Netball New Zealand Appoints Interim CEO and NBA Performance Expert

Netball New Zealand has announced a two leadership appointments to stabilise the organisation following a period of unprecedented administrative rollercoaster.

Jane Patterson ONZM will step in as interim chief executive on 19 January, while high-performance specialist Chelsea Lane joins in the newly-created role of head of Performance – Silver Ferns.

The appointments, announced on yesterday ,15 January 2026, follow the December departure of long-serving CEO Jennie Wyllie and a challenging 2025 marked by the controversial temporary suspension of head coach Dame Noeline Taurua.

Patterson, a highly decorated administrator who served as COO for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, brings immediate stability as the board conducts a global search for a permanent successor.

Commenting on her new roles, newly appointed interim chief executive, Patterson, said: “My immediate focus as interim CEO is to provide stability, clarity and support across the organisation.”

“This is a time to listen, to connect with our staff and communities nationwide, and to ensure netball new zealand is well positioned for the future,” Patterson said. 

The recruitment of Chelsea Lane is a strategic coup for the Silver Ferns program. Lane’s recognisable CV includes senior roles with the Golden State Warriors during their championship-winning years and the Atlanta Hawks.

Her expertise in aligning performance, culture, and sports medicine is seen as a direct response to the “high-performance environment” concerns that surfaced last year.

Dame Noeline Taurua, who was reinstated after a player-led review, welcomed the addition to her staff.

“Chelsea’s proven ability to align performance, people and culture will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the Silver Ferns programme,” she noted.

For the organisation, these moves are essential as they prepare for a high-stakes 2026 international calendar, including the Commonwealth Games in July.

Netball NZ chair, Matt Whineray, emphasized that the new leadership structure allows the teams to stay focused on delivering commercial and on-court results during a pivotal transition year for the sport in Aotearoa.

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