Academy Southland is celebrating 20 years of developing and supporting Southland’s top athletes, a milestone that reflects the dedication of its board, staff and wider supporters.
For two decades, the Academy has played a key role in helping local talent reach their goals and for many to compete on the international stage.
ILT has proudly supported Academy Southland since 2007, and as of the most recent meeting, funding had reached over $980,000. This funding has helped with sponsorship, the establishment of the training centre at the velodrome, and the operational costs needed to deliver world-class training and athlete development programmes.
As a region, Southland is known for its strong sporting culture, and programmes like Academy Southland are a big part of that success. The Academy doesn’t just help athletes perform; it also gives them life skills, resilience and perspectives they will use well beyond sport.
This long-standing support stepped up another level in 2025, when ILT became the naming-rights sponsor.
ILT President Paddy O’Brien, said it was an easy yes from the board.
“It’s a natural extension of our partnership with an organisation that shares our strong community ties.”
“We love that the Academy gives young people something to aspire to and a clear pathway to achieve their goals, including competing and shining on the international stage.
“We’re excited about the future to see how many more Olympians the region can produce, and, more importantly, how many great young people come out of Academy Southland,” said Paddy.
The connection does not end at the Academy door. Many of the athletes have further benefited from ILT’s funding like netballer Aliyah Dunn, a key part of the Southern Steel and Cormac Buchanan a motorsport GP3 rider who has also received international sports scholarships from the ILT Foundation.
This partnership showcases the power of community support and individual determination in driving Southland’s ongoing sporting success.
Caption: Johanna Leitch, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Cormac Buchanan, Motorsport GP3 Rider. Carly Anderson ILT Academy Southland, Paddy O’Brien ILT President, and Aliyah Dunn, Southern Steel.
