EXPERIENCED SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR Diane Henderson became the first female and, the eleventh President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) at the historic first virtual election held today April 30th 2022.
The election of officers took place after the conclusion of the 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM) kicked off promptly at 9:00 a.m. The audited financial statements and the annual report, both for 2021, were approved at the AGM.
Ms. Henderson won by a margin of 24 votes to 10 over the other contender Rowena Williams, with 70 percent of the vote.
President Henderson has contributed significantly to sports governance, athlete welfare, strategic planning and sports mediation. As Chair of Women In Sport Commission, she has been a key proponent for the continued push for Education in Sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
Ms. Henderson has a demonstrated history of working in sports management, being the first female on the executive board of the NAAA’s leaving a line of female executive members who contributed to its progress and has been an integral member and very instrumental in several aspects of development at the TTOC.
She is also the current Chairperson of the Trinidad and Tobago Marathon Committee where she has been responsible for the final decision-making on event coordination, developing race portals, social media upkeep, website coordination and private sector fundraising. Ms. Henderson has four decades of proven leadership at both Colfire and Angostura, where she left a legacy of health and wellness in their respective industries.
Ms. Henderson attained both an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTATT).
President Henderson – who will also serve as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Sand and Beach
Games Association (TTSBGA) - said, “Thank you to the general council for entrusting me in leading the TTOC and taking on this new mantle. I am stoked and thrilled in demonstrating my leadership abilities to carry the organization into the new world of sport, innovation and commercialism.”
“It would be remiss of me not to mention my predecessor, Mr. Brian Lewis, for his unstinting dedication and commitment to the TTOC/TTCGA/TTSBGA. Nothing has gone unnoticed. Thanks also to everyone who supported me throughout my sporting and other careers leading to this occasion.” “I look forward to working with each and every one of you, especially the new Executive Board.” she continued.
A few of President Henderson’s Achievements over the years:
- Elected Member on the World Triathlon Multisport Committee (WTMC) January
2021 – 2024. - Chef de Mission on four occasions PanAm Games 2015, 2019 and 2021 Junior;
Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018 and Assistant Chef in Glasgow 2014. - Committee Member on the Trinidad and Tobago Marathon Committee (TTMC)
2005-2008; Chairperson on the TTMC 2009-2022 achieving a 40 year milestone
national event. - Committee member with the Trinidad and Tobago Road Runners Club (TTRRC)
1985-2003. - Committee member with N.A.A.A. 1990 – 1993.
- IAAF Track and Field Coach and Technical Official 1996/7 at several Regional
Games. - President of Trinidad and Tobago Triathlon Federation (TTTF) 1999-2000, and other
roles on the Executive over a span of fifteen years. - Team member on the 2020 Vision Panel for High Performance, with D. Murray, L.
Romany, R Tim Kee (deceased).
TTOC’s New Executive Board
President: Ms. Diane Henderson
Immediate Past President: Mr. Brian Lewis
Vice President: Mr. Ephraim Serrette
Vice President: Ms. Reyah Richardson
Vice President: Ms. Rowena Williams
Secretary General: Mrs. Annette Knott
Assistant Secretary General: Ms. Nadine Seemungal
Treasurer: Mr. Curtis Nero
Trustee: Mr. Dave Williams
Trustee: Ms. Racquel Moses
Member: Dr. Terry Ali
Member: Ms. Sonja Johnson
Member: Mr. Mushtaque Muhammed
Source: TTOC Media Release