Operations Team:

Michaela Shaw - Operations Manager

michaela@tennisotago.org

Our Board:

Chairperson - Mike Smith

Treasurer: 

Members:

Nathan White

Tom De Pelsemaeker 

Peter Drew

Emily Fanning

Mike Smith (Chair): Mike is a new member of the Otago Board and brings experience in community governance and strategic leadership from a range of international settings. He is an air traffic controller by day, and while he does not play competitive tennis, he does break out the tennis racquet a few times a year socially.

Mike also serves on the board of John McGlashan College, the Dunedin Tap Dancing Society Committee, and the Lotteries Commission South Island Distribution Committee.

He is looking forward to helping the Board and Tennis Otago staff work together to reinvigorate tennis in the Otago region.

Nathan White: Nathan has a few seasons under his belt but still considers himself a newcomer to the game. Previously, he spent several decades on a squash court.

Nathan’s work and sporting life have enabled him to connect, form partnerships, and collaborate with many sporting and community groups. He has a keen interest in growing and developing groups and organisations alike, and he brings these qualities to the Tennis Otago Board.

Nathan shares Tennis Otago’s vision, and his immediate focus is to help re-establish club connections and enhance club capability so everyone can play their part in growing the game. Dunedin is fortunate to have a dedicated tennis centre, and he believes there are further opportunities to maximise the venue and ensure it remains an asset and sporting hub for the city.

Nathan sees tennis as an addictive sport with a community full of great people. He would like to see the social side of the sport buzzing. To him, tennis - and sport in general - is more than just a game; it is about social interaction and great friendships.

Tom De Pelsemaeker: Tom is originally from Belgium but has called Dunedin home for more than 20 years. He and his wife live on a lifestyle block on the Taieri with their son, while their daughter is flatting in Dunedin while studying at university - although she still turns up at dinner time, so they are not entirely convinced they have finished the parenting job.

In his day job, Tom leads a small team of policy planners. Outside work, he has been involved with Tennis Otago’s Junior Committee since 2021 and has served on the Board since 2022.

Tom also played some tennis as a teenager, but these days he is more likely to support the sport from the sidelines than be out on the court. While he still enjoys the occasional hit, Tennis Otago commitments, family life, and lifestyle block duties tend to keep him busy.

Moving to New Zealand taught Tom how important community connections are. One of the things he loves most about tennis is its ability to bring people together, regardless of age, ability, background, or culture. He is passionate about helping the sport grow across Otago and ensuring it continues to be a welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable activity for everyone - from young children picking up a racquet for the first time to lifelong players who simply enjoy being part of the tennis community.

Peter Drew: Peter grew up playing and coaching tennis in Dunedin and has spent most of his working career in sport development and sport management, either in tennis or other sports.

Peter spent five years working for Tennis Australia and then 15 years with British Tennis, including nine years as CEO of Tennis Wales. Since returning to New Zealand, he has served as CEO of Wellington Hockey and, more recently, as General Manager of Basketball Otago in Dunedin.

Peter currently works with the NZ Outdoor Instructors Association and also serves on the Swimming NZ Board. He previously served on the Tennis Otago Board from 2020 to 2022 and is keen to support Otago tennis as best he can during his current term on the Board.

Emily Fanning: Emily is a former professional tennis player who represented New Zealand at both junior and senior levels. She competed in all four junior Grand Slam events, achieved a career-high ITF junior ranking of No. 38, and made her Billie Jean King Cup debut for New Zealand at age 16.

After playing collegiate tennis in the United States and spending two years on the professional tour, Emily returned to Dunedin, where she completed a PhD in Food Science at the University of Otago. She has remained actively involved in tennis through coaching and supporting New Zealand junior players at international competitions.

Emily currently works at the University of Otago and is excited to bring her experience in high-performance sport, player development, and tennis to the Tennis Otago Board.