Jason McKenzie

Jason McKenzie is a passionate Southlander who brings a deeply people-centred and growth-oriented approach to his role as a Personal Development Manager. With a foundation in teaching, counselling, and mental skills coaching, Jason has spent his career supporting athletes to navigate the pressures of performance while maintaining wellbeing, perspective, and balance. He holds a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, a Post-graduate Diploma in Teaching, a Master of Counselling, and a Post-graduate Diploma in Career Counselling for Elite Performers, and is a long-standing member of the New Zealand Association of Counselling. Jason is known for his commitment to continuous learning and for modelling a growth mindset in both his own development and his work with others.

Now entering his 20th year as PDM for Southland Rugby, Jason also contributes across the wider high-performance system through mental skills and wellbeing roles with New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Olympic Committee, and professional referees. Alongside this, he has worked as an approved Family Court counsellor since 2005 and provides professional supervision, bringing a strong ethical foundation, perspective, and depth of care to his work with players. Jason lives in Southland with his wife Suzanne and is a proud father to two adult daughters working in the sport and exercise field.