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Diane Henderson creates history
New TTOC president Diane Henderson, - Courtesy TTOC

Diane Henderson creates history

Go Back : Guardian : Sports Desk : 30.04.2022

Diane Henderson became the first woman and the 11th president of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) at the historic first virtual election held on Saturday.

The election of officers took place after the conclusion of the 75th annual general meeting (AGM). The audited financial statements and the annual report, both for 2021, were approved at the AGM.

The experienced sports administrator won by a margin of 24 votes to 10 over other contender Rowena Williams, with 70 per cent of the vote and replaces Brian Lewis, who served two terms as head of the TTOC.

"Thank you to the general council for entrusting me in leading the TTOC and taking on this new mantle. I am stoked and thrilled in demonstrating my leadership abilities to carry the organisation into the new world of sport, innovation and commercialism," said Henderson

Wiilliams' services will be used in the position of third vice president along with Ephraim Serrette, advisor to the Minister of Sport and Community Development, who was elected first vice president and Reyah Richardson, the second vice president.

All other positions except president and vice president ran unopposed.

President Henderson has contributed significantly to sports governance, athlete welfare, strategic planning and sports mediation. As Chair of Women In Sport Commission, she has been a key proponent for the continued push for Education in Sport in T&T.

Henderson has a demonstrated history of working in sports management, being the first female on the executive board of the NAAA's leaving a line of female executive members who contributed to its progress and has been an integral member and very instrumental in several aspects of development at the TTOC.

She is also the current chairperson of the T&T International Marathon (TTIM) committee where she has been responsible for the final decision-making on event coordination, developing race portals, social media upkeep, website coordination and private sector fundraising.

President Henderson, who recently earned a spot on the seven-member committee of the World Triathlon Multisport Committee, has four decades of proven leadership at both Colfire and Angostura, where she left a legacy of health and wellness in their respective industries.

Henderson, who will also serve as president of the T&T Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA) and the T&T Sand and Beach Games Association (TTSBGA), said, "It would be remiss of me not to mention my predecessor, Mr Brian Lewis, for his unstinting dedication and commitment to the TTOC/TTCGA/TTSBGA. Nothing has gone unnoticed. Thanks also to everyone who supported me throughout my sporting and other careers leading to this occasion.

"I look forward to working with each and every one of you, especially the new executive board."

Henderson, who attained both an Associate's and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of T&T (COSTATT), understands the needs of being an athlete as she has played six sports in her training and competition years including track and field, swimming, netball, cycling (track, road and mountain bike), triathlon, dragon boat and the martial art, Wu Shu Kwan.