Blind Sport NZ’s new Administrator Kyle Macfadyen
Blind Sport NZ is really excited to introduce you to the newest addition to our team, Kyle Macfadyen. Kyle will be working with us in a part-time role providing admin support to our team.
Born and bred in Edinburgh, Scotland, Kyle arrived in New Zealand on Waitangi Day 2004 to begin what was supposed to be a two year contract as an Orientation and Mobility / Adaptive Daily Living Instructor with, what was then, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. Seventeen years later, Kyle is now happy to call Auckland home, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Originally completing a Master of Arts in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Glasgow, Kyle’s early working life led him by accident rather than design into a residential Support Worker role with disabled adults. While enjoying this work, Kyle realised that he needed to update his training and secured a scholarship with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association who were, at the time, involved in efforts to increase the number of qualified Rehabilitation Workers in the UK. It was this qualification that resulted in Kyle’s longer-than-expected adventure to New Zealand.
After five years as a Rehabilitation Worker with visually impaired adults in both the UK and NZ, Kyle broadened his experience within the sector by taking up a new opportunity as a Disability Student Advisor at the Auckland University of Technology, a role he enjoyed for almost twelve years.
Since leaving AUT, Kyle has rekindled his involvement with the visually impaired community with a short stint at BLENNZ, and now with Blind Sport NZ.
Kyle comes from a sporting family and sees this new role as a great opportunity to mix business with pleasure. Kyle actively participated in and followed sport from a young age, playing golf, skiing, snowboarding, rugby (briefly!), badminton, squash, tennis, but listing football as a particular favourite. While his own playing days are over, Kyle remains involved with the football community by coaching his daughter’s U10 grade team at Auckland United.
To get in touch with Kyle visit the Contact Us page for his details.