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Draft:Tessa Huntington

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Tessa Huntington
Born
Tessa Berger

(1994-09-02) 2 September 1994 (age 31)
Warkworth, New Zealand
OccupationEntrepreneur · Executive · Footballer · Politician
Height176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
SpousePhoebe Huntington (m. 2025)
Websitehttps://tessahuntington.com/

Tessa Huntington (née Berger[1]; born September 2, 1994) is a New Zealand-born entrepreneur, executive, former footballer, and politician. She founded Crimson Athletics, a division of Crimson Education, an education technology company valued at over US$1 billion.[2][3] From 2023 to 2025 she served as Chief Executive Officer of Squash New South Wales.[4] In politics, she was elected to the Auckland Council in 2016, representing the Warkworth subdivision of the Rodney Local Board, becoming one of New Zealand's youngest elected officials.[5][6][7] Huntington also represented New Zealand in international football and played collegiate football in the United States.[8][9]

Early Life and Education

Huntington grew up in Mahurangi, New Zealand, and attended Epsom Girls’ Grammar School in Auckland.[10] [11] She played football from a young age and was selected for New Zealand schools and National age-group squads as a teenager.[12][13] In 2013, she moved to the United States on a full athletic scholarship to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), an NCAA Division I institution.[14] At FGCU she combined her studies with football, and was recognised with a Scholar-Athlete Award for academic achievement.[15][14]

Football Career

Huntington made her senior debut in New Zealand’s top-flight women’s competition, the NRFL Women's Premiership at age 11.[16] She scored her first goal for Hibiscus Coast AFC on 30 April 2006 in a 1–0 win over Birkenhead United AFC, and has been reported as the youngest player to appear in the league.[17][16]

At Florida Gulf Coast University she received Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) All-Freshman First Team honours and later ASUN All-Conference First Team honours.[15][14] In 2013, she was ranked 18th on TopDrawerSoccer’s list of top college players.[18]

Internationally, Huntington represented New Zealand at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan. [8] She also competed in the OFC U-19 Women's Championship in 2012 [19][20] and played for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team that won the Trans-Tasman Series (Deane Low Trophy).[12][13]

Honours

Year Honours
2008 New Zealand Secondary Schools National Title[21]
2010 New Zealand Secondary Schools Trans-Tasman Series Title[13]
2012 ASB Bank Young Sportsperson of the Year (Football)
OFC U-19 Women’s Championship[22]
New Zealand Women's National League Title[23]
2013 NCAA Division I ASUN Conference Title[24]
NCAA Division I ASUN All-Conference First Team[9]
NCAA Division I ASUN All-Freshman First Team[9]
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Soccer Classic All Tournament Team[25][26]
2015 New Zealand Women's National League Title[27]
2016 Kate Sheppard Cup Title[28]
Maia Jackman Trophy (Most Valuable Player, Kate Sheppard Cup Final)[29]
2017 Kate Sheppard Cup Title[30]
2018 NRFL Women’s Premiership Title[31]
2025 NRFL Women’s Premiership Title[32]

Entrepreneurship and Executive Roles

After graduating, Huntington founded Crimson Athletics, a division of Crimson Education providing services for student-athletes.[33] Crimson Education has since been described as a “unicorn” company valued at over US$1 billion.[2][3]

In 2023 she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Squash New South Wales, the governing body for squash in the state.[4] In this role she worked with Squash Australia on pathways for elite junior athletes and broader participation programmes.[4][34]

Political Career

At age 22, Huntington was elected to the Rodney Local Board in the 2016 Auckland Council elections, becoming one of the youngest people elected to local government in New Zealand.[5][6][7] During her campaign, she received the highest possible ratings from the independent climate change mitigation organisation, Generation Zero.[5]

As a board member she was involved in the creation of the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate, projects to extend walking paths and greenways, youth engagement initiatives such as Kids Voting, and community recreation projects.[35][36][37]

Community and Non-Profit Work

Huntington has held community leadership roles in the Mahurangi region, including serving as President of Mahurangi Action Incorporated and Chair of the Mahurangi Coastal Path Trust.[38][39][40][41] Through these roles, she was involved in projects such as the Te Muri Regional Park crossing and the proposed greenway connections between Puhoi and Pakiri, which aimed to improve public access to coastal and rural areas.[38][39] She has also supported initiatives promoting the mental health and well-being benefits of outdoor trails and public open spaces.[41]

