It's in the genetic make-up of Raelene Castle to take on a big sporting challenge.
Castle is Netball New Zealand's new chief executive, appointed as the sport enters one of its most monumental eras - the Silver Ferns defending their world title at home in November, and the
new Tasman Trophy starting next April.
Castle's father, Bruce Castle, captained the Kiwis league side in the 1960s, and her mother, world champion bowler and Commonwealth Games medallist Marlene Castle, has represented New Zealand for 16 years.
Castle, 36, is in her own right a capable bowler, pairing with her mother at the national open championships, and making the Auckland team after only a year in the sport. And she's not new to netball - playing for Counties Manukau in representative age-group teams as a teenager.
But it's not her sporting parentage that clinched her the job - Castle has wide experience of the corporate world and sports event management.
Her latest job was with Telecom, as head of business marketing, and she has also worked in marketing, sales and communications for the BNZ, Southern Cross and Fuji Xerox NZ. Her involvement with sports event management and sponsorship - including three Olympics, two rugby World Cups and an America's Cup - helped secure her new role.
This, she says, is her "perfect job" - one she has been eyeing for the past seven years.
"All my career, I've hoped I could bring everything I've learned back into a sports role. It may sound corny, but this is the dream job for me," she says.
"My brief is to continue to grow and support what's already in place."
Castle admits to being "one of those people who strives to do well in whatever challenge I take on", and although she has ambitions to further her personal sporting career in bowls, that will have to take a backseat to netball while she is chief executive.
Castle takes over the role from Shelley McMeeken, who stepped down in February after seven years to pursue a career in performing arts corporate relations.
