Kate is a physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience in elite women’s sport. She currently works with the Australian Women’s Cricket Team and previously spent over a decade supporting the Matildas as lead physio. Her career has included roles at multiple World Cups, Commonwealth Games, and Olympic Games, where she has contributed to interdisciplinary teams focused on athlete health, performance, and longevity.  Kate’s approach to high performance care is grounded in practical experience and shaped by long-standing collaboration with athletes and support teams across elite sport. 

Dr Ferris is a high-performance sport coach, researcher, and educator with over 15 years’ experience in developing elite athletes and advancing applied sport science. He lectures in Exercise and Sport Science at UNE and recently completed his PhD at Griffith University, focusing on biochemical indices of training and competition in elite contact sport athletes. Dan has held leadership roles as Head of Physical Performance for several NRL clubs, including the Canterbury Bulldogs, Manly Sea Eagles, and Gold Coast Titans. 

Associate Professor Crowther is a specialist in human movement science with research expertise in dynamic systems theory, movement variability, tissue adaptation, and human-computer interaction. He is the Discipline Convenor and Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science and Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of New England. 

Mel Marshall is one of the most respected figures in international swimming, known for her success both in the pool and on the pool deck. A dual Olympian and five-time Olympic finalist, Mel claimed over 20 international medals during her swimming career before transitioning into high-performance coaching.She is best known as the long-time coach of Olympic and World Champion Adam Peaty, guiding him to eight Olympic medals and 15 world records.

Ellice De Giovanni, founder of Eligned, is a leading expert in health, movement, and brain function, with over 20 years’ experience in the wellness industry. Her innovative “brain changing movement” methods combine brain mapping, functional neurology, and cellular health to help thousands improve well-being, empowering individuals with effective, accessible wellness practices.

Sheridan Hawkins is passionate about helping athletes build a deep understanding of themselves and the tools to thrive—on the field and beyond. Now with League Ahead as the NRLW’s Wellbeing & Education Manager, Sheridan draws on her experience at the Sydney Roosters and a strong foundation in career coaching and HR. Her mission? To ensure every athlete feels supported, empowered, and ready to flourish in any environment.

Jasmine Herlihy is a sports and exercise physiotherapist with extensive experience in elite sport. Over the past five years, she has worked within the AFLW, providing injury management, rehabilitation, and performance support to professional athletes. Prior to her AFLW career, Jasmine gained valuable experience in rugby union and soccer, broadening her expertise across high-performance environments. She completed her studies at Griffith University and La Trobe University, building a strong academic foundation to complement her clinical practice. Jasmine is dedicated to evidence-based care, athlete wellbeing, and fostering environments that support both peak performance and long-term health.

Over 20 years’ experience creating and delivering shared excellence through industry engagement. Experienced across business development, relationship management, sales, marketing, communications and complex negotiations in Australia, China, Asia and Europe. Danielle has worked in sport during this time, including the NBA and PRISM Sport and Entertainment. She is well-connected, with a breadth of experience across a broad range of industries and categories to support business growth and pipeline management. 

Dr. Clare Minahan is an Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport at Griffith University, specialising in the unique physiology of female athletes and optimising human performance. Her work has advanced the understanding of how women respond to exercise and training, with over 45% of her research outputs focusing exclusively on female participants—well above global averages. With more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and numerous keynote presentations at international conferences, Dr. Minahan is widely regarded for her contributions to advancing female-focused sports science.

Jodie has etched a strong career in sports administration, with almost two decade’s experience across a variety of sports and roles particularly lead cricket and now Swimming. Jodie is responsible for driving commercial and sponsorship revenue growth, developing diverse revenue generation strategies, managing broadcast negotiations, and delivering impactful events. Her leadership also extends to overseeing marketing and communications, consumer-facing technology, staff development, stakeholder management, and budget planning, along with advocating for the sport across various levels. 

Dr. Melanie Hayman (BHMSc, Med Practice, PhD) is an Associate Professor in the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, at CQUniversity. To date, she has published >50 peer-reviewed manuscripts (FWCI = 2.02) with 30% of her publications in the top 10% most cited publications worldwide, and 40% of her publications in the top 10% of journals worldwide.

She has also authored multiple national industry/government reports including the recently released Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Best Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood, Australian Evidence-based Physical Activity Guidelines for Pregnant Women and the Australian Physical Activity Screening Tool for Pregnant Women (endorsed by peak industry bodies) Australian Evidence-based Physical Activity Guidelines for Pregnant Women. She also led a group of content experts in 2022 to develop educational resources for recreational and elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy in partnership with the AIS Female Performance Health Initiative.

