Amanda Shaw

For alumna Amanda Shaw, success has not followed a straight path. Instead, it has been shaped by resilience, curiosity and a clear sense of purpose.

Group Regional Manager at Graeme Dingle Foundation Waikato

Today, as Group Regional Manager for the Graeme Dingle Foundation, Amanda leads teams across Waikato, Tauranga and Rotorua, supporting young people to realise their potential. It is a role close to home, with Amanda now working in the same communities she grew up in.

I’m really grateful that I now get to support the community I grew up in. Not everyone has the opportunities I had, so being able to give back and help create pathways for others is really important to me.

Balancing study and sport

Amanda chose to study at the University of Waikato so she could stay close to home and remain connected to her support network. She enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Sciences, combining psychology with sport and leisure, bringing together her academic interests and passion for sport.

Alongside her studies, Amanda competed as a high-performance badminton player, representing Waikato and New Zealand on the world stage and a University Blues Awardee. Balancing elite sport with full-time study required discipline and resilience and helped shape the skills she draws on today.

Lecturers and tutors supported that balance by offering flexibility around travel and competitions, allowing her to succeed both academically and athletically. The experience reinforced the importance of strong support networks, which continue to shape her leadership approach.

Learning resilience

Juggling study, training and part-time work helped Amanda develop strong problem-solving skills and stay focused under pressure. Whether competing internationally or meeting assignment deadlines, she learned to keep moving forward when things did not go to plan.

“You’d have losses in sport and still have to show up to lectures or meet deadlines. Looking back, that really set me up for my career.”

Her time at Waikato also shaped her approach to leadership. Studying psychology gave her a deeper understanding of people, something she now sees as central to leading teams and building strong working relationships.

A career shaped by opportunity

After graduating, Amanda moved to Australia and began her career in the commercial sector, working across mining and infrastructure. Starting in administrative roles, she progressed into procurement and contract management, building experience in operations and leadership.

Rather than following a set plan, Amanda took opportunities as they came, building a career across different industries and roles.

These experiences, along with lessons from high-performance sport, laid the foundation for her leadership today.

Amanda with Founders Sir Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson, Lady Dingle.

Building future pathways

After returning to New Zealand and starting a family, Amanda looked for work that aligned more closely with her values. That led her to the Graeme Dingle Foundation, where she joined as a business coordinator and moved into regional leadership.

Now overseeing around 40 staff, she leads programmes that support rangatahi across the central North Island, helping build confidence and future pathways.

A key part of this work is the Foundation’s partnership with the University of Waikato, helping break down barriers and show young people what’s possible, giving them the chance to experience university life and see higher education as an option.

Through campus visits, events and engagement, the partnership broadens horizons, particularly for those who may not otherwise be exposed to tertiary study. Amanda sees this as important in helping young people understand what is possible beyond their immediate environment.

Leadership driven by community

At the centre of Amanda’s work is a strong sense of community. Her rural upbringing continues to shape how she leads, with a focus on supporting others and working towards shared outcomes.