Dame Therese's big dreams - 'IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK'

This inspirational leader is paying it forward as much as possible

- Aroha Awarau

Dame Therese Walsh received her distinguished title for services to sport, but unlike Dame Valarie D Adams, Dame Lisa Carrington and other sporting greats who've won championships, she was recognised for her role in the boardroom as part of the leadership teams that helped bring the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the 2015 Cricket World Cup to New Zealand.

Despite never winning an Olympic gold medal, Dame Therese is very much a champion, making her mark in the corporate world and often being the only woman leader.

"I worked in male-dominated sports while they were coming into the professional era. It was an interesting time when there was a need to move into a modern way of doing things. I was lucky to be part of that change," says Dame Therese, who describes how in the early days, men would stand up whenever she walked into the room.

"There's been a lot of women who've gone before me who've broken through the glass ceiling. The most important thing for me is having multiple women joining us. That's where change really happens."

Dame Therese grew up in Wellington and wasn't good at playing sports but ended up playing a major role as the chief operating officer for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and Head of NZ for the 2015 Cricket World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.