BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DIANNE LASENBY - CHAIR
Dianne Lasenby has been a trustee of Sport Auckland for over 10 years and currently Chair for the past 18 months.

She has vast experience in both private and non-profit sectors, Financial Management, Risk, Compliance, Health and Safety, Marketing and Sponsorship and possesses strong stakeholder and relationship manager skills.

She has been CEO of Auckland Netball Centre for a number of years. A member of the Institute if Directors, Dianne is a trustee of Bruce Pulman Park, Kootuitui Papakura, Chair of the Stars Netball Management Committee, a member of the Franklin Justices of the Peace Association, being a Justice of the Peace herself.

GAYE BRYHAM
MA (Applied) (Victoria) Recreation and Leisure Studies
BPhEd (Otago)
PhD Candidate in Sport Leadership (AUT)

Gaye is the Deputy Head of the School of Sport and Recreation at AUT. She has over twenty years experience in the Sport and Recreation sector. She is a Trustee of the Millennium Operating Board and sits on two Advisory Boards namely the Aktive Auckland Tertiary Advisory Group and the Aktive Auckland Coaching & Talent Development Advisory Group.

Gaye was a Board member of the North Island Academy of Sport before it was merged into the current High Performance Sport NZ.

KELLY WILLIAMS
(LLB (Hons), LLM)

Kelly Williams is a senior lawyer at Buddle Findlay, Auckland. Buddle Findlay is a national commercial law firm. She practices in banking and finance law and is part of the Insolvency, Financial Services and Asia Business team. Kelly has over 10 years legal experience and acts for corporate borrowers,  banks and financial institutions.  She is also the secretary of the Pacific Lawyers Association Executive.

Kelly is Samoan, grew up in Wellington and has spent time working in the Cook Islands at the beginning of her legal career. Kelly's family now live in Auckland and she has 3 primary school children who play a multitude of different sports.​​​​​​​

Kelly has a particular interest in using her legal and governance skills to promote better pathways and lifestyles for Pacific peoples, other minority groups, women and girls.  

TABETHA ELLIOTT
Tabetha is a school teacher at Stanhope Road School, a trustee on the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust, and a mum of three. She holds a Master’s in Business and brings strong commercial understanding and a solid governance background to her role as a trustee.

Tabetha is passionate about the power of play and creating meaningful connections for youth. She believes in the role of sport and active recreation in supporting wellbeing and building stronger communities. Her experience across education, governance, and family life helps guide her contribution to Sport Auckland’s vision of active communities for life.

SANIT KUMAR
Sanit is a transformative IT executive celebrated for seamlessly aligning advanced technological solutions with comprehensive business strategies. As a forward-thinking leader, his mission is to instigate positive transformation, boost efficiency and cultivate an environment for innovation and advance business capabilities.

Sanit is an active community participant, volunteering as a Business Mentor at Business Mentors NZ and a Board Trustee at Henderson Budget Service.

Sanit holds an MBA from The University of Auckland and is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. 

Sanit has been involved with Sport Auckland since April 2024 and is also the Chair of the Audit & Risk subcommittee. 

DAYNA TARAMAI
Dayna Taramai is a strategic operator and kaupapa-driven leader with extensive experience across the public, education, and not-for-profit sectors. She brings a strong background in operations, governance, and systems design, with a proven ability to turn vision into sustainable action and measurable outcomes.

As a Tangata Pasifika who stands with Mana Whenua, Dayna provides valuable cultural insight that strengthens decision-making and ensures diverse voices are represented at the governance table. She is particularly focused on equity, wellbeing, and community empowerment, and has led initiatives that have scaled nationally, improved youth outcomes, and built high-trust relationships across schools, funders, and whānau.

At Sport Auckland, Dayna is committed to contributing to her local community by ensuring programmes and strategies are responsive, inclusive, and impactful. She brings expertise in strategy and partnership to help shape opportunities that support healthier, more active lives for all Aucklanders2024 and is also the Chair of the Audit & Risk subcommittee. 

ALEX FINDLAY
BSc, MPlanPrac(Hons) (Auckland)
DipMgmt (Canterbury)

Alex Findlay is the Director of Expanse Ltd, a resource management consultancy she founded in 2006. Her work spans governance, project feasibility, stakeholder engagement, community consultation, negotiation, and urban development—with advisory roles across both public and private sectors. 

Alex is a member of the Auckland Council Urban Design Panel, where she contributes to the review and guidance of significant development proposals across the region.

Outside of her professional practice, Alex has been actively involved with Cornwall Cricket Club for over a decade, serving as a convenor and committee member for the past eight years.

Alex is a qualified sports chaplain.