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About us

Empowering Integrity. Protecting People. Transforming Sport.

At SafeSport, our purpose is simple: to empower sport organisations to embed integrity into everyday practice. To support organisations in creating environments that are safe, inclusive, and accountable through expert led support and systems change.

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Our vision is for integrity to be embedded in the culture of all sporting environments, where organisations lead with values, and the wellbeing of athletes, coaches, and communities is protected through proactive, people first systems and leadership.

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SafeSport provides innovative, practical services to help sport organisations. We equip organisations with key tools, tailored support, and trusted guidance to foster safe, respectful, and values driven sporting organisations and environments.

Meet the team

Jamie Tong is a strategy and performance specialist known for his ability to deliver large-scale change in complex sport environments, with a strong focus on integrity, wellbeing, and organisational accountability.

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Jamie has provided project management leadership for major integrity responses, including Cycling NZ’s Transformation Plan 2024, where he supported the establishment of an independent integrity oversight group and helped implement athlete-centred reforms across governance, selection, and high-performance systems. He also played a central role in the development of Tennis New Zealand’s national participant protection policy.

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A former sport CEO and experienced consultant, Jamie brings a rare combination of practical operational knowledge and systems thinking. His expertise includes integrity benchmarking, safeguarding policy design, and supporting leadership teams to strengthen governance and build psychologically safe cultures.

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Jamie is valued for making integrity practical - helping organisations move from compliance to commitment through smart design, clear communication, and sustainable systems.

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Contact Jamie >>

Amy McClintock is a values driven leader with over 15 years of experience in the sport and recreation sector, known for her deep commitment to integrity, safeguarding, and whole person development. Amy leads organisation wide strategies focused on psychological safety, athlete voice, and proactive wellbeing practices.

 

She is a certified Safeguarding Officer through the International Olympic Committee and a trusted advisor on safe sport policy and education.


Her strength lies in bringing policy to life, creating environments where people not only understand their rights and responsibilities, but feel empowered, respected, and supported to thrive. Her strength lies in implementing policies that empower and support individuals.

 

She actively contributes to International SafeSport and coaching communities, promoting safe, inclusive sport at all levels.

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Contact Amy >>

Joe Hitchcock is a highly respected leader in sport integrity, with over 20 years of experience across national and regional sport organisations in Aotearoa and internationally. He brings deep, hands-on experience in safeguarding, integrity system design, and governance reform, combined with a practical understanding of the pressures sport leaders face.

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Joe played a key role in leading integrity reform efforts for both Gymnastics New Zealand and Cycling New Zealand, including designing work plans in response to major independent reviews and ensuring meaningful survivor, athlete, and community input. His work has helped shape safer, more transparent, and more accountable systems in high-profile environments.

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A former member of Sport NZ’s Sport Integrity Working Group, Joe is trusted for his strategic insight, empathetic leadership, and ability to turn policy into action. He also regularly supports national organisations to elevate athlete voice, embed integrity into governance, and conduct sport integrity audits aligned with national and international standards.

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Joe’s strength lies in connecting policy with culture -ensuring that integrity is lived everyday.

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Contact Joe >>

Kayaking

Our Experience

At SafeSport, we bring a wealth of firsthand experience in sport leadership, integrity management, and complex project delivery. Our deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by sport organisations comes from decades of working within the sector and leading significant integrity initiatives, projects and responses.

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Leaders with Experience in Sport Integrity

Our team includes former CEOs of both regional and national sport organisations and sport integriy specialists and experts. We have lived the reality of managing integrity in a dynamic, sport environment, working across various parts of the community to protect and promote safety. This experience has shaped our approach to delivering solutions that are practical, effective, and adaptable to the needs of any sport organisation.​

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Supported the Response to New Zealand’s Most Significant Sport Integrity Reviews

Gymnastics New Zealand (GNZ) – Shaping the Future of Gymnastics in Aotearoa
We led the project management of the Shaping the Future of Gymnastics in Aotearoa work plan, which was developed in response to the Independent Review of GNZ in 2021.

Key milestones included:

  • Analysing the Independent Review recommendations to develop a robust work plan with 19 key actions.

  • Collaborating with survivors, experts, and the gymnastics community to ensure meaningful and sustainable cultural change.

  • Gaining full Board adoption of the work plan and initiating its implementation in July 2022.

  • Ensuring ongoing engagement with the gymnastics community through regular updates and consultation.

 

Our leadership in this project enabled GNZ to take decisive steps toward improving safety, culture, and integrity across the sport.

 

Cycling New Zealand (CNZ) – Transformation Plan 2024
We provided project management support for the Transformation 2024 Plan (TP2024), a comprehensive response to the 2022 High Performance Sport and Cycling NZ Inquiry.

Key contributions included:

  • Supporting the Transformation Director in developing a strategic plan with 36 projects across 13 focus areas.

  • Supporting the establishment of the Cycling Integrity Steering Committee (CISC) to provide independent oversight and accountability.

  • Recommending structural reforms to prioritise athlete wellbeing, governance improvements, and increased transparency in selection, recruitment, and performance management.

  • Driving consultation efforts with athletes, staff, stakeholders, and community members to ensure alignment and sector-wide support.

 

The TP2024 plan is now being actioned to foster a high-performance culture rooted in openness, inclusivity, and wellbeing.

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Specialist Integrity Support for Sport New Zealand

We delivered targeted integrity support services as part of Sport New Zealand’s integrity investment initiative. This project involved working with partner organisations to enhance their integrity capabilities and maximise the return on Sport NZ’s integrity investment.

 

Project highlights included:

  • Developing an online assessment tool to benchmark integrity practices.

  • Providing five-point action plans for each organisation, tailored to address their specific needs

  • Supporting ongoing policy and governance alignment across the network.

 

Our expertise enabled Sport NZ partners to better assess, implement, and sustain integrity practices aligned with national and international standards.

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Additional Expertise in Sport Integrity

Beyond these flagship projects, we have provided integrity policy assessments, audits, and strategic advice to numerous Local, Regional and National Sport Organisations. This has included:

  • Athlete Voice and Leadership Advocacy: Developing policies, processes, and initiatives that amplify athlete representation and ensure their welfare and rights are protected.

  • Sport Integrity Systems: Auditing and improving organisational policies to meet best-practice standards for safety, transparency, and accountability.

  • Leadership and Governance Development: Supporting Boards and leadership teams to embed integrity frameworks and foster positive organisational cultures.

 

Proven Results for Lasting Change

Through these high-impact projects, SafeSport has become a trusted partner in transforming the integrity landscape of sport in New Zealand. Our hands-on experience has equipped us to deliver expert guidance, practical tools, and ongoing support that sport organisations can rely on to protect their participants, enhance governance, and build trust within their communities.

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Ready to learn more about how we can help your organisation?

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