After more than three decades dedicated to developing hockey across New Zealand and the Pacific, OHF Hook in 4 Health Program Manager Gill Gemming ONZM has announced her retirement, bringing to a close an extraordinary career that has shaped the game throughout the region.
Gill’s hockey journey began in 1991 as a Hockey New Zealand Development Officer, becoming the country’s first Coach Force Hockey Officer in the Bay of Plenty. She later served as Hockey New Zealand’s National Coaching and Development Manager, where she helped establish a number of programmes that continue to have a lasting impact, including Small Sticks, Funsticks and the Hockey Without Limits disability programme. In 2009, Gill joined Oceania Hockey Federation full-time, where she became a driving force behind the growth and development of hockey across the Pacific.
Throughout her career, Gill has worked alongside Member National Associations across New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Solomon Islands, supporting the development of coaches, officials, administrators and athletes. She has played a significant role in delivering major regional events, including multiple Pacific Games, Oceania Cups and Pacific Cups, while also serving as a Technical Delegate and Competition Manager at numerous international tournaments. Beyond competition delivery, Gill has championed initiatives that have made hockey more accessible, including the Hook in4 Health programme, which has used hockey to deliver positive health and community outcomes throughout Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Reflecting on her career, Gill said she feels fortunate to have combined her passion for hockey with a role that has made a lasting difference across the Pacific. “It has been an amazing journey, and I feel lucky to have had a job that has involved the sport that I had a passion for,” she said. “Every day has been full of variety as each Pacific Island nation had different needs, but being able to respond, help and develop people has been a highlight.” Gill said one of her proudest achievements has been seeing the vision of former OHF President Derek Wilshere realised, with 21 local Development Officers now employed across Oceania in partnership with their National Federations. She also reflected on the impact of the Hook in4Health programme, which has reached more than 15,000 participants in the past six months alone, while acknowledging the Presidents, colleagues and Member National Associations she has worked alongside throughout her career. “The friendships made through sport are very precious and I look forward to continuing to catch up.”
Gill’s influence has extended well beyond the field through her leadership within the International Hockey Federation and wider sporting community. As one of the inaugural Continental Development Officers appointed by the FIH in 2005, she has helped shape global education and development programmes, while also serving on the FIH Education and Development Committee, the FIH Empowerment Committee and as Vice Chair of the Oceania Olympic Education Commission. Her commitment to strengthening sport has also been reflected through governance roles within education and community organisations in New Zealand.
Her contribution has been recognised with numerous honours, including the Hockey New Zealand Gold Service Award, the FIH President’s Award, the Oceania Olympic Merit Award and appointment as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to education and hockey. In 2024, Oceania Hockey Federation proudly recognised Gill’s outstanding service by awarding her Life Membership, acknowledging the profound and lasting impact she has had on hockey across the region.
OHF Chief Executive Craig Gribble said Gill’s influence on hockey has been felt across generations. “Gill has inspired the last two generations of hockey people in New Zealand and across the whole Oceania region,” he said. “In more recent times, her commitment to sport for development programmes has brought about social change and improved the lives of many throughout the Pacific Island nations.”
As Gill retires, she leaves behind stronger organisations, more capable people and countless opportunities that have helped hockey flourish throughout Oceania. Her passion for developing the game, generosity in supporting Member National Associations and unwavering commitment to the Pacific have created a legacy that will continue to benefit generations of players, coaches, officials and administrators. On behalf of the Oceania Hockey Federation and the wider Oceania hockey family, we thank Gill for her remarkable contribution and wish her every happiness in her retirement.
