Table Tennis New Zealand

CHRISTINE (CHRIS) ARTHUR. OLYMPIAN:

Education & Employment: Chris was deputy principal of Auckland's Diocesan School for Girls before joining Sport New Zealand as its head of athlete life. She’s the Table Tennis New Zealand board chairwoman and a board member of Auckland Hockey.

Sports Nut: A passionate sportswoman, Chris played hockey for New Zealand for 11 years. That included playing in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 and Barcelona in 1992. She’s also a provincial representative in rugby, squash, touch and golf and has played social cricket, tennis and football. Chris has coached a range of sports and still coaches New Zealand age-group hockey teams.

Table Tennis Connection: Sport has been a huge part of Chris’s life and the opportunities she received were possible because of many volunteers and generous people. “So being involved in table tennis is my chance to give something back to a new sport,’’ Chris explained. “I want to help support everyone involved in table tennis to have an awesome experience where they can be challenged to grow, make friends and achieve their goals.’’

Fun Fact: Chris’s vast contribution to hockey was recognised by naming the national schoolgirls’ 2nd XI tournament the Chris Arthur Cup.

MICHELLE McCARTHY:

Employment: Michelle works at Creative HQ, a Wellington-based strategy and innovation company that helps start-ups, corporates, and the Government to deliver innovative initiatives and bring new ideas and products to the market.

Table tennis background: Michelle first started playing in Lower Hutt when she was 13 and went on to enjoy a fine career. That included playing in the Commonwalth Games in Scotland, the world junior championships in Austria and the World University Games in Thailand

Favourite table tennis achievement: Making the New Zealand women’s open singles semi-finals in 2008, narrowly losing a seven-game thriller. “I was playing the best I’d ever played, and fortuitously, the nationals were held in my hometown, so all my family were there to support me.’’

Michelle’s TTNZ board ambition: “I want to take table tennis in New Zealand to the next level of innovation, participation and sustainability. I especially want to see way more juniors having fun, building lifelong friendships and reaching their potential.’’

Fun fact: Michelle loves Asia and is a bit of a polyglot, which is a person who knows and is able to use several languages. Michelle can speak Japanese, Chinese Manadarin, Korean and English

MURRAY FINCH:

Employment and other interests: Nearing retirement after 30 years as a financial adviser, Murray has a wide range of interests. They include working on a philanthropic foundation, hiking, kayaking, swimming, snorkelling and surfing, as well as literature, photography and hockey.

Table tennis background: Murray has fashioned an impressive record and involvement in our game. He first started playing when he was 15, represented New Zealand, had a career high national open ranking of seven and went on to become the national coach and TTNZ’s director of high performance.

Favourite table tennis achievement: Being the manager-coach of the New Zealand table tennis team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Murray’s TTNZ board ambition: “I want to use the current opportunity to modernise and futureproof our sport by building a platform that would broaden the participants we capture and engage with. I also want to help increase the retention of those participants by improving the experiences they have.’’

Fun fact: Anyone for a wine? If so, Murray could be your man. He calls himself “something of a collector of wine’’, so much so that when he looks at his cellar he wonders if he will ever have time to drink it all.

Helen Beumelburg

Table Tennis background: Helen Beumelburg is an active and passionate member of the table tennis community. A parent of three table tennis players, Helen is also a player herself and a dedicated participant in the Women & Girls Tournament. She regularly competes in doubles alongside her daughter at TTNZ tournaments, showcasing her love for the sport.

Helen was invloved in the Table Tennis Canterbury's Para pilot programme and has continued coaching Para players this past term. Her contributions include umpiring at the Para Nationals and serving as an Assistant Coach at the National Para Training Camp, reflecting her commitment to fostering inclusivity and growth in table tennis.

Barry Griffiths

Employment and other interests:

Barry served as CEO of the International Table Tennis Federation - Oceania from April 2019 to February 2024, showcasing outstanding management and leadership abilities. During this time, he led the strategic development of table tennis across the Oceania region, building strong partnerships, implementing impactful development programmes, and ensuring the sport's long-term sustainability. His experience as a CEO will undoubtedly make a positive difference for table tennis in New Zealand.

Since February 2024, Barry has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand Sleep, where he continues to apply his strategic vision and leadership skills.

Table Tennis background: Barry, an Auckland table tennis legend, has dominated the sport since 1982, winning eight NZ Open men's singles titles, seven men's doubles, and four mixed doubles crowns. Named NZ Player of the Year five times and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, Barry’s legacy is unmatched.

Adding to his remarkable achievements, Barry represented New Zealand at the 1988 Summer Olympics, competing in both the men’s singles and men’s doubles events, further solidifying his place as one of the country’s greatest table tennis players.