Dr Hayman provides expertise as a researcher, content expert and appointed industry representative in guideline and policy development to national and international sporting organisations (including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), AIS and Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA)). She is an active member of the WTA Women’s Health Taskforce, SMA QLD Council and the LEAPP (Living Evidence for Australian Pregnancy & Postnatal Care) Steering Committee, tasked with leading critical updates to current clinical practice maternity care guidelines. 

Leanne Bats is a Future of Sports Architect, blending creativity, technology, fandom, and purpose to shape the industry’s evolution. As Head of Digital & Innovation at Sport Waikato, she drives transformative initiatives, and as Co-Founder of GENSport, she unlocks commercial opportunities in global women’s sport, helping investors drive growth, equity, and next-generation fan engagement. With two decades of experience at the intersection of sport, fandom, digital transformation, and commercial strategy, Leanne is a trailblazer in fan engagement and innovation. She previously led Innovation at New Zealand Rugby, pioneering emerging technologies to deepen connections with the iconic teams in black. Her global impact includes serving as ANZ Regional Partner for FC Barcelona, delivering the club’s developmental philosophy to young athletes across Australia and New Zealand. 

Sara-Ashlee Tait is a Gold Coast–based elite para-athlete and passionate disability advocate. Born with Spina Bifida, she has used a wheelchair since infancy but has never let that define or limit her. Growing up in a sporty family, Sara has represented Queensland and Australia across multiple adaptive sports, including wheelchair racing, basketball, and para-triathlon.

Her sporting highlights include winning gold at the 2015 World Open Para-Triathlon Championships in Chicago and the Para-Duathlon Championships in Adelaide, placing 6th at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and competing at the 2022 World Championships in Abu Dhabi. Recently, following injury, Sara transitioned to para-rowing—winning gold at her first national regatta and training toward representing Australia on the world stage.

Beyond sport, Sara holds a Bachelor of Design (Graphic and Communication Design) from Griffith University, where she also works as a Simulated Patient. She has served as a disability ambassador for multiple initiatives, including the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, and currently works as a Disability Access Consultant with Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN). She is also co-designing a major para-sport project in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.

Sara’s journey reflects resilience, versatility, and a lifelong commitment to creating more inclusive sporting and community spaces.

Nikki Ayers was training to be an Australian Women’s Rugby Union Wallaroo, when a traumatic knee dislocation left her fighting to save her leg. 16 surgeries in 9 months was the gruelling start of her recovery.

Epitomising resilience, Nikki kept looking for the positives to avoid falling apart.  There was one ligament still holding her knee together.  She had family and friends encouraging her every step of the way.  And para sporting organisations were reaching out within months.  She seized the opportunities and pushed herself to make the most of this traumatic injury. Only 8 years later she was standing on the podium at the 2024 Paris Paralympics with a gold medal around her neck. 

Nikki grew up in Dalmeny, a small town on the South Coast of NSW. As a young girl, Nikki was introduced to Rugby Union when Rugby League no longer let her play with the boys. She found her new passion and dreamt of wearing the Green and Gold Wallaroo jersey.  Nikki was on her way, representing the ACT Women’s Brumbies 15 a side, captaining the Brumbies 7’s team and working as a Registered Nurse at the Canberra Hospital, when her dream was shattered.      

In 2016 Nikki was in the Wallaroo training squad when playing for her local club, the Tuggeranong Vikings, an innocuous tackle dislocated her knee, tearing 3 ligaments, severing an artery and severing a nerve.  Nikki needed a partial amputation of her leg and was left with foot drop. While Nikki gained many scars physical and emotional from her journey she embraced resilience, positive thinking and the mantra ‘control what you can control’.

And one thing she could control was how she recovered. During her recovery, Nikki focussed on her rehabilitation to get stronger and fitter unaware that she could now be a para-athlete. Nikki didn’t stop at the gym during her rehabilitation and completed the punishing Kokoda trek in 2018 two years after her life-changing injury. 2018 also saw Nikki find a new passion for para-rowing and reignited her dream of wearing the Green and Gold. Nikki trained hard making the 2018 PR3 mixed coxed four, for the Rowing World Championships in Bulgaria, coming 5th.  More determined than ever, Nikki strove towards the Paralympics and winning gold. With resilience and a positive mindset Nikki became a Paralympian and competed at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games coming 4^th in the PR3 mixed coxed four.

