Sophie Heinz

Sophie Heinz brings a strong education and wellbeing focus to her role as Personal Development Manager for Canterbury and Matatū. Of Ngāi Tahu (Ngāti Waewae) and Cook Island (Rarotongan) descent, Sophie is grounded in culture, community, and connection. She studied a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury and completed Therapeutic Counselling Level 5 in the United Kingdom, where she lived for nearly eight years. Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to helping people grow, build resilience, and navigate change with confidence.

Alongside her work in education and counselling, Sophie has held senior business leadership roles, including General Manager and Franchise Support for O-Studio, bringing strong organisational capability and commercial insight to her work. As a mother of three, and with both her husband Will and brother having 17-year professional rugby careers, Sophie has extensive lived experience supporting high-performance athletes and their whānau. She works alongside players with empathy and authenticity, supporting them to thrive both in the game and beyond it. Outside of work, Sophie embodies all things wellbeing and loves spending time being active with Will and their whānau.