SPEAKER

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LEADERSHIP

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AMBASSADOR

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DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

Barbara Kendall is a national treasure and a trail blazer for women's sport. She competed in 5 Olympic games from 1992 to 2008, winning a medal in every colour. Gold in 1992, silver in 1996 and bronze in 2000. During her career Barbara dominated the world of windsurfing by also winning 11 world championship medals and 25 national championships.


In 2005 Barbara became a member of the International Olympic Committee where she advocated for the voice of athletes and women at the highest political level of sport. During her time from 2005 to 2016 she served on 13 different commissions, executive boards and working groups, including chairing the Oceania Athletes Commission for 12 years. In 2018 she led a very successful New Zealand Youth Olympic Team to the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aries. Barbara is currently a vice president of the International Surfing federation, sits on the International Olympic Committee's woman in sport commission and is a Global trainer for the IOC's Career+ program.


In 2018 Barbara was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of merit (CNZM) for her services to sport leadership, following her Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1993. She received the New Zealand Sport Leadership award in 2014 and became a New Zealand Olympic Committee order holder in 2016. Barbara was inducted into World Sailings hall of fame in 2005.


- Barbara is a popular inspirational keynote speaker and consults corporately on high performance, culture and empowerment.


- Currently Barbara is a director on Arria an Artificial intelligence technology company in data analytics and information delivery.


- Barbara completed a bachelor in Social services and a Diploma in Applied Management in 2013.

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DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

Barbara Kendall is a national treasure and trail blazer for women's sport.


Barbara utterly dominated the sport of windsurfing on the global stage. Being the first New Zealander to compete successfully on the Professional Windsurfing World Tour. She went on to be the first New Zealand Female to compete in 5 Olympic Games winning Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and 11 World Championship medals.


Nicknamed “a Force of nature’ for her visionary, proactive and inclusive leadership amongst the Olympic Sporting governing bodies. This included a 9 year term as an International Olympic Committee member and the first ever chair of the Oceania and Continental Athletes Commissions. She is currently Vice President of the International Surfing Association and a Global Master Educator for the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete365 Career+ program.

Her proudest achievement is raising her two daughters who in 2023 both represented New Zealand at World Championships in their respective sports and being married for over 30 years to her best friend, Shayne Bright.


A Few Fun Facts
- First Female Olympic Champion in Windsurfing 1992
- 5 x Olympian, Olympic Gold, Silver, Bronze Medallist 1992 - 2008
- 11 x World Championship medals
- First NZ female Olympic flag bearer and team captain 1996
- 4 x New Zealand Sportswoman of the year
- Australian Olympic Windsurfing Coach, 2012
- Chef De Mission New Zealand Youth Olympic Team 2018
- High-Performance Coach, NZ Women’s Waterpolo World Championship 2024
- 19 Years of Leadership roles across the International Olympic Movement
- 10 Years Vice President of the International Surfing Association
- First Women inducted into World Sailing Hall of Fame 2007
- Sport New Zealand Leadership Award 2014
- Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2019 (CNZM)


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FOLLOW BARBARA - @BARBSKENDALL

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