Yachting New Zealand seeks five selectors to help guide LA2028 Olympic campaign
As the road to Los Angeles 2028 gathers momentum, Yachting New Zealand is searching for five selectors to help shape the next chapter of New Zealand’s Olympic sailing campaign and identify the athletes who will chase success on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Expressions of interest are now open for positions on the 2028 Olympic Selection Panel, with appointments running through to the conclusion of the LA2028 Olympic Games.
The search comes at a pivotal point in the Olympic cycle, with New Zealand sailors continuing to make strong progress on the international stage and preparations intensifying for the Games, which are now less than two years away.
The appointments follow the establishment of the High Performance Advisory Group (HPAG), which replaced the former Yachting New Zealand Olympic Committee and now has a broader role in guiding high-performance strategy, policy and athlete pathways, alongside its responsibility for Olympic selection matters.
The HPAG is chaired by former ILCA 7 world champion Nik Burfoot and includes Olympic medallists, governance specialists and high-performance experts Jo Aleh, Leslie Egnot, Nick Gillies, Jenna Hansen, Henry Moore and Dan Willcox.
Yachting New Zealand is seeking individuals who can bring experience, independence and sound judgement to one of the most important decision-making roles in the Olympic pathway. The Olympic Selection Panel will play a critical role in assessing performances and recommending sailors and crews for nomination to the Olympic team, requiring selectors who understand the demands of high-performance sport and the standards required to compete at the highest level.
New Zealand sailing enters the LA2028 cycle with a proud Olympic record to build on. At Paris 2024, Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie claimed silver in the men’s skiff (49er), while Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson secured bronze in the mixed multihull (Nacra 17), taking New Zealand sailing’s Olympic medal tally to 25.
Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie won silver in the men's skiff at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photos / World Sailing
The new panel will consist of five selectors, with all members contributing across every Olympic class rather than being assigned to individual disciplines.
Selectors will play a key role in the Olympic nomination pathway, assessing athlete performances and recommending sailors and crews to the HPAG in accordance with Yachting New Zealand’s Olympic Nomination Policy. The HPAG will then consider those recommendations and, where appropriate, nominate athletes to the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), with the final decision on Olympic team selection resting with the NZOC.
The process is being led by the HPAG, with appointments to the selection panel to be ratified by the Yachting New Zealand Board.
With the Olympic cycle now approaching its halfway point, Yachting New Zealand is looking to match the continued progress on the water with the same level of strength, experience and expertise around the selection table. The organisation is seeking applicants who can collectively provide a broad range of experience and perspectives. A gender-balanced panel is a key consideration, with a minimum of 40 per cent representation of either gender required.
Yachting New Zealand is seeking a panel that collectively brings experience at the highest levels of Olympic sailing, including Olympic participation and medal-winning experience, alongside strong governance, legal, and high-level decision-making capabilities. Applicants may bring one or more of these skills and experiences.
While sailing experience is highly valued, Yachting New Zealand is also encouraging applications from individuals with expertise gained through governance, law and other high-performance sporting environments.
Applications for the Olympic Selection Panel are now open, with appointments expected to be confirmed following Board approval.
Successful selectors will serve through to the conclusion of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
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