Dr Sarah Wymer

Senior Lecturer
Sport Leadership and Management

Dr Sarah Wymer joined AUT in January 2025, drawn home to New Zealand after building her career in sport management at Griffith University in Australia. She's already found a role where teaching, research and industry work don't compete for her time – they feed each other.

What’s your role and how long have you been at AUT?

I’m a senior lecturer in sport leadership and management, and I’ve been at AUT since January 2025. Before joining AUT, I was a lecturer in sport and event management at Griffith University in Australia. My teaching and research focus on sport marketing, digital media, fan engagement, social media and the changing role of technology in sport.

What made you choose AUT – and what made you stay?

Joining AUT was an opportunity to come home to New Zealand and contribute to the sector that shaped me. After spending several years building my career in Australia, I wanted to bring that experience back and help develop the next generation of sport professionals here. What has made me stay is the trust and freedom I’ve been given. From day one, I’ve been encouraged to redesign courses, build meaningful partnerships with industry and pursue research that has real-world impact. AUT backs people with ideas, and that has made it possible to create learning experiences that simply would not have happened if I had been expected to teach in more traditional ways.

What has surprised you most about working here?

What has surprised me most is how connected AUT is with industry. Since joining, my professional network has grown significantly because organisations genuinely want to collaborate with the university. Whether it's supporting research, co-designing courses, guest lecturing, mentoring students or partnering on projects, there's a real willingness to work together. That has made my work far more fulfilling. Those relationships not only create richer learning experiences for students, but they also strengthen my research by ensuring it's grounded in real industry challenges and can give something back to the sector. Rather than teaching, researching and engaging with industry as separate activities, AUT has created an environment where they all reinforce one another.

When did you last think: this is why I do this job?

Universities don't just produce graduates, they shape careers, confidence and aspirations. For me, the most rewarding moments aren't necessarily when a student receives a good grade, but when they begin to see themselves differently. This semester, one student told me they had changed their major because of my course and had realised this was the career they wanted to pursue. Another shared that it was the first university course where they genuinely felt like they were working in the sport industry, rather than simply learning about it. Those conversations remind me why I chose academia. If I can help a student discover a career they're passionate about, build the confidence to back themselves or leave university feeling genuinely prepared for the industry they're entering, then I've done something that extends far beyond the classroom.

What does working here let you do that you couldn’t do anywhere else?

One of the things I value most about AUT is that I've been given the opportunity and support to invest in all aspects of my role. Rather than feeling like I have to choose between being a good teacher, an active researcher or someone who contributes to industry, I've been able to do all three well. More importantly, those parts of my role don't exist in isolation. My research is shaped by conversations with industry, my teaching is informed by that research and students benefit from working on real projects with organisations across the sport sector. In turn, those industry partnerships continue to create new research opportunities and stronger learning experiences. That's been incredibly rewarding because it means my work has impact in multiple directions – supporting students, contributing to knowledge and giving something meaningful back to the sport industry. I don't think I'd have been able to build that kind of integrated career so quickly anywhere else.