Raelene castle biography for kids
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What would you do with your life if you had unlimited financial resources? She joined the organisation in December 2020 after seven years working in Australia as Chief Executive of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and then Chief Executive of Rugby Australia.
What is Raelene Castle salary?
Castle, who earns a reported $800,000 annual salary , has also come under fire for her failure to broker a new broadcast deal after Fox Sports walked away from the negotiating table in frustration.
Does Raelene Castle have a partner?
Greg Jones
Sport New Zealand CEO (2020–present)
Raelene Castle was appointed Chief Executive of Sport New Zealand on November 3, 2020, becoming the first woman to lead the organization, which oversees funding and investment in sports and recreation across the country.[46][47] She commenced the role on December 15, 2020, succeeding Peter Miskimmin after his 11-year tenure.[48] In March 2022, Castle's position was extended to encompass leadership of the merged Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand entities, solidifying her oversight of both community-level and elite sports development.[49]Under Castle's leadership, Sport New Zealand advanced its Women and Girls Action Plan, launched in alignment with the government's 2018 strategy to address participation inequities, with a roadmap extending progress through June 2024 and emphasizing targeted investments to increase female involvement in sport and active recreation.[50] The organization released its Strategic Plan for 2024–2028, prioritizing enhanced play, active recreation, and sport opportunities in schools and rural areas, including initiatives like the Rural Travel Fund and investments in community spaces and facilities such as Hawaiki Hou.[51] High Performance Sport New Zealand, under her group leadership, announced a $131 million direct investment in targeted sports, coupled with efforts to bolster mental health literacy and athlete empowerment across national sports organizations.[52]Castle has overseen annual New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards, recognizing contributions in categories like community impact and elite performance; in 2025, winners were highlighted for advancing participation amid sector challenges.[53] A 2024 report under her tenure summarized key trends in the play, active recreation, and sport system, informing adaptive strategies for sustained growth in physical activity and wellbeing.[54] Her focus has included fostering resilience in the sector, as evidenced by public statements on leveraging challenges for innovation in engagement and high-performance pathways.[55] As of October 2025, Castle continues in the role, guiding Sport New Zealand's contributions to national wellbeing through evidence-based physical activity promotion.[1]Key controversies
Israel Folau dismissal and free speech debates
In April 2019, Israel Folau, a star player for the New South Wales Waratahs and Australian Wallabies, posted on Instagram warning that certain groups, including "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters," were destined for hell unless they repented and turned to Jesus, citing his interpretation of biblical verses such as Galatians 5:19-21.[56][57] This followed similar posts by Folau in 2017 and 2018 expressing his evangelical Christian views on sin and salvation, which had previously drawn criticism but not contract termination.[58]Rugby Australia (RA), under CEO Raelene Castle, responded by issuing Folau a show-cause notice on April 11, 2019, alleging a high-level breach of the RA code of conduct, which required players to uphold values of respect, inclusivity, and not bringing the game into disrepute.[57] Castle publicly described the situation as a "huge dilemma," noting Folau had been warned previously for "walking the line" and that his comments disrespected teammates by forcing them to defend the organization amid backlash.[59] After a three-day code of conduct hearing in May 2019, totaling over 22 hours, an independent panel unanimously directed the termination of Folau's four-year, A$5 million contract on May 16, 2019, effective immediately, though Folau had 72 hours to appeal.[56][57] Folau declined to appeal internally, citing lost faith in RA's impartiality, and instead pursued an unfair dismissal claim through the Fair Work Commission, seeking up to A$14 million in compensation for alleged religious discrimination and breach of contract.[60]The dismissal ignited widespread debate in Australia over free speech, religious liberty, and the enforceability of organizational conduct codes in professional sports.One of the main heads from the Organization is Raelene Castle. These experiences laid the platform for me to move across to Sports Administration where I could bring together my commercial experience and my deep passion for Sport. Both of her parents represented New Zealand in the sporting arena (her father in Rugby League, and her mother in Lawn Bowls), so it is probably unsurprising that she notes ‘sport’ as her family’s religion… “Sport showed us the value of hard work and how diverse communities can come together - both winning and losing in sport teaches humility and resilience.
Her initial role was as marketing manager at Fuji Xerox New Zealand, a printing and document management company, where she served from 1991 to 1999, accumulating eight years of experience in developing marketing strategies and commercial operations.[6][15]Following a period that included additional professional development, Castle joined the Bank of New Zealand as communications manager from 2003 to 2004, focusing on internal and external communications initiatives within the banking sector.[6] She then advanced to Telecom New Zealand (now Spark New Zealand), heading the business marketing department from 2005 until June 2007.
I have been fortunate to work with many amazing people and organisations over my career.”
Raelene is a human mammal.
They challenge and support me in equal measure. Sports funded by Sport NZ now have well over 75% compliance.
