Panel Members

Michael Heron QC

Michael Heron QC has appeared as lead counsel in all New Zealand Courts and many tribunals.

He was formerly New Zealand’s Solicitor General, CEO of the Crown Law Office and responsible for advice to all arms of government.

Before that he was a partner at law firms Russell McVeagh and Meredith Connell. He worked in London and Tokyo as a solicitor for Allen & Overy and is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.

His focus is on matters involving all arms of Government and its regulators; conducting independent inquiries, reviews and investigations (and providing advice on them); and sporting matters.

He is chair of Immediation New Zealand Limited, an online dispute resolution service. He is a board member of NZ RegCo, the independent regulatory body for the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX).

Michael is National Commissioner for New Zealand Cricket and a member of the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct Commission and Disputes Resolution Committee. He is a judicial officer for New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR.

He acts for a range of sport participants and is a member of the panel of mediators for Immediation’s Sport NZ mediation panel.

Professor Sarah Leberman MNZM

Sarah is a Professor in Leadership in the School of Management at Massey University.

She has held various roles over the past 30 years including Recreation Centre Manager, Head of School of Management, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Massey Business School, and Dean Academic for Massey University.

Sarah’s research interests are women and leadership in sport and academia, and the transfer of learning. She was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in 2007/2008 at the Tucker Centre for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, University of Minnesota focusing on mothers as coaches.

In 2016 her co-edited book ‘Women in Sport Leadership: Research & Practice’ was published. She is the Co-Founder of Women in Sport Aotearoa and current Board Co-Chair.

Sarah has been involved in sport all her life, as a participant, coach, administrator, educator, researcher and board member. She was the Manager of the Women’s Junior Black Sticks (2006-2013) and Stand-in Manager for the Black Sticks (2010-2013). Sarah is a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors with board experience with Volleyball New Zealand, Western Netball, Hockey Manawatu and New Zealand University Sport. She is a current member of the Massey University Council. From 2000-2006, Sarah was an Athlete Career Education Advisor for the New Zealand Academy of sport – Central. Sarah has had practical involvement with a number of NSOs including, basketball, hockey, netball, rowing and tennis.

Sarah was a finalist in the 2016 Westpac ’Women of Influence’ awards in the diversity category for her work in facilitating opportunities for girls and women to exercise leadership at all levels. In 2018, Sarah won the NEXT Woman of the Year Sport category for her contribution to sport in Aotearoa. Sarah was the ZONTA New Zealand Woman of The Biennium for 2018-2020 and in 2020 was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to women, sport and the tertiary sector.

Dr Lesley Nicol ONZM

Lesley is a specialist Sport and Exercise Physician, with a background in physiotherapy and elite sport.

While completing her degrees in Physiotherapy and Medicine, Lesley had a stellar career for the Silver Ferns Netball team. She played 110 tests, captained the team and won a Netball World Championships title in 2003. She has attended three Commonwealth Games – two as an athlete and one as athlete representative for The Commonwealth Games Federation. She captained the Otago Rebels, Southern Sting, Otago and Southland Netball teams winning seven National titles. Lesley was inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

Lesley has worked with top level teams including the Silver Ferns, Southern Sting and the Tactix, and at the Australian Institute of Sport prior to returning to Christchurch. She has been on the boards of Drug Free Sport NZ, New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), NZOC Athletes Commission, The Commonwealth Games Federation, and is currently a member of the NZOC Selection Committee.

Her specialist interests include female sports medicine, adolescent and paediatric sports injuries and high performance sport.

Genevieve Macky

Gen Macky is an Olympic silver medallist in rowing. After seven years in the high performance system, she retired from the sport after the Olympics in 2016.

Through her sporting career, Gen completed a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and Human Resource Management through Massey University.

Since her retirement from professional sport, Gen has moved into a career in Commercial Banking in the Waikato.

Outside of her profession, Gen has been a co-opted member of the Board of Rowing New Zealand and is currently on the Board of Athletics New Zealand.