His comments come after a group of female Olympians - including retired boxer Alexis Pritchard - graduated from a NZOC-run initiative aimed at increasing the number of women across high-level sports administration.

The second intake of the New Zealand Women’s Sport Leadership Academy (WSLA NZ) began the course 2019, with 14 Olympians now graduating from the 18-month programme.

Stanley says the NZOC facilitates the scheme to help diversify New Zealand’s sporting leadership.

"This year we celebrated our centenary and looked back on the Antwerp Olympic Games in 1920 where the New Zealand Team first marched into an Olympic Opening Ceremony as an independent nation," Stanley said.

"In the next 100 years we want to see more women at the forefront of sport leadership in New Zealand, it is crucial we have more women in decision making roles in high performance sport to ensure a balanced view in leadership decisions."

Stanley also paid tribute to the late Susie Simcock, who was President of the World Squash Federation from 1996 to 2002 and a NZOC board member between 1996 and 2008.

"Susie was one of New Zealand's sport's most influential female leaders and was a trailblazer for other women in this area,” Stanley said.

"She was a great supporter of this programme and would be extremely proud of all of the graduates."

The WSLA NZ programme saw athletes attend three workshops where they got the chance to develop their leadership skills and were connected with a global network of female leaders in sport.

Trainees were also put into groups for projects which were presented to hundreds of New Zealand sports leaders including Sport Minister Grant Robertson on May 1.

WSLA NZ programme leader Pauline Harrison believes the challenges the women faced in the programme have honed their leadership skills.

"The behaviours and skills they have developed will allow them to step up in sport leadership locally and internationally," said Harrison.

"The participants from our first intake have already made huge headway in their careers and we look forward to seeing what this next cohort achieves."

Harrison said the presentations covered issues relating to women in sport, including inclusive cultures, next-generation leadership, safe sport and social change.

"The projects were extremely well researched and tackled hard issues which are often swept under the rug," Harrison added.

"The findings of the projects have been passed onto sporting bodies in New Zealand and we hope they will create positive changes for women’s sport in New Zealand."

Pritchard, who competed at London 2012 and won a bronze medal at 2018 Commonwealth Games, was among the Olympians to graduate from the course.

"The Women's Sport Leadership Academy has shown me how the skills and traits we developed as athletes can be transferred to leadership roles in the workplace," said the 37-year-old.

"It was challenging but I’m extremely proud of the personal development that has come about as a result of this programme and I’m already putting my learnings into action.

"I also made some wonderful friendships with other female athletes and I look forward to continuing to learn off these women as we progress our careers."