Kirstie Klingenberg

About Me

“As a New Zealand Olympian and former elite athlete, I bring firsthand experience of competing on the world stage and a deep passion for the development of sport in Aotearoa, particularly women’s sport. I am committed to contributing to strong, future-focused governance that supports both organisational integrity and athlete wellbeing. I am a psychologist, currently registered under the intern scope and on track to register under the clinical scope in December. My professional expertise spans mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding, sexual harm and athlete mental health. I founded and co-chaired the Cycling New Zealand Athlete Voice Committee, where I worked to strengthen athlete representation and drive meaningful organisational change. I have completed leadership training through Oxford and recently completed the Governance 101 course through Sport Tutor, further enhancing my governance and strategic leadership skills. I bring a values-driven, collaborative approach informed by both my sporting background and professional experience, and I am passionate about advancing equitable, sustainable, and athlete-centred sport in New Zealand. ”