Outgoing General Manager Luciana Garcia is excited and proud of Sport Southland’s evolution. 

Luciana, who is moving to a new role as Women and Girls consultant with Sport New Zealand, has seen a significant change in the regional sports trust. 

“Over the past six years I’ve seen a huge shift from a sport organisation to a community organisation that uses sport and active recreation as a vehicle,” she said. 

“Seeing how people have embraced that shift across the organisation has been really cool. We’ve also seen the community and our stakeholders respond really positively to that as well.” 

Luciana, who is originally from Uruguay, first arrived in Invercargill in 2010 to coach both a local synchronised swimming club and the national team. She coached swimmers to the Commonwealth Games, FINA World Championships and Oceania Championships before joining Sport Southland, initially in the coaching and capability space, in 2015. 

“Although this is the job that I’ve been in the longest in my career, it’s gone really quickly. I’ve had so many opportunities to learn and to develop and grow.” 

Sport Southland’s marquee events, including the ICC Surf to City, MLT Moonshine Trail and Mitre 10 Mega Tough Kid were annual highlights, she said. 

“It's a space that we keep evolving and improving and looking at ways to do things differently. Moonshine, Surf and Tough Kid are probably my three favourite days of the year.” 

At an initiative level, there has also been the introduction of the Made to Move pilot, which began in Invercargill and Bluff primary schools and this year is expanding into eastern Southland. 

“While we had done work in the primary school space, this was a different approach and there were a lot of learnings, both personally and professionally,” she said. 

“Although Healthy Famillies Invercargill was here when I started, seeing how the team’s community-led approach has influenced the rest of Sport Southland has been really exciting as well.  

“We are really lucky to have the people that we do. Our people bring so many strengths and so much passion for the work that they do, it gives everyone the opportunity to learn from each other and challenge thinking.” 

Sport Southland chief executive Brendon McDermott said Luciana had made an outstanding impact both internally and externally during her time with Sport Southland and would do the same in her new role. 

“Luciana has contributed a huge amount to Sport Southland in a number of roles over the past six years and, while we will certainly miss her, it’s exciting to see Luciana take the opportunity to contribute at a national level in an area she’s really passionate about.” 

Luciana will continue to be based in Invercargill and has a busy year ahead. 

The Women and Girls consultant role includes managing funding, influencing investment and supporting national sports organisations – New Zealand is set to host World Cups in cricket, football and rugby over the next 12 months. 

“It’s a new role and that brings lots of challenges and opportunities. One of the things that excites me most about the role, it’s a kaupapa which is close to my heart. As a young girl and then a young women and now, I’ve been on that journey growing in and through sport. Sport has played a hugely positive role in my life and being in a position where I can help other girls and women to get more opportunities to have a have a positive journey is something that rocks my boat.” 

Article added: Thursday 28 January 2021