Our next Female Athlete speaker event is coming up, and we'd love for you to join us. This year the theme is Headstrong. We are welcoming a panel of experts on mental resilience, brain health and concussion in sport, who will bring their own experience and scientific insight to the mental and neurological challenges in sport. From mindset to recovery, injury to skillset, we’ll explore how to better understand and support the whole athlete.

We welcome students, whānau, and the wider Canterbury community to this event specifically aimed at helping to guide teen athletes through one of the most active times of their lives. Remember, head injuries don't just happen in team or contact sports!

While the Female Athlete speaker series is designed to champion our young wāhine, this particular session and subject is applicable to all teen athletes.

All proceeds will go towards our SOAR programme (Supporting Outstanding Athletes at Rangi Ruru).

Introducing our speakers

Dr Helen Murray
Dr Murray is a research fellow at the Centre for Brain Research and has a PhD and post-doctoral fellowship under her belt. Her research explores head injury and neurodegeneration and is closely aligned with her experience as an athlete. Dr Murray is a representative in Ice Hockey since 2013 and captained the New Zealand Ice Fernz from 2016-2020.

Connie Deighton
Connie is Head Coach at Diving Otakou and a former US collegiate diving scholarship athlete at Texas Christian University. With a degree in Child Psychology and a national title at age 17, she now coaches young divers using evidence-informed concussion-aware strategies and psychological insight to guide recovery and build confidence.

Jessie Hansen
Jessie is a certified mental performance consultant and sport psychologist working with elite teams including Tactix and Matatū.. A former provincial rugby player, she specialises in helping young athletes develop resilience, focus and emotional strength through techniques such as goal-setting, visualization and mindfulness.