Do you have a favourite quote? In this senior position, she oversaw marketing efforts targeted at business clients, enhancing her expertise in sales, communications, and strategic commercial growth.[6][9]These roles at major New Zealand corporations provided Castle with a foundation in high-level marketing and communications, emphasizing commercial acumen and stakeholder engagement, which she later applied in sports administration.[2] Prior to transitioning to Netball New Zealand as CEO in mid-2007, her corporate tenure was marked by progressive responsibilities in competitive business environments.[9]Sports administration career
Netball New Zealand CEO (2007–2013)
Raelene Castle was appointed Chief Executive of Netball New Zealand in June 2007, succeeding previous leadership amid a transitional period for the sport.[9][16] Her tenure coincided with the conclusion of the domestic National Bank Cup competition in 2007, which marked the end of a regional league format.[16]Under Castle's leadership, Netball New Zealand underwent a strategic overhaul, evolving into a more business-oriented entity focused on long-term sustainability.[17] She played a pivotal role in establishing the ANZ Championship, a trans-Tasman professional league launched in 2008 in partnership with Netball Australia, which replaced national competitions and aimed to elevate the sport's competitiveness and visibility.[18][6] Castle also served as a board director for the ANZ Championship, contributing to its governance during the inaugural years.[6] This period saw the introduction of professional pay structures for athletes, enhancing the viability of elite netball careers.[18]Castle's initiatives drove significant growth in netball's participation rates and public profile in New Zealand, solidifying its status as the country's largest female participation sport.[17] She departed the role in 2013 after six years, transitioning to the CEO position at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Australia's National Rugby League.[6][19]Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs CEO (2013–2017)
Raelene Castle was appointed chief executive officer of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on May 29, 2013, becoming the first woman to hold the position at a National Rugby League (NRL) club; she commenced duties on July 15, 2013, succeeding Todd Greenberg.[20][21] Her recruitment emphasized her prior success at Netball New Zealand, where she had driven commercial and broadcast revenue growth, with expectations she would similarly expand the Bulldogs' revenue streams and fan base.[19][22]Under Castle's leadership, the Bulldogs qualified for the NRL finals series in three seasons: 2013 (finishing sixth), 2014 (seventh), and 2016 (eighth).[6] The club recorded consolidated revenues of approximately AUD 109 million in 2016, yielding a profit after tax of AUD 10.8 million, alongside membership growth to 20,703—a 14% increase from 2015, generating AUD 2.2 million in revenue (excluding GST).[23] In 2017, revenues stood at AUD 105 million with a profit after tax of AUD 5.3 million, reflecting operational stability amid competitive pressures.[24]Castle's tenure included self-reporting minor salary cap breaches, such as a 2016 infraction penalized at AUD 61,474 after prompt disclosure to the NRL, which she described as an identified issue addressed transparently.[25][26] Subsequent investigations revealed additional cap pressures, though fines were limited and tied to third-party agreements rather than deliberate evasion.[27]Internal tensions escalated in 2017, particularly after Castle emailed fellow NRL CEOs criticizing a rival club's actions, which reportedly strained relations with Bulldogs' principal owner Ray Dib.[28][29] She resigned on May 25, 2017, effective at the end of the season, citing a desire to pursue new opportunities amid these conflicts, though head coach Des Hasler publicly praised her contributions to the club's progress.[30][31]Rugby Australia CEO (2017–2020)
Raelene Castle was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Rugby Australia on December 12, 2017, becoming the first woman to lead the governing body of a major Australian football code.[32][3] She commenced the role on January 15, 2018, succeeding Bill Pulver, with a mandate to address longstanding challenges including declining participation rates, competition from other sports codes, and the need for enhanced commercial revenue.[33][34] Castle, drawing from her experience in netball and rugby league administration, emphasized bringing "fresh eyes" to strategic opportunities such as high-performance pathways and digital engagement.[32]During her tenure, Rugby Australia faced operational deficits amid efforts to restructure.
As of December 1, 2023, Raelene Castle’s is not dating anyone.
Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Raelene Castle. These principles permitted transgender women—biological males identifying as female—to participate in women's community-level sports categories based primarily on self-declared gender identity, without mandating testosterone suppression, surgical interventions, or other physiological assessments to mitigate retained male advantages such as greater muscle mass, bone density, and strength post-puberty.[76][77] Castle described the guidelines as a "good start" following consultations with stakeholders, emphasizing inclusion as a core value while deferring elite-level policies to individual sports bodies.[76]The guidelines drew significant criticism for prioritizing subjective inclusion over objective fairness and safety, particularly for female athletes, as empirical studies demonstrate that even after 12 months or more of testosterone suppression, transgender women retain approximately 10-20% advantages in strength and speed over biological females due to irreversible pubertal effects.[78] Advocacy groups like Save Women's Sport Australasia urged their removal, arguing they enabled male physiological dominance in women's categories, citing cases in rugby, cycling, and swimming where transgender participation led to injuries or displaced female competitors.[79] Critics, including New Zealand First party members, highlighted systemic biases in sports governance favoring ideological inclusion narratives over data-driven policies, with some media outlets framing opposition as regressive despite alignment with international bodies like World Rugby, which banned transgender women from women's elite contact sports in 2020 based on injury risk data.[80]In October 2024, Sports Minister Chris Bishop directed Castle to review and update the principles, referencing emerging global evidence on the persistence of male performance edges and the need to safeguard women's categories.[77] Castle acknowledged the 2022 consultation process but committed to revisions.
