Chief given top leadership award

AWARDED: Brent Eastwood was awarded the C K Doig Leadership Award.

Outstanding leadership by Sport Northland chief executive Brent Eastwood has been recognised at the annual Sport and Recreation Awards in Wellington.

Mr Eastwood was awarded the C K Doig Leadership Award - recognising outstanding leadership by an executive sport and recreation leader.

"Brent has been the driving force behind the redevelopment of a number of key community facilities, creating a remarkable legacy and helping to propel participation in sport in the Northland region," said Sport NZ chief executive Peter Miskimmin. These included the Whangarei Aquatic Centre, ASB Leisure Centre, ASB Sports Arena, and more recently the Kauri Coast Sportsville project.

"Brent is a former rugby representative and now continues to represent Northland off the field. Everything he does is driven by the desire to get Northlanders more active, firmly believing that sport can enhance and enrich people and communities."

Sport Northland was also a finalist for the commercial partnership award, along with Top Energy, for their water safety programme, which has been going since 1997.

Mr Eastwood said he was not told that he was getting the award and happened to be on his feet with a glass of wine when he heard "Northland" in the award announcer's preamble.

"I thought, 'I wonder who's getting that and then he mentioned Otago University and it hit me, he was talking about me - and that in about three minutes I would be making a speech in front of hundreds of people, a speech I was totally unprepared for'," he laughed.

Mr Eastwood said it was great to be recognised by his peers. He has also been congratulated by the Sport Northland board of trustees, especially a proud board chairman, Chris Biddles.

"This is a wonderful achievement for Brent and Sport Northland," he said, adding Sport Northland being a finalist for the commercial partnership award made it "a very good night for Sport Northland".

Mr Eastwood's award includes a grant for professional development.