Raised in a single parent family from south Auckland and went to Takanini Primary School. A foundation pupil of Greenmeadows Intermediate and Captain of the Manurewa High School First XV.
Served 24 years in the Justice Department as a Court Registrar and Prison Inspector, followed by 10 years in the private sector in manufacturing and the hospitality industries.
Went to Auckland University as an adult student and graduated in Human Resource Management in 1995. Learnt the value of sport at a young age through participation in boxing, rugby and rugby league. Represented Counties Rugby at Roller Mills and then Auckland Rugby League at age group level.
Became a Life member of the Auckland Rugby League Referees Association in 1995 after serving for 26 years as an active referee, on the Executive Committee for 5 years and held the positions of Secretary and Treasurer of the Association.
Committed to providing sporting opportunities to as many young people as possible so they too can enjoy the fun of sport and meeting the lifetime friends through that participation.
Served as a Trustee at Counties Manukau Sport for two years before becoming the CEO in 2006.