NZC is committed to developing the depth and capability of female leaders and female-focused leaders across the cricket network, through providing and facilitating development opportunities at all levels of the sport.
The Female Leadership Development Framework is focused on amplifying and enhancing the off-field visibility and capability of females, and those focused on championing and developing females, across the key areas of governance, administration, umpiring and coaching.
Underpinned by our vision ‘a game for all New Zealanders; a game for life’, a key factor to our success is ‘normalising’ female involvement in all aspects of cricket and developing leaders who are capable, visible and active across the cricket network.
Female Leadership Development Framework Initiatives
The Contestable Fund is one of the key initiatives within NZC's Female Leadership Development Framework, aiming to encourage locally-led activity with national support.
Under this initiative, funding is available to Major Associations, District Associations, Clubs or Schools on an annual basis.
The contestable fund successfully commenced during the 2021/22 season - since then, 54 leadership development initiatives have been supported throughout New Zealand.
Applications for the 2025/26 Fund open on Thursday 26th June, 5pm.
Centered around the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, the Aspiring Female Umpire Development Programme commenced during the 2021/22 season and provides development opportunities to female umpires and bridges the gap between community cricket appointments and domestic cricket appointments.
The Pathway to Performance Women in Coaching Programme is a key aspect of NZC's Female Development Framework.
The programmes aims to provide development opportunities to women coaches, specifically those who are currently coaching at the community level and have aspirations to develop and move into performance coaching roles. NZC is proud to have supported 30 coaches through the programme to date and looks forward to providing on going support and development opportunities for programme alumni during the 2025/26 season..
Alongside developing coaches and umpires for the next level, NZC is also committed to developing our 'off field' workforce - providing leadership development opportunities for senior leaders across the cricket network.
Over the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, a select group of female leaders from across the cricket network have gathered together, with a focus on connection and development.
