OMRF Club Otago - April 2025

03/04/2025

Q&A with Suzie Bates

We hope you will join us after work for a celebration of cricketing success right here in Dunedin. We are excited to announce an informal Q&A with our guest speaker Suzie Bates - White Ferns all-rounder and trailblazer for women’s cricket in New Zealand.

Not only that, Suzie will be chatting to ex Otago-Volts player, Warren McSkimming. Warren is now the Corporate Manager at Otago Cricket and goes way back with Suzie, so I'm sure there will be some laughs along the way.

Since her debut as a teen in 2006, Bates has gone on to forge a reputation as one of the top players in the world, collecting numerous individual honours, including being named the ICC ODI and T20I player of the year. In 2015 Bates was named by Wisden as the leading female cricketer in the world. She is also New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs, surpassing the legendary Debbie Hockley’s tally of 4064 runs in 2018.

Given her stature in the game, it’s no surprise Bates is in demand to play in leagues all around the globe, plying her trade in Australia and the UK, as well as for her beloved province Otago in the domestic league. A brilliant all-round athlete, Bates has also played international basketball for New Zealand, representing the Tall Ferns at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Suzie will be “interviewed” by Warren McSkimming – a former professional cricketer who played for the Otago cricket team between 1999-2000 and 2011-12, making more than 170 senior appearances for the side.

The Long Room

We are privileged to be holding this Club Otago event in the Long Room at the University of Otago Oval. What greater venue is there for an event celebrating the success of our Otago and New Zealand cricketers?

Whilst we won't have sit-down tables like our usual Club Otago events, we hope you will still book a group of tickets and invite your colleagues, clients, friends etc. There is still plenty of seating if you want it, or stand and mingle. Once you enter the Long Room, you'll understand why we have booked this event in such a special cricketing venue. Car parking is available - details will be provided when you book your tickets. 

Face of Research

Dr Kate Thomas from the Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Otago will also give a brief overview of the research she is undertaking as part of an OMRF annual grant awarded last year. 

Dr Thomas is performing a study examining the effects exercise has on brain health. We look forward to hearing an update from Kate about the project.

Tickets

Please contact Tracey Fleet ([email protected] or 021 030 4900) to book your tickets. Tickets are $65 for Club Otago members and $75 for non-members. This includes beverages and substantial nibbles, as well as the opportunity to network and hear Suzie and Warren chat, and ask them questions.

If you have a Corporate Club Otago membership, Tracey will arrange your complimentary tickets.

Club Otago

Tracey can also provide information if you want to find out more about Club Otago and becoming a member. We have individual and corporate membership options - see https://omrf.org.nz/events/club-otago/ for details.