EIT lecturer Dr Carl Paton (l.) shared his expertise with U.S. Ambassador Scott Brown (r.).

On Friday, the U.S Ambassador to New Zealand, Scott Brown visited EIT’s Pettigrew Green Arena. He and his family are attending Napier’s annual Art Deco Festival and are taking part in the vintage car parade on Saturday. Being a successful triathlete, the 59-year-old Ambassador took the chance to meet with members of EIT’s School of Health and Sport Science.  

In particular Mr. Brown sought advice regarding his training regime in preparation for the World Masters in Switzerland later this year. EIT sports science lecturer, Dr Carl Paton, who coaches a wide range of world champion athletes, shared his expertise with Mr. Brown and offered his advice to further discuss the Ambassador’s training.

“You are like a kid in candy shop,” said Ambassador Brown to Dr Paton looking at the high-quality training and research facilities at the Pettigrew Green Arena.

Sport has a vital importance for Mr. Brown, he served as a board member for the USA Triathlon Foundation, introducing youth to the sport of triathlon. Following some micro fractures after an accident, it took him a year to be able to run again and Mr. Brown recently completed the Triathlon NZ National Sprint Championships with his favoured discipline noted as swimming. 

Nat Waran, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Health Science and Kirsten Westwood, Head of School of Health and Sport Science told him about the broad range of interests EIT has in terms of teaching and the community based research which reflects community needs.

Mr. Brown also enquired about job opportunities EIT graduates have. “Sport is a learning context for a lot of our students,” said Kirsten Westwood. “They build skills in order to establish their own business for example. A lot of our graduates work for Sport Hawke’s Bay, coach other athletes, work in gyms or as health advisers and with communities or in public services.”

The new EIT Institute of Sport and Health Science at the Sports Park in Hastings will be opened in July as both a research center and an important institution for community sport and health opportunities.