Ms Meri Gibson, of Christchurch, ONZM, for services to dragon boating and breast cancer awareness
Meri Gibson has held numerous roles, including President, within the Abreast of Life dragon boat team, made up of breast cancer survivors. She was instrumental in establishing the Aoraki Dragon Boat Association, the sport’s South Island governing body, and served as President. She chaired the New Zealand Dragon Boat Association. She was a founding member of the Oceania Dragon Boat Federation. She was appointed as a member of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission, and subsequently as Global President. During her leadership, membership has grown 50 percent. Ms Gibson captained the New Zealand Black Dragons Senior B Women’s team at the Dragon Boat World Championships in 2019, and was the Chef de Mission for the New Zealand Black Dragons campaign at the Dragon Boat World Championships in 2023.