Nathan Godfrey

Nathan Godfrey (born 13 September 1977) is an entrepreneur and sports executive best known as the former CEO of the Canterbury Rugby Union in New Zealand and current General Manager at Football Australia. He is also a member of the 7 Continents Club.

Education
Godfrey attended the University of Otago where he studied bachelor degrees in Commerce and Education. In 2018, he graduated with an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business.

Career
Godfrey’s sports management career began in 2010 as an AFLPA accredited player agent before joining the Adelaide Crows in 2012 where he worked for 3 years. In early 2015, Godfrey relocated to New Zealand to take up a role as Head of Commercial at the Wellington Phoenix working closely with Football Australia to renew the A-League license and secure global partnerships.

In December 2016, Godfrey was appointed Chief Executive Officer at the Canterbury Rugby Union following in the footsteps of All Blacks CEO Steve Tew and Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach.

Godfrey was an advocate for diversity and inclusion and was instrumental in leading a high profile anti-discrimination campaign endorsed by the Human Rights Commission. He also announced the first female CRFU Board representative in 138 years of history.

Godfrey was vocal in supporting the Ardern Government's vision to fund a new multi-purpose venue to replace the earthquake damaged stadium in Christchurch. He signed off on an investment in the Seattle Seawolves, a US-based rugby franchise, as part of a wider strategy to attract international fans and grow commercial revenue.

Godfrey made a controversial decision to ignore the Crusaders and Canterbury Men’s teams who had both won their respective Championships, instead choosing to nominate the Canterbury Women’s Rugby Team for their inaugural success in 2017. The Canterbury Women's team went on to be named ‘Team of the Year’ at the 2018 Sports Awards and subsequently won four New Zealand Championship titles in a row.

In late 2018, Godfrey announced he was stepping down as CEO to return home to Australia with his young family. Godfrey immediately entered the public sector as Director Programs & Operations at the NSW Government Office of Sport where he was responsible for grant funding, policy and regulation. He also sat on the National Board at the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Family
Godfrey married Australian volleyball athlete Heike Jensen in 2016 at a private ceremony on Kangaroo Island. They have two daughters and currently reside in the Adelaide Hills. Jensen is a Chartered Accountant and represented Australia on the FIVB World Tour between 2005-2012.

Running
Godfrey was a promising junior 400m sprinter and participated at the IAAF World U20 Track & Field Championships in 1996. He holds the student-athlete record of 48.53 seconds set at Christchurch Boys' High School in 1995.

Godfrey completed marathons in France, Japan, USA, Peru, South Africa, and Australia between 2008-2015. In 2018, he became a member of the 7 Continents Club finishing the Antarctica Marathon in 4 hours 54 minutes.

In 2015, Godfrey founded the Kangaroo Island Marathon which is held annually in Flinders Chase National Park. The event has attracted thousands of runners representing 23 countries and was awarded a bronze medal at the South Australian Tourism Awards in 2021. The business was acquired by international run travel agency Marathon Tours and Travel in 2024.

TV
Godfrey was a cast member on the inaugural season of Million Dollar Island; an adventure TV format hosted by SAS-star Ant Middleton and broadcast on the Seven Network in 2023.

Godfrey was a fan favourite and popular leader in his camp after winning $50,000 during an arena challenge on day six. The following night, Godfrey shocked fellow players and host Ant Middleton when he donated his bracelets to team mate Brett Krause in what was arguably the most strategic play in the game propelling Krause to a place in the final three.