​​​​​​​Mel Gordon (Board Chair)

3-year elected term started in 2025.

Born and raised in Wellington, Mel has had the privilege of being deeply involved in netball throughout her life—as a player, official, and parent. Since moving to Nelson in 2017, Mel has become an active member of the Nelson netball community. Mel currently serves as a umpire (NZ Theory), umpire coach, netball coach, and selector, while also contributing to various voluntary committees.

Professionally, Mel brings a wealth of experience in leadership and governance, being a member of the Institute of Directors and Human Resources New Zealand, as well as a Justice of the Peace. Her background in Criminology and Education, along with her work across government agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development and NZ Police in Wellington, has shaped her understanding of both community and organisational dynamics.

In Mel's current role as General Manager: People, Capability, and Culture for a family-owned national company, she focuses on fostering growth and development within the workplace. Additionally, she sits on several boards in the Nelson Tasman region, and previously in Wellington, always striving to make a positive impact.

Mel is passionate about the Nelson netball community and believe strongly that we are kaitiaki (guardians) of this precious space. Mel will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the best outcomes for both our netball players and the dedicated staff supporting our community.

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Sarah Frost 

3-year appointed term started 2024.

Sarah brings a lifelong love of netball and a wealth of experience to her role as Deputy Chair on the Nelson Netball Centre Board. Having played netball since the age of 8, Sarah has both coached and played at premier level in Auckland. Since relocating to Nelson in 2021 with her husband, she’s continued to be an enthusiastic supporter of the game and the wider netball community.

Sarah balances her professional role at Forsyth Barr – a Wealth Management Firm, with being a mum to her one-year-old daughter. Prior to her current role, she built a successful career as an Events Manager.

Outside of netball, Sarah has a strong passion for live theatre, is a Board Member for The Professional Theatre Company Wakatu, and enjoys making the most of the Nelson lifestyle with time spent outdoors.

Melisa Kappely 

3-year appointed term started in 2025.

Melisa, who recently joined the Nelson Netball Board, views this governance role as an exciting opportunity to engage with the community and combine her passion for both sports and netball with her strong commercial expertise.

As a Director and Shareholder of The Global People Collective, a national HR and recruitment company based in Nelson and Christchurch, Melisa has honed her skills in strategy, business operations, stakeholder relations, and building high-performance teams. She has also been actively involved with the Institute of Directors in recent years.

With a keen interest in all sports, Melisa has a personal connection to netball, having played competitively. She also has two teenagers who were competitive rowers and participated in school netball, further deepening her appreciation for sport at all levels.

Kristy Giles

3-year elected term started in 2025

Kristy brings a wealth of experience both on and off the court, making her a valuable addition to our leadership team.

With a deep passion for netball, Kristy has been involved in the sport for decades, serving as a player, representative player, selector, coach, and rep coach. Her extensive involvement at various levels of the game gives her a strong understanding of player development, coaching strategies, and the broader needs of the netball community.

Beyond her contributions to netball, Kristy has built a distinguished professional career, holding senior leadership roles in business and governance. As an Executive Director of a privately owned company and Chairperson of an industry association, she brings significant expertise in strategic planning, financial oversight, HR management, and governance. Her experience in risk assessment, operations, and capacity planning will be instrumental in shaping the future of Nelson Netball.

Kristy is eager to combine her leadership skills with her love of netball to support the continued growth and success of the sport in the Nelson region. We look forward to her contributions and the positive impact she will have on our netball community.

Matt Stevens

2-year appointed term started in 2025​​​​​​​

Matt is a Chartered Accountant, Financial Leader, and Company Director with extensive experience in the business world. Born and raised in Richmond, Nelson, he attended Victoria University in Wellington, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Commercial Law, as well as a post-graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting. Matt began his professional accounting career in Wellington, eventually becoming a Chartered Accountant.

Over the past 13 years, Matt has played a key role in founding and leading Parrotdog Brewing Limited, where he has served in operational roles, including CFO and Commercial Director. He also has a strong background in governance, having served as a Committee Member of the Brewers Guild of New Zealand and earning the status of Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Additionally, he is transitioning into a career as a professional Independent Director.

Recently, Matt and his family returned to Nelson, where he continues to contribute to Parrotdog Brewing as a Non-Executive Director and acts as a fractional CFO for PledgeMe Limited. He is also involved with the Nelson Marlborough branch of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. With a deep love for the outdoors, Matt and his family are enjoying their return to the region, and he looks forward to using his expertise to contribute to the governance of the Nelson Netball Centre and support its local community.

Alison Sheppard

3-year elected term started in 2025.

Alison Sheppard and has been involved with Netball in Nelson for over 10 years as a coach and manager with NCG and now is am excited to extend her involvement as a member of the Board of Nelson Netball Centre. 

Alison lives in Nelson with her husband Greg and their Vizsla Dog Axle. Alison also has two great stepchildren Sophie and Cam. Alison has lived in Nelson since 2011, coming here to advance her career in a dream job and  fell in love with Nelson. 

For the last 20 plus years she has worked as a Corporate Accountant working for many different organisations both here and in the United Kingdom where she lived and travelled for 10 years. During her career she has worked in senior finance positions for multinational and privately owned companies as well as some time working for public sector and charitable organisations.  She is a member of the CAANZ.    

Alison loves sport and all things active. She is really excited to be working with the other members of the Board.

Paaka Westrupp

3-year appointed term started in 2025.

In Paaka's current role as South Island Manager, Health and Safety at Fulton Hogan, he is deeply committed to prioritising people above all else. By centring their strategy around their people, leading and driving their values, and fostering a culture of inclusiveness, fun, leadership, and respect, they effectively accomplish a significant part of our mission. Paaka's approach to serving on the NNC Board is no different.

Before embarking on his career in Health and Safety, he gained extensive experience in recruitment and management at both regional and national levels, as well as a considerable tenure in manufacturing and construction within a locally owned family business. His background as a passionate sportsman, having played at all levels including representative,  equips him with the necessary skills and enthusiasm to contribute meaningfully to the NNC Board.

Paaka's career skills, coupled with his passion for sports, will enable him to deliver effectively and add value to NNC, ensuring the sustainability of netball in Nelson for generations to come. Paaka looks forward to building on the strong foundation that already exists.