SPORT ADMINISTRATOR CREATES PATHWAYS FOR SAMOAN FEMALE ATHLETES

Even at an early age, Philippa Te Hira-Matatia knew and appreciated the inherent power of sport to challenge social norms. With this as her guiding force, she attended the University of Auckland while also representing New Zealand in basketball and netball and Samoa in touch rugby.

After earning a graduate diploma in business and administration from Massey University, Philippa began her career in sports management in 2016 when she co-founded the Samoa Institute of Sport. As a director, Philippa focuses on creating viable pathways into sport for Samoan athletes and has completed organizing the XVI Pacific Games as head of the marketing and communications team. Philippa seeks to develop knowledge and networks that will help her implement programs that combine sport and education for female athletes, while also preparing them to serve as mentors for future female scholar-athletes.

For GSMP: Empowering Women through Sports 2019, Philippa will be mentored by Laura Dixon, Head of External Relations; Meredith Collier, Corporate Communications Manager; and Veronica Oviedo, Associate Marketing Manager for Spurs Sports and Entertainment, and their team in San Antonio, Texas.