Pacific Rugby Players (PRP) is proud to announce the appointment of its first female director, Annette Fale (MNZM).

Fale’s 25 years’ experience in leadership roles in the not for profit and charitable sectors, as well as her involvement and commitment to the Pasifika community, see her equipped with the required skills needed to assist the organisation with advancing professional support for Pacific Island players.

Annette Fale is the first female director of Pacific Rugby Players. Pictured here at her investiture ceremony as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in May 2019.
She is looking forward to being part of an organisation she views as being guided by strong values. She points out the PRPs free membership model which sees them with a membership around 800 strong across the world. “It’s about people first. This is supported by a clear strategy that is purposeful for the development of not only (rugby) players, but their families and the wider community.”

 

Chairperson Hale T Pole commented, “Through the recruitment process, it was clear Annette has huge experience and skills to add value to our organisation.” Fale considers her vast professional and personal networks played a part in her successful appointment.

 

Her past work has seen her acknowledged with an Emerging Leader Award through The Sir Peter Blake Trust in 2007, she was a finalist in the Community Service and Social Enterprise category for the Westpac Women of Influence Awards in 2013 and in May, was invested as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work with youth and Pacific peoples .

 

Pacific Rugby Players CEO Aayden Clarke says, “Annette is such a great contributor to Pasifika communities and has skills and knowledge that will help us continue to grow and improve our support for players and their families. It’s exciting for us to have her amongst our governance group.

 

Fale hopes to bring “fresh insights” to the table with a personal focus on the financial sustainability, commercial income and making sure the high number of women players across Pacific nations are all supported by the governance and policy frameworks of the PRP board.

“It’s really about being part of a community. Sport is an extension of community. The bottom line is that Pacific people have amazing natural talent and the ability to be great. I’m really excited to have this opportunity to help and contribute to this community in this way,” says Fale.

The mother of two has been married to Epati for 17 years. She is deeply connected and committed to their wider aiga who hail from the Samoan villages of Viala and Vailuutai.