Guest Speaker: Darren Shand
Widely respected for his transformative impact on New Zealand sport, Darren Shand was the All Blacks Manager from 2004 to 2023—an era often hailed as the team’s golden age. Under his leadership, the All Blacks clinched back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015, triumphed in fifteen Tri Nations and Rugby Championship titles, and completed Grand Slam tours of the Home Nations in 2005, 2008, and 2010. Their dominance saw them named World Rugby Team of the Year ten times and recognised globally as World Sports Team of the Year at the 2015 Laureus Awards.
With a Bachelor of Physical Education from Otago University, Darren’s early career included a pivotal role as Marketing Manager for AJ Hackett Bungy, helping define Queenstown’s adventure tourism brand. His talent for culture-building was later recognised by Swiss multi-national pharmaceutical company, Novartis, where he joined their Culture and Leadership Advisory Board in 2023.