New constitution to be passed at AGM

Netball Fiji has drafted a proposed new constitution which will be passed at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on February 28.

Advisor and former chief executive officer Vivian Koster said the draft constitution was discussed at today’s stakeholders meeting at the HFC Bank Stadium events room. 

One of the major changes is the implementation of a management board instead of the current 12 executive committee members. 

A seven-member board will oversee the organisation. 

Other changes include the recognition of four national teams including the men’s which was not part of the current constitution. 

“Just in terms of the major restructure of netball, we’re looking at setting up zones, so dividing the country effectively into three zones,” Koster said.

“Each zone gets to look after itself and make itself stronger, and then you have the national body looking after just the national elements, like the national teams.”

Koster added that the new proposed constitution would be effective after a year of transition. 

She said the change was initiated as the current constitution was old in addition to the push from several netball districts. 

“It was in 2024 when Netball Fiji actually applied to World Netball for a grant, a governance grant, to do this work. 

“And then, of course, last year, there were some disgruntled members and they also pushed but effectively, everyone was on the same page. 

“We just needed to get into the room to recognise,” Koster said.

“We all want the same thing and then work out what that actually looks like in the document.

“The best thing that came out of all of this was just everyone acknowledging the positive, steps that are being taken, and that everybody’s on board. 

“When you have everyone on board, you all have that same goal in mind. It certainly makes the process a lot easier.”