Raelene Castle

Former CEO, NRL Canterbury Bulldogs.

Raelene Castle is variously described as one of the country’s top sports administrators and the most influential woman in New Zealand sport. As chief executive of Netball New Zealand, she transformed the organisation into a strategically focused business and helped netball grow significantly in its profile, commercial investment and as an employer. Under her stewardship, the sport now has a broadcast deal and elite sponsorship agreement to rival male codes and a semi-professional trans-tasman netball competition.

Prior to taking the helm at Netball New Zealand in mid-2007, Castle was head of business marketing at Telecom after holding senior positions at Fuji Xerox, Southern Cross Healthcare and BNZ.

Raelene has extensive event management and sponsorship experience with involvement in the sponsorship of the Rugby World Cup, the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association from 1995 to 2000 and was a member of the America’s Cup 2000 event marketing committee.

Raelene’s inclusive style of leadership and ability to build good strategic partnerships has benefitted every organisation she has touched. Raelene has now moved across to Australia and is currently the CEO of the Canterbury Bulldogs NRL team.