John Bowden has been a member of the WMRA Council since 2022, when he was first elected, and is the only Asia-Oceania representative. John’s main working focus on the Council has been the reinstatement and re-energising of the Athletes Commission and to represent the views of the Asia-Oceania athletes and administrators.

John has represented New Zealand at four World Cross Country Championships, one Commonwealth Games, and two World University Games. He, along with three other New Zealand athletes, broke the world record for the 4 x one mile relay. He graduated from Auckland University with a Master’s degree and was a High School teacher before becoming a professional athlete based in the USA, competing on the road circuit.

John currently serves as the Out of Stadia Convenor of Selectors for Athletics New Zealand and coaches 21 athletes in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe across mountain and trail, road, track and field, and cross-country events. Former athletes he has coached have won world titles in mountain, cross country, and road running, in the senior, U20, and Masters categories.

John is based in Tauranga, New Zealand, with his family.