NEVEN BARBOUR - VICE-PRESIDENT WSF

Neven was elected as Vice-President of the WSF at the Annual General Meeting October 2002 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

His Squash career started in 1966 when he joined Henderson Squash Club, where he was men’s champion for 21 years from 1971 to 1992. He became one of the top players in the world and competed for New Zealand in World Championships from 1970 until 1983 and was New Zealand Champion in 1973 and 1974.

Neven has been highly active in Squash throughout the Asia-Pacific area. In 1984 he developed an elite Squash programme for Singapore Squash before becoming Manager/Coach of the New Zealand National Team in 1986, a position he held until 2001. Neven followed his playing career success by making an equally significant impact in the management of Squash administration. He was Chairman of Squash New Zealand in 1998 and 1999 and responsible for creating and leading initiatives promoted as `Competing in a New Environment’, to establish a platform for Squash NZ to move forward. The vision for change has included involvement with local government, sports trusts, schools and sports clubs.

He is an energetic initiator of projects that have been successful and prominent trendsetters in their field. With expertise, innovation and insight he has developed significant businesses in sport and leisure, fast food, property development, petroleum retailing and the marine business. Throughout his life he has had a huge enthusiasm for squash, fitness and the benefits of sporting activity and focussed on the development of squash as a sport and leisure choice, travelling throughout New Zealand with a message of change, working towards taking squash forward in both general participation and the elite sectors.