After some time away in 2022 to pursue further studies and complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery Studies, Nikki’s drive to win gold had not disappeared. Getting back into the boat in 2023, Nikki was selected in the Australian PR3 mixed double. Twice breaking the world best times and winning gold at the 2023 Rowing World Cup two in Gavirate, Italy, and the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Going in as the hot favourite for the 2024 Paris Paralympics gold medal, Nikki had to embrace the pressure, building resilience, pushing her physical and mental limits.  With her rowing partner Jed Altschwager, the dynamic duo crossed the line first.  Nikki achieved her dream of Paralympic gold. 

A Paralympic Champion, a former state rugby union player and a Registered Nurse and Midwife, Nikki can finally relax …. until the next dream. 

Jacqueline Smith-Dubendorfer is a strategic growth and digital commerce leader with a track record of scaling iconic global brands. At adidas, she was instrumental in growing the digital business from €60M to €4B, leading the brand’s transformation across DTC and B2B channels. She later led digital sales acceleration at Porsche, uniting premium brand storytelling with scalable tech infrastructure. Now as a founding member of GENSport, Jacqueline is focused on reshaping the future of women’s sport—helping organisations build investable, culturally resonant, and revenue-ready brands and assets through a proven growth framework.  Her work draws on two decades of global experience and a firm belief that the playbook of the past won’t unlock the potential of what’s next. 

Leanne Bats is a Future of Sports Architect, blending creativity, technology, fandom, and purpose to shape the industry’s evolution. As Head of Digital & Innovation at Sport Waikato, she drives transformative initiatives. As Co-Founder of GENSport, she unlocks commercial opportunities in global women’s sport, helping investors drive growth, equity, and next-generation fan engagement. With two decades of experience at the intersection of sport, fandom, digital transformation, and commercial strategy, Leanne is a trailblazer in fan engagement and innovation. She previously led Innovation at New Zealand Rugby, pioneering emerging technologies to deepen connections with the iconic teams in black. Her global impact includes serving as ANZ Regional Partner for FC Barcelona, delivering the club’s developmental philosophy to young athletes across Australia and New Zealand. 

Hannah is highly regarded within the sports industry as an innovative and insightful leader with the power to both devise and articulate brand marketing and content strategies that drive audience and consumer engagement and business growth.

A dynamic Business and Culture Change Leader in Marketing, Distribution, and Corporate Strategy, including experience working internationally, and across Australia and New Zealand.

With over 20 years’ experience leading high-performing and Award-winning Commercially focused Marketing Teams across Film and Media, she has also been an Executive Board Director for the last 7 years, with responsibility for corporate strategy, communications and building people-first initiatives.

Jo is the Managing Director, Octagon APAC & Africa, based in Singapore.  In this role, she leads commercial growth, client success, and regional talent in delivering culturally relevant, impactful, integrated campaigns for blue-chip clients across the global sport and entertainment landscape. With over 20 years of experience, she has honed her expertise in brand marketing, event execution and partnership strategy and activation.  She has successfully delivered integrated partnership campaigns and experiences for clients like Coca-Cola, Ferrero, Grab, Mastercard, Prudential and Shell and Standard Chartered across multiple continents and major events.

Over 20 years’ experience creating and delivering shared excellence through industry engagement. Experienced across business development, relationship management, sales, marketing, communications and complex negotiations in Australia, China, Asia and Europe. Danielle has worked in sport during this time, including the NBA and PRISM Sport and Entertainment. She is well-connected, with a breadth of experience across a broad range of industries and categories to support business growth and pipeline management. 

Jennie Sager is the CEO of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). Jennie is a globally recognised leader in the entertainment, media, and technology sectors, and brings a wealth of experience and an innovative approach as the WNBL enters an exciting new chapter following its acquisition by Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate and the NBL.

Ann is one of Australia’s leading business executives with a career that spans Government, Banking and Cruise Tourism. She is an active philanthropist with a passion for improving opportunities and removing barriers for women in STEM and sport, and supporting opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

Ann is the Chancellor of Queensland University of Technology and a Non-executive Director of National Australia Bank. She is the Chair of Queensland Airports Limited, the Port of Townville, UNICEF Australia, Super Members Council of Australia, Circa Contemporary Circus and Climate Leaders Coalition. Ann is a Member of Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

Emma McKeon is the most decorated Australian Olympian in history and a proud UNICEF Australia Ambassador. With a remarkable 14 Olympic medals to her name, Emma made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by becoming the most successful female swimmer at a single Olympics, winning seven medals.

