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Job title: Executive director.

For: Paralympics New Zealand.


Craig Hobbs is no stranger to elite sport - or how to manage it.

A former rowing triallist and until recently the national men's under-21 hockey coach, he has also been marketing manager for North Harbour Stadium.

He leaves a post as sponsorship account manager at Sportsworld Media Group to take the job vacated by John Hughes.

"I've always had a passion for sport," says 41-year-old Hobbs, "and I always wanted to be involved in a national sporting organisation."

Paralympians, he says, are elite athletes - "they've had incredible results overseas" - and could teach some of our able-bodied sportspeople a few lessons about discipline and dedication.

"We pamper our [able-bodied] athletes too much, but these Paralympians have had to overcome incredible difficulties.

"Their determination is far greater than quite a lot of our athletes have, unfortunately, demonstrated."

Yet disabled sport is often overlooked. There is no disability in Hobbs' family. He will learn a few new sports after taking up his post late next month, among them wheelchair rugby and basketball, and boccia, similar to bowls.

He has two aims going into the role: providing opportunities for all disabled people at all levels who want to play sport, and developing the top performers.

Canterbury-born Hobbs has lived in Auckland for the last 20 years.