Mat Jensen Appointed Chair of Rowing New Zealand Board

Rowing New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of Mat Jensen as Chair of the Rowing New Zealand Board following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting.

Mat Jensen succeeds Jane Davel, whose term as both Board member and Chair concluded at the AGM. Following the appointment of newly elected Board member Georgina Earl (née Evers-Swindell), the Board undertook a robust process in accordance with the Rowing New Zealand Constitution to select its new Chair.

A highly respected figure within the rowing community, Mat was first elected to the Rowing New Zealand Board in May 2021 and re-elected in 2024. His involvement in the sport spans school, club, university and high-performance rowing, both as an athlete and coach.

Mat brings extensive governance experience to the role, having served on numerous rowing committees and previously held positions as Chair of the Auckland Regional Performance Centre and Auckland Rowing Association. In recognition of his significant contribution to the sport, he was made a Life Member of North Shore Rowing Club.

During his time on the Rowing New Zealand Board, Mat has played a key role in several major initiatives. Most recently, he was a driving force behind the constitutional changes and Rule of Racing proposals adopted in 2025. He has also chaired the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and has helped lead the Board’s safeguarding and integrity work, including the development of a sport-wide disputes and disciplinary code, policies and frameworks.

Outside of rowing, Mat is a qualified actuary and experienced business leader, having held senior leadership positions within the insurance industry. He holds Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science degrees and is a Fellow of the New Zealand Society of Actuaries and a Member of the Institute of Directors.

The first meeting of the newly constituted Board will take place in Auckland on 19 June, marking the beginning of Mat’s tenure as Chair and welcoming Georgina to her first Board meeting.

Rowing New Zealand thanks Jane Davel for her leadership and service and looks forward to working with Mat and the Board as they continue to guide the sport’s future.