Beyond the pool, Emma is a proud UNICEF Australia Ambassador, a role she took on in November 2022 to advocate for children’s rights and global health issues.

Tara McGrath-West is an NRLW star who leads with heart; both on and off the field. Since debuting with the Dragons in 2022 and now representing the Broncos, she’s been part of the powerful movement shaping the future of women’s rugby league. Off the field, Tara played a key role in Classic Sportswear’s athlete feedback sessions and wearer trials, helping to revolutionise the fit and design of Classic’s NRLW kits worn by players today.

Holly is a top-netballer, turned VFL player, and a passionate advocate for the advancement of females in sport and leadership. In 2016 she channeled her passion into Play Like a Girl, a movement she founded dedicated to empowering females through the lens of sport.

Carinda is a dynamic and passionate leader with an exceptional background in sports marketing spanning from Australian Sailing to Classic Sportswear.

With expertise spanning marketing and PR, brand and campaign management, event and project management, social media strategy, and athlete, influencer, and ambassador management, Carinda’s career and approach have a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on execution.

Tracie McGovern is a former Matilda, proudly holding Cap #102, and the founder of The Australian Sportswoman, a platform built on three core pillars: supporting Australian female athletes and teams, promoting women’s sporting events, and inspiring the next generation of female athletes. Tracie plays an integral role in the development of wearable technology designed specifically for women, while also championing initiatives that advance female representation in sport.

Britt Wickes is a creative and commercially minded marketing leader with nearly two decades of experience building brands that connect — emotionally, culturally, and commercially. With a career that spans 18 years across Australia and the UK, Britt has worked with some of the world’s most recognised brands across sport, retail, finance, and entertainment. 

Currently leading Event Brand Marketing at Tennis Australia, she plays a pivotal role in shaping how the Australian Open — and a broader calendar of global tennis events – shows up to fans and partners alike.

A seasoned marketing and sponsorship professional, Belinda has led strategic global partnerships across sport and entertainment from brand side, agency and more recently, rights holders. Currently serving as the Head of New Partnerships at Tennis Australia, Belinda leads a team responsible for identifying, negotiating, and managing new sponsorship and commercial opportunities across the entire Tennis Australia ecosystem—from grassroots programs to Grand Slam events.

Previously, Belinda spent 15 years of her career in London, where most recently was the Commercial Director at England Netball. During that time Belinda successfully oversaw the commercial strategy and developed a framework for sustainable growth during COVID. Prior to that, she spent nearly seven years at Wasserman as Vice President of Brand Strategy, leading major global accounts including PepsiCo and American Express, managing partnership strategy, negotiations, and multi-market rollouts across sport and entertainment properties.

Earlier in her career, Belinda held senior sponsorship roles on the brand side at Royal Bank of Scotland and Vodafone in both New Zealand and the UK. While at Vodafone UK, she played a key role in launching Vodafone VIP, a customer loyalty platform that leveraged high-profile sponsorships across Formula 1, Fashion, and Festivals to reward and retain customers.

Emma Greenwood is a seasoned sports journalist based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. She is currently the Women’s Sports Editor at News Corp, where she has worked since August 2021, where she contributes to News Corp’s national sports newsroom. Emma has significant experience covering a broad range of sports and is particularly known for her coverage of women’s sports.

Chantella Perera is the Group General Manager at KOJO, a premier sport and entertainment agency known for delivering unforgettable live experiences. Over the past decade, she has played a pivotal role in KOJO’s growth across the sports and major events sector, leading the delivery of some of Australia’s biggest events, including the ICC T20 Men’s and Women’s World Cups and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. 

 
Chantella is also the Vice President and a Board Director at Women Sport Australia, the national peak body advocating for equity for women and girls in sport. She joined the organisation in 2022 to help make a lasting impact off the field, driving national strategies to ensure girls have the same access and opportunity to play, lead, and thrive in sport. 

 
In addition to her work with WSA, Chantella serves on the Board of the South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL), bringing strong governance and leadership to one of Australia’s largest junior football competitions. 
A former elite athlete, Chantella’s sporting career spans both basketball and football. She played 150 games in the WNBL, winning four national championships, and later became a VFLW premiership player with Hawthorn, competed with the Box Hill Hawks, and was an inaugural AFLW player with the West Coast Eagles. 

 
Passionate about equity in sport, Chantella is a strong advocate for increasing diversity and multicultural representation in sports administration, the media, and technology industