”

I look forward to learning and contributing to the RST waka, with my whakapapa on my shoulders and our tamariki and mokopuna as the horizon.