Irene Van Dyk
Irene van Dyk MNZM – Netball Legend & Leadership Role Model
Irene van Dyk is one of New Zealand’s most admired athletes — and a speaker who brings heart, humility, and leadership to every stage. Born in South Africa and adopted by Aotearoa in 2000, she played 145 tests for the Silver Ferns, winning a World Cup and two Commonwealth Games golds. Her 90% shooting accuracy and calm under pressure made her a global icon of the game.
Since retiring, Irene has stepped into coaching, mentoring and advocacy roles. She’s a driving force behind Netball NZ’s youth programmes, a familiar face in schools and communities, and a champion for girls’ participation in sport. In 2024, she was inducted into Netball NZ’s Hall of Fame — recognised not just for her record-breaking career, but for the positive impact she continues to make off the court.
Warm, funny and relatable, Irene is a natural fit for sports conferences, youth events, leadership panels, and corporate teams looking for insights on resilience, focus and team culture.
Ideal for:
Sports and education events
Leadership and team culture sessions
Youth and wellbeing programmes
Women in sport or high-performance panels
