Auckland, New Zealand — 21 May 2026 · ONOC Media

The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) brought its XLVI Annual General Assembly to a meaningful close on Thursday 21 May at the Hilton Auckland, New Zealand, presenting two of the region's most distinguished sporting figures with the 2026 ONOC Merit Award. Helen Brownlee of Australia and Cathy Wong of Fiji were honoured in recognition of their exceptional and enduring contributions to sport in the Pacific and beyond, with ONOC President Baklai Temengil-Chilton personally presenting both awards on behalf of the Executive Board and the broader ONOC family.

President Baklai opened the presentations with warmth and personal reflection, describing both recipients as her mentors and underlining the significance of the occasion.

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“They are both my mentors and they are both women. We see a lot of women on the table, but it is the women who are mentors and mentees, and then the men are our allies that sit next to us to make sure that we do the things together for everyone.” — Baklai Temengil-Chilton, President, ONOC

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Helen Brownlee was announced as the first recipient. A former international canoeing athlete, official and administrator, Brownlee is widely regarded as a pioneering figure in Australian and Oceania sport. She officiated and served on juries at the Olympic Games from Munich 1972 through to Sydney 2000 and went on to hold significant leadership positions, becoming the first woman elected to the Executive Board of the Australian Olympic Committee and later the first woman elected as AOC Vice President in 2013. She served as President of the Australian Canoe Federation for 14 years and as President of the NSW Olympic Council.

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Within ONOC, her legacy is equally profound. As founding Chair and later Co-Chair of the ONOC Equity Commission, formerly the Women and Sport Commission, Brownlee championed pathways for women leaders, coaches, technical officials and administrators across the Pacific. Her work advanced safeguarding, inclusion and governance representation throughout the region, and she was instrumental in establishing the ACE Award to recognise outstanding individuals advancing gender equality through sport in Oceania. President Baklai recalled that long before she had her own seat at the leadership table, Brownlee was already advocating for her, consistently urging the Executive Board to trust the women around them.

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“I am really humbled by this, because it is you guys, all of you sitting around the table, that have achieved so much over the years. You have listened, and you have taken action, and the reason we are in such a strong position today is because of the work that you are doing.” — Helen Brownlee

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The second Merit Award was presented to Cathy Wong, a sports administrator, medical professional and tireless advocate for athlete welfare whose contribution to Pacific sport spans more than three decades. President Baklai spoke with deep affection of first meeting Wong nearly 20 years ago in Palau, where she was conducting sports medicine workshops, and described her as someone who is always there for everyone, travelling across Oceania to ensure the care and welfare of athletes at every level.

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Wong's record of service is remarkable in its breadth. Through her work with Fiji Rugby, Oceania Rugby and World Rugby, she became the first Pasifika woman appointed to the World Rugby Council in 2018 and served as Oceania Rugby's first Women's Director. She has held senior leadership roles within FASANOC, including the presidency from 2025, and her longstanding service on the ONOC Medical Commission has strengthened athlete care standards, safeguarding and sports medicine capacity-building across the region. She also served as Fiji's Chef de Mission at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

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“This is on behalf of all the volunteers who give their time in this space. This is for the volunteers.” — Cathy Wong

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The presentation of the 2026 ONOC Merit Awards provided a fitting conclusion to the XLVI Annual General Assembly, a week of strategic dialogue, collaboration and reflection for the Olympic movement across Oceania. In recognising Helen Brownlee and Cathy Wong, ONOC reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating the individuals whose dedication has made Pacific sport stronger, more inclusive and more united.