Pictured (left to right): Peter Cocker (AUS), Gronya Somerville (AUS), Michelle Au (NZL) and Loke Poh Wong (AUS).
The Badminton Oceania Executive Board can confirm the appointment of the four committees which will serve a two year term, starting in January 2021.
New appointments include Anona Pak (New Zealand), Ronan Ho-Yagues (New Caledonia) and Louis Beaubois (Tahiti) onto the athletes’ commission; Sam Paterson (NZL) and Stephanie Ho (NCL) to the events committee.
Additionally, the Gender Equity Committee is revamped and increased to six new members, with Michelle Au (New Zealand) appointed as the chairperson. Tuvalu Badminton Association, which became a member 2006 and celebrated an influx of interest to the Shuttle Time programme in 2020, expressed interest and nominated their first ever candidate (Asita Molotii) to be appointed onto a committee.
Asita completed a degree in Gender Studies and was the Director for the Women Affairs Department within the Government of Tuvalu for the past 10 years, before taking up the role as Deputy Secretary for Public Service Commission Office of the Prime Minister.
“I am delighted and excited to share my knowledge and contribute to the development of Gender Equity across the region – an area which I feel extremely passionate about”, says Molotii.
“It is extremely encouraging to see seven countries represented across the committees – our most diverse range yet; in particular the interest in the Gender Equity Committee, an area which is important across all of our activities and programmes. It’s also promising to see younger players, Louis and Ronan, from our French-speaking members joining the athletes’ commission to give them a voice in shaping the future for our region’s players”, says Badminton Oceania Secretary General, Julie Carrel.
The four committees and the appointed members are as follows:
Technical Officials Committee (BOTOC)
- Peter Cocker (Chair) – Australia
- Trish Gubb – New Zealand
- David Turner – Australia
- Jean-Philippe Berges – New Caledonia
- Greg Vellacott (BWF Umpire Assessor) – Australia
Athletes’ Commission
- Gronya Somerville (Chair) – Australia
- Anona Pak – New Zealand
- Ronan Ho-Yagues – New Caledonia
- Louis Beaubois – Tahiti
Events Committee
- Loke Poh Wong (Chair) – Australia
- Sam Paterson – New Zealand
- Stephanie Ho – New Caledonia
Gender Equity
- Michelle Au (Chair) – New Zealand
- Asita Molotii (TUV)
- Olivia Na (AUS)
- Hebrew Tom (COK)
- Karine Desfour (TAH)
- Sristi Nadan (FIJ)
Photo credits: Badminton Photo and Warren Buckland