In 2015, Raelene was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services in sport and business.
Raelene was born in Wagga Wagga and raised in Auckland. I spent the first 15 years of my working life in the commercial sector with some of New Zealand’s largest corporates. She led Rugby Australia from December 2017 until April 2020 but her tenure was often contentious.
Who does Raelene Castle work for?
Raelene is the Chief Executive of Sport New Zealand.
Why do you like it?
“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it” – Albert Einstein.
Believe the impossible is possible and be brave enough to step into the opportunity. All they ever wanted was for us to give things 100%.
What do you regret?
Not having children in my twenties.
Raelene Castle celebrates birthday on September 30 of every year.
Where is Raelene Castle now?
Castle is now back in New Zealand as CEO for Sport New Zealand, a role she applied for as an opportunity to give back to the country. Supporters of Folau, including conservative politicians and religious groups, argued that his post was a sincere expression of Christian doctrine protected under implied constitutional freedoms of political communication and religion, and that RA's action exemplified corporate overreach prioritizing progressive social norms over individual conscience.[61][62] Critics of RA, including some rugby figures, contended the termination prioritized public relations and sponsorship risks—Folau lost major endorsements post-incident—over contractual nuances, as his RA deal included a social media clause allowing personal expression provided it did not vilify others, a threshold Folau's legal team claimed was unmet.[63] Conversely, RA and Castle maintained the decision safeguarded the sport's growing inclusivity efforts, with Castle later stating in 2024 that Folau's repeated comments created a "perfect storm" that "scared" gay staff and undermined team cohesion, framing it as a necessary stand against behavior conflicting with RA's anti-vilification policies adopted in 2014.[64][65]The case settled confidentially on December 4, 2019, averting a public hearing, with Castle insisting it was a "commercial decision" to avoid prolonged uncertainty rather than a retreat, and denying media reports of an A$8 million payout as "wildly inaccurate."[38][40][39] Castle defended RA's handling as consistent with contractual obligations, admitting in May 2019 that while no process is flawless, the outcome reinforced RA's commitment to evolving as an inclusive code amid declining participation rates.[66] The controversy highlighted tensions between private employers' rights to enforce conduct standards and employees' off-field expressions, influencing subsequent Australian sports policies on social media and diversity, though Folau's case remains cited by free speech advocates as evidence of uneven application of tolerance principles.[67][61]
Financial and leadership challenges at Rugby Australia
Rugby Australia recorded a financial deficit of A$9.4 million for the 2019 fiscal year under Raelene Castle's leadership, with revenue at A$112 million and expenditure at A$121 million, driven by high Wallabies team costs and broader structural revenue shortfalls in the code.[68][36] This prompted immediate austerity measures, including Castle accepting a significant pay reduction from her A$800,000 salary and negotiating average 60% pay cuts for players, though her own cut was reported at 50%.[69][70] Critics, including former players, highlighted perceived inequities in these sacrifices and questioned the organization's pre-pandemic financial management, which had already strained cash reserves.[71]Leadership scrutiny escalated as Castle's board withheld public disclosure of the 2019 results initially, a decision later deemed among the poorest strategic choices amid mounting stakeholder pressure.[36] The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 amplified these issues, leading to workforce reductions impacting 75% of Rugby Australia's staff and further revenue collapses, though the full A$27.1 million annual loss was reported post-resignation.[72][73]In April 2020, a public letter co-signed by 11 former Wallabies captains expressed no confidence in Castle's direction, citing inadequate crisis response and governance amid the financial turmoil.[41] Three days later, on April 23, she resigned following indications from the board of lost support, with concerns over her personal welfare— including reported abuse and bullying—contributing to the decision.[45][74] Rugby Australia defended her tenure, attributing much of the strain to systemic flaws in Australian rugby's model rather than individual failings.[75]Approaches to inclusion and transgender policies
During her tenure as CEO of Sport New Zealand, Raelene Castle oversaw the development and publication in December 2022 of the organization's Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport.A combination of IQ, EQ and intuition are equally valuable in leadership roles.
What is the most important thing we can teach kids in school?
The importance of diversity and inclusion, and being open minded to new ideas and information.
If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
Bruce Springsteen – I’ve been a fan forever and I am fascinated by his story of rags to riches, and his honesty around his mental health challenges.
When did you last have a significant change of mind?
I didn’t believe in quotas to improve diversity on Governance Boards, but I have seen the positive impact of a 40% female quota across sport in New Zealand.
She does not have an alleged boyfriend.
Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life? They showed me that girls could do anything.