Phoebe Evans

Kia ora, my name’s Phoebe, and I am one of two graduates in the Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa graduate programme for 2026–2027.

I grew up in Wellington where I tried my hand at as many sports as I possibly could, the most notable being gymnastics, touch, athletics, and football.

After high school, I headed down south to study at the University of Otago, completing a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Psychology, and Sport Development and Management. I then completed an Honours degree in Sport, Exercise and Health, where I researched athletes’ experiences in high-performance sport.

In 2025, following my studies, I continued as a Heartbeat Assistant at Wellington Free Ambulance and began working for Wellington City Council as a Recreation Assistant.

Both my university research and initial work experience confirmed my passion for making a meaningful difference to the hauora of New Zealanders.

The graduate programme offers me the chance to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sector while enabling me to contribute to an industry I love. The way the programme encourages graduates to pursue their passions and supports their learning across the broader sector is both unique and extremely exciting.