Netball: CEO ready to fill big shoes

With all the fallout and negativity around Sheryl Dawson's missing out on the chief executive role of the new Netball Waikato-Bay of Plenty Zone, it has been easy to forget about who did get the role.

Tim Hamilton started in the job this week and the 43-year-old is well aware of the controversy that has raged since his appointment was made public, including criticism that too many males are involved with the Magic franchise.

But Hamilton does not agree with that thought process and is looking forward to the new role with infectious enthusiasm.

"I am delighted they have chosen me to lead this new zone structure," said Hamilton.

"I understand that people have different views and I respect those views, but I have had some of the best times in my sporting administration career in netball and working predominantly with females to achieve great results.

"I personally don't think it makes a difference.

"Everyone adds different kinds of value and, with the various skills and experience I have got, I look forward to doing that."

Hamilton has the utmost respect for Dawson and what she has achieved.

"I know Sheryl and have worked with her in previous roles within netball, so clearly from that perspective and from what I know from the roles she has played from community levels right through to the international level, she is a huge supporter of the game.

"She has done so much for the game and I acknowledge that and I salute and respect that.

"It is full speed ahead for me really and I want to achieve the best I can for the sport, working with the people for the people.

"That is my commitment and that is the job I took on in this new zone role within Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay.

"I am determined to get this right, not just for myself but the people involved in the game like the contributors, the supporters and the sponsors."

Hamilton has a strong affinity with Tauranga, where he spent some formative years.

He had his last year of secondary school in 1986 at Tauranga Boys College after earlier living in Manila in the Philippines.

"I finished school in Tauranga and got my first job here at State Insurance. I was heavily involved in sport, and played a lot of cricket for Albion.

"I really enjoyed coaching junior rugby teams at Tauranga Sports and was also a referee for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Referees Association, based at the domain.

"I met a Tauranga girl and got married here. My in-laws own a very successful business here in Bethlehem Coachlines, so I have a few connections here.

"So this is very much a situation of coming home for me and, when I saw the opportunity to apply for the role, I was pleased as this is a special place for me."

Sport is a lifelong passion for Hamilton.

"The fact that I started as a volunteer here and coached junior rugby when I was only a teenager shows what it means to me," he said.

"Later in life, professional roles in sport came along but it definitely all started as a volunteer in Tauranga."

Hamilton has a varied background in sports administration, particularly in rugby, basketball and netball.

He was chief executive of the Wanganui and Northland rugby unions, and had time on the Blues board.

"In 2006, I got involved with netball and ran Netball North Harbour and the natural pathway after that was to be CEO of a national sporting organisation, which came along with Basketball New Zealand in Wellington."

He was in that role for two-and-a-half years.

He has set himself a goal of visiting all 25 netball centres that make up the large zonal territory to "work with them to see what is important, what we need to work on together, and obviously part of that is the Magic environment".