Grace Payne

Grace has been with Special Olympics New Zealand since 2008, joining the schools program then her local club where she is now not only an athlete but a coach, volunteer and leader. Grace competes in basketball and powerlifting in Special Olympics and mainstream. Since completing her Athlete Leadership training in 2017, she has been involved in numerous leadership roles. With Special Olympics New Zealand, she has been a member and Co-Chair of the National Athlete Input Council and an Athlete Representative on the Board of Trustees. With Special Olympics Asia Pacific, she was previously Co-Chair and advisor on the Regional Athlete Input Council and is currently a member of the Asia Pacific Advisory Council alongside Program Leaders. Grace was recognised in 2022 when awarded the inaugural Ray & Stephanie Lane Award in Global Inclusive Leadership in recognition of her exemplary contributions to the movement of inclusion. She was a Global Youth Ambassador for Global Charity ‘Their World’—advocating for every child around the world and unleashing the potential of the next generation, Disability and Inclusion Advisor for the Sport Hawkes Bay Research Project—talking about people with disabilities participating in sport and about their coaches and a Unified New Zealand Food Network National Campaign as an Athlete Ambassador encouraging New Zealanders to Pitch in and help provide meals to families that cannot afford them. 

One of Grace's key goals during her term is promoting Inclusion. Starting Unified Schools in New Zealand is one way to help do this and this is where she sees the biggest opportunity to create change! Grace will also continue her leadership journey working alongside her fellow SSGM’s and athletes and youth, with and without ID’s, around the world towards the SHARED goal of inclusion. Remember WE are dream chasers, game changers, and can make a HUGE impact not just to our communities, but to the inclusion revolution. Join me in creating change for ALL!"