In the final instalment of our interview series with the NZ Paralympic Support Staff at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, we sit down with Deputy Chef de Mission Lynette Grace to discuss her role.
Requiring exceptional organisational, leadership and people skills — along with a healthy dose of diplomacy — the Deputy Chef de Mission position demands a broad skill set and plays a pivotal role in the engine room of any NZ Paralympic Team.
Fulfilling the varied elements of the position at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games is Lynette Grace, who is well versed in its demands. The Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) Head of Games and Sport Delivery will serve as Deputy Chef de Mission for the fifth time, following previous appointments at PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024, and will be her sixth Paralympic Games as a leader of the NZ Paralympic Teams campaigns starting with Rio 2016
The role of Deputy Chef de Mission is both strategic and operational in nature and as Gracey – as she is also known – admits the work for Milano Cortina 2026 effectively began the “day following the Closing Ceremony of Beijing 2022.”
“The Deputy Chef is the key conduit between the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the NZ Paralympic Team, both in the lead-up to and during the Paralympic Games,” she explains.
“I’m the person who receives information from all sides, and it’s my role to filter the key messages back to the Team without adding unnecessary pressure or noise. At the same time, I also work in reverse. Building those international relationships through site visits to the host city and its venues is critical as this allows me to help create the best possible Games-time environment for the NZ Paralympic Team.”
During Games-time, the Deputy Chef has more of an operational role.
Being part of a smaller team at a Paralympic Winter Games means Gracey is especially hands-on – more so than when at a Summer Paralympic Games with a much larger Team. Her role is broad and can involve everything from sourcing supplies, securing equipment and supporting the NZ Paralympic Team staff, including the Chef de Mission.
“I am the glue that holds everyone together,” she explains. “The breadth of responsibilities means I could be making the coffees, sorting out accreditation or transport one moment, and the next I could be talking about a security matter with New Zealand Government Agencies.”
So what qualities are required to succeed in the role?
“You need to be strong at building relationships, enjoy working with people, and remain calm under pressure,” she says. “A practical mindset and the ability to think critically through challenges are essential, as is good diplomacy — particularly when working across international relationships.”
Gracey also recognises that energising and supporting the wider Team is central to her role, but her partnership with the Chef de Mission is especially important.
“It’s critical,” she says. “Communication needs to be excellent and there must be trust. I’ve known Jane Stevens, our Chef de Mission for Milano Cortina 2026, for years — we are really clear on our roles and how each other works and how we can best complement each other’s skills.”
Boasting extensive experience as a Deputy Chef de Mission, Gracey finds it difficult to single out one standout highlight from previous Games, instead reflecting on the many “micro moments” which have provided cherished memories both inside the competition environment and outside.
Milano Cortina 2026 will undoubtedly provide another treasure trove of memories. So, what are her hopes for the NZ Paralympic Team?
“As a Support Staff member, it may sound like a cliché, but I just want the Team to achieve their goals and have a great experience. If I have helped create an environment where our Paralympians and Support Staff can thrive, then I have done my job.”