Personal Life

In interviews, Huntington has discussed her experiences of sexuality and identity, reflecting on the challenges of reconciling personal life with public roles.[42] She has also spoken about the influence of growing up in a rural-coastal New Zealand community on her values and career choices.[10] She married Phoebe Huntington in 2025.[43][44]

References

  1. ^ "2025 Women's National League – Week 3". The Niche Cache. 2025-10-15. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  2. ^ a b Keall, Chris (2024-08-31). "Newly minted unicorn: Jamie Beaton's Crimson raises $68m at $1b valuation". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. ^ a b editor, Paul SmithTechnology (2024-11-04). "NZ firm turns $1b unicorn helping kids get into elite unis". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-09-26. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b c "Tessa Berger Appointed as CEO of Squash NSW - Global HR News & Updates". 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  5. ^ a b c "Only council candidate to score straight-a pluses". Mahurangi Magazine. 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  6. ^ a b "Admirers steal hot property". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  7. ^ a b "Local election results as they come in". NZ Herald. 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  8. ^ a b "Junior Football Ferns squad named". Oceania Football Confederation. 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  9. ^ a b c "Tessa Berger - 2013 - Women's Soccer". FGCU Athletics. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  10. ^ a b "Junction May 2016". Issuu. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  11. ^ "Women in New Zealand Politics". Epsom Girls Grammar School. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  12. ^ a b "2010 Tour". www.ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  13. ^ a b c "Dec 18". www.ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  14. ^ a b c "Hansen's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honor Highlights #FGCU Awards Ceremony". FGCU Athletics. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  15. ^ a b SOFFIAN, SETH. "FGCU, A-Sun's dominant women's soccer program, poised for next step". The News-Press. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  16. ^ a b "Tactics to Secure Sports Scholarships - EP34 w/Tessa Berger". Mind-Design Sports. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  17. ^ "Tessa Berger". www.ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  18. ^ "@FGCU_WSoccer To Begin 2013 Season | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  19. ^ "Soccer: NZ squads named for OFC Women's qualifiers". NZ Herald. 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  20. ^ "OFC U-20 Women's Championship 2012". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  21. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  22. ^ "OFC U-20 Women's Championship 2012". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  23. ^ "Northern retain ASB Women's League title". Oceania Football Confederation. 2012-12-17. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  24. ^ "Tindell Scores Three, Finishes A-Sun Play Unbeaten". FGCU Athletics. 2013-10-26. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  25. ^ "Women's Soccer Stopped By Portland State". University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics. 2013-09-15. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  26. ^ "Tindell Sets Freshman Program Record As Continues To Roll In Hawaii". FGCU Athletics. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  27. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  28. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  29. ^ Matters, Local (2017-09-30). "Berger goes back to back with biggest title". Local Matters. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  30. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  31. ^ "Northern Premier Women's League". www.ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  32. ^ friendsoffootballnz_irqgpj (2025-09-25). "Northern champions West Coast Rangers aim high in women's National League". Friends of Football. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  33. ^ Matters, Local (2017-03-25). "Hectic start for Rodney rep". Local Matters. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  34. ^ Ltd, NSW Squash. "Talent and Next Gen Squads Shine at Successful Camp 1". www.nswsquash.com.au. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  35. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  36. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  37. ^ OurAuckland. "Young candidates the big winners in Kids Voting". OurAuckland. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  38. ^ a b "Coastal trail dream for paradise". NZ Herald. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  39. ^ a b Cimino (2016-08-25). "Car-free Te Muri with coastal trail no mirage". Mahurangi Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  40. ^ Matters, Local (2019-01-14). "Fury over plan to remove historic weir". Local Matters. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  41. ^ a b Matters, Local (2020-11-29). "Sir Peter Gluckman stresses trail mental health benefits". Local Matters. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  42. ^ "Tessa Berger: No one can take my sexuality away from me any more". Sauce. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  43. ^ "2025 Women's National League – Week 3". The Niche Cache. 2025-10-15. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  44. ^ "Biography". Tessa Huntington. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
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