World Boxing has appointed Ian Hunt as its new Ethics Chief.
Hunt has more than 40 years’ experience of legal practice covering a wide range of areas that includes litigation and advice in civil and commercial areas including trusts and estates, medico-legal, insurance, employment, professional discipline, governance, and sport related matters.
He is currently a barrister at Left Bank Chambers in Christchurch and is a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the World Athletics Disciplinary and Appeals Panel, Sport Resolutions International Panel, the FIA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee, the FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) Ethics Committee, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Independent Tribunal and the World Aquatics ad hoc Legal Committee. He has also worked in legal disciplinary roles for over 20 years and is a member of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal
As World Boxing’s Ethics Chief, Hunt will advise on issues and disagreements related to governance and operations; review policies and programmes to ensure they are consistent with World Boxing’s ethics and values; respond to complaints and enquiries of an ethical nature; bring forward issues of ethical importance to the Executive Board and Secretary General; and ensure World Boxing’s operational activities are ethical, fair and transparent.
In this independent position, he will be the first point of contact for all issues and determine, in the first instance, if a complaint is required to be elevated to the approved World Boxing independent third-party organisation for further action or can be dealt with reasonably and fairly within the existing governance remit of the organisation. The full Terms of Reference for the role of World Boxing’s Ethics Chief can be viewed HERE.
Hunt was nominated for the role by an independent three-person panel and his appointment was ratified by the Executive Board of World Boxing. He succeeds Professor Jack Anderson, who recently stepped down from the role after two years.
World Boxing’s Acting Secretary General, Mike McAtee said: “As an organisation which places enormous emphasis on strong governance and ethical practice, the role of Ethics Chief is very important at World Boxing, and the Executive Board is very happy to be able to appoint such an outstanding candidate.
“Ian has a superb track record in sports legal practice and we have no doubt that he will play an important role in enabling World Boxing to ensure it continues to operate with the highest standards of governance and ethical practice.”
Ian Hunt added: “World Boxing has committed to a culture of transparency and integrity supported by strong governance and leadership as it works towards full IOC recognition and becomes a leading international sports federation, focussed upon the advancement of the sport of boxing and the protection of its athletes.
“The role of the Ethics Chief is critical to establishing and maintaining clear and transparent ethical standards and the opportunity to do so is what attracted me to this position. I look forward to building on the strong foundations created by my predecessor, Professor Jack Anderson, in this important and independent role.”
A native of New Zealand, Hunt has practiced at all levels of the New Zealand Court system and in Courts in the United Kingdom. His experience covers a wide range of sports law practice and includes acting for individuals, national and regional sporting organisations and clubs in a wide range of sports, including: archery, boxing, canoe racing, cricket, lawn bowls, motor sport, mountain biking, netball, road cycling, rugby, rugby league, shooting, surfing, swimming, triathlon, weightlifting, winter sports (including ice hockey, ice speed skating and alpine and free ride skiing), wrestling and numerous other sports.
He has represented individual athletes and national and regional sporting organisations and clubs, and the New Zealand Olympic Committee, in various matters including proceedings before the High Court of New Zealand, the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and numerous domestic disciplinary and related tribunals in connection with anti-doping, ethical, conduct related, selection and governance matters.
Hunt is a former director of High Performance Sport NZ, Snowsports NZ and Swimming New Zealand and is a former president of ANZSLA, the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association. Recent appointments to various judicial panels and Tribunals include Chair of the Independent Panel of the Commonwealth Games Federation Court for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games; a World Sailing Independent Tribunal; the 2022 Rugby League World Cup ad hoc Panel; the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Finals Independent Tribunal; and the 2023 and 2024 Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup Finals Independent Tribunal, along with other confidential appointments in respect of various sports.
World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with a mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. It held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024 and on 25 February 2025, it was granted provisional recognition by the IOC as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.