Issue date
Yachting New Zealand is delighted to announce that in 2015 two women, Jan Dawson and Adrienne Greenwood, will be awarded Life Membership of Yachting New Zealand. Both passionate about yachting Adrienne and Jan have served in governance and management for Yachting New Zealand each accumulating years of contribution.
Adrienne Greenwood
Adrienne is a well-known figure within the worldwide sailing community, a lifelong yachtie who along with her family has been involved in the sport from grassroots coaching, to club racing, cruising and high performance. Adrienne held a number of significant management and governance roles and was a member and volunteer at the Kohimarama Yacht Club for over 11 Years.
She was CEO of Yachting New Zealand for 14 years from 1986-2000 and now plays a major role within the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) as a Vice President. Adrienne was a past Olympic Selector, National Judge and organiser of four successful Olympic trial events in New Zealand. From 1998-2008 Adrienne was a Member of the ISAF Events Committee & various working parties and, is a current Member of the World Youth Sailing Trust. She spent four years as Chair of the Women's Sailing Committee, and from 2000-2008 was on the ISAF Working Party on Women's Representation.
Adrienne was the driving force behind the organisation and successful running of three 470 World Championships and served with distinction on the New Zealand Sports Tribunal for eight years; the tribunal adjudicates on drug violations, selection disputes, general sports disputes and appeals across all sports, with members appointed by the Government.
With a passion for sport beyond sailing Adrienne currently sits as an Independent Board member of the Northern Mystics Netball franchise, is a Board member of both Auckland and New Zealand Golf and sits on the NZ Golf High Performance Committee while remaining a Personal Member of Yachting New Zealand.
In 2007 Adrienne was awarded an IOC Diploma for the promotion of women in sport and in 2008 was awarded the prestigious ISAF Gold Medal. In 2008 she received a Service Award from Yachting New Zealand and in 2013 in recognition of her contribution to sports she was awarded an ONZM for her services to sport.
Jan Dawson
Jan is a more than deserving recipient of being awarded Yachting New Zealand Life Membership. She was elected by the member clubs of Yachting New Zealand as Chairperson and President in 2007 and led the organisation through considerable change and with distinction for the seven years she was at the helm.
With her vision, attention to detail and tireless dedication to the sport, Yachting New Zealand now has a strong platform from which to build on over the coming years. Jan’s commitment to the administration of the sport of yachting is also matched by her on-water prowess as a competitive keelboat sailor; she has owned a number of boats and has several national titles to her name.
Jan has significant governance and management experience through previous board positions both commercial and not-for-profit and is involved with the Institute of Directors as a National Councillor. It was through this experience that Jan recognised the need for not-for-profit organisations such as Yachting New Zealand, to have a strong focus on the role of management and that of its directors.
An accomplished business woman and mother-of-two, Jan holds a number of roles with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) including Council Area Group L representative, Audit Committee Chair, and sits on both the Events Committee and Women’s Forum. She sits on the Yachting New Zealand Olympic Committee and the Audit Committee and continues to be passionate about promoting and boosting female participation on Boards and in the sport of sailing. As an elected representative on the ISAF Council and the various ISAF committees Jan is well placed to reflect the position of all sailors and member Nations of the Oceania Region for ISAF.
Jan began sailing from a very early age developing a lifelong love of the sport and remains an active member of the Milford Cruising Club and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
