Oceania administrator of the year

Being nominated as a potential candidate for the Oceania Administrator of the year award was enough to put a smile on the face of local sports manager Robert Graham.

But actually winning the award came as a pleasant surprise to Graham and a surprise that has kept him smiling since the announcement some weeks ago.

Graham is currently a sports manager with the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee where he has worked for some 12 years after starting as a sports development officer.

Graham is involved in a number of sports codes on the island as a referee, technical advisor or administrator.

“Just to be recognised by CISNOC was a big deal and then to win it – I was rapt,” says Graham.

He was also quick to mention that he isn’t the first Cook Islander to win the award as netball administrator Tina Browne was the first local recipient of the award last year.

Graham specialises in games administration and management and is the main man behind the organisation, coordination and management of the Manea and Purapura zone games as well as the national Cook Islands Games to name just a few.

If you need to organise a sporting event – Rob’s your man!