Marg Foster: former Silver Fern on Netball New Zealand's Jennie Wyllie resigning

New Zealand's most scrutinised sports administrator of 2025 has resigned with immediate effect.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie has been in the spotlight over the drawn-out Dame Noeline Taurua saga - where the Silver Ferns coach was temporarily suspended for high performance environment issues.

Former Silver Fern Marg Foster says this is an opportune time for the sporting body to have a proper reset.

"Over in Australia, with what they did with Netball Australia - they went through this situation and they've got the most amazing Liz Ellis running the show with her board and they're just flying. They are accelerating at huge rates, which is incredible." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Jenny Whiley is out at Netball and Z. She's leaving
with immediate effect after nine years as chief executive and
has acknowledged quote challenges along the way under the spotlight
of the Dame nol Saga former self with Fern Mark
Foster with me tonight, Mark, good evening.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good evening, Merry Christmas.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
Merry Christmas to you too. Are you a little more
mery knowing that Jenny Wiley's out.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Well, yeah, it's good. It's a great time to be
able to reset and move forward and like, you know, yeah,
I think it's obviously it's only going to be good
for our sport. We need to do something.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Do you think that there will be more from where
this came? You know, all the board go or some
of the board members go to should they Well.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Hopefully in that respect, because you know, when you're bringing
fresh change, you've got to have people that really support
your vision and you know in there and you're working collectively.
So it's an absolute oportuing time to you know, like
to have a leets sweep out. And if you look
at it over in Australia with what they did with

(01:05):
Netble Australia, they did this, They went through this situation
and they've got the most amazing Liz Alice running the
show with her board and they're just flying. They are
accelerating at a huge rate, which is incredible. And that's
why don't we just use the same template and then
just add a little bit of Kiwi.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Twiss to it. I like, what the plan you're laying
out for us here, marg Who do you think? Who
do you think could be a good CEO?

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, look, I think it's obviously someone that's got those
those skills, that's really passionate about netball and has got
the energy and you know, like you know what it's
like being a leader. You know, you've got to be
able to walk alongside but also be flashing the slip
and torch where you're going and the tunnel or wherever
we are going. And I think that light just kind

(01:58):
of went out and we didn't have that same direction. So,
you know, hoping that some amazing people male or female,
that have a real passion for our sport really step
up and think, yeah, I want to take take it
on board because it is a big I mean, it
is a challenge, but you've got to surround yourself by

(02:18):
the right people.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
You're not looking for a job, are you, mag No,
absolutely not.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
But I'd love to be part of the board, like
just to put my fifty cents worth in because I've
always been outspoken. But but obviously it's all about the sport,
like about netborns. Never ever, so you know, like you've
truly presents itself on the air.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
Well, yes, you're simply trying to line that up tonight, mag,
How good to have you on the shows.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Good to share.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
It's almost Merg Foster's former silver firm and very cheeky. Indeed.
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