The Equestrian Sports New Zealand board is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily Downes as the new chief executive.
Emily is an experienced senior executive and sporting system leader who brings more than a decade of experience across high performance sport, athlete development, organisational leadership and stakeholder engagement.
She is currently general manager – wellbeing and leadership at High Performance Sport New Zealand, where she is a member of the senior leadership team and has helped shape and deliver strategy across New Zealand’s high performance sport system. In this role, Emily has worked closely with national sporting organisations, the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Paralympics New Zealand and athlete representative bodies.
She has also contributed to significant investment decisions across the sector and led teams and programmes focused on leadership, wellbeing, athlete development and sustained performance.
Emily’s previous roles include general manager – people and development at the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, where she led athlete development and support functions, and player services advisor at New Zealand Rugby.
She also brings governance experience from roles with International Rugby Players, Baseball New Zealand and the SMOG Netball Club. Emily holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance.
ESNZ board chair Hannah Walton said Emily’s appointment has followed a comprehensive recruitment process.
“Emily brings a strong combination of strategic leadership, sporting system experience, commercial and financial capability, and a genuine commitment to people and performance,” said Hannah.
“She understands the complexity of leading within a national sporting system and has demonstrated an ability to build trusted relationships, navigate competing priorities and translate strategy into action.”
The board had been particularly impressed by Emily’s values-led leadership, her ability to bring people together and her clear commitment to building sustainable organisational and sporting performance.
“We are delighted that Emily has accepted the opportunity to lead ESNZ through its next phase.”
Emily said she was excited to join ESNZ and work alongside its people and the wider equestrian community.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead Equestrian Sports New Zealand.
“Equestrian sport has a proud history in New Zealand, from community participation through to success on the international stage,” said Emily.
She is looking forward to listening and learning, building strong relationships across the disciplines and the wider equestrian community, and working with the board, staff and stakeholders to shape a clear and sustainable future for the sport.
“I am excited by the opportunity to support ESNZ’s people, athletes, officials, volunteers, clubs and discipline leaders, and to help create the conditions in which equestrian sport can thrive.”
Emily will start the role on October 7, 2026.
Until then, current chief executive Julian Bowden will continue, providing leadership and stability to the organisation and supporting a seamless transition.
The board acknowledges Julian’s ongoing commitment to ESNZ and thanks him for his continued leadership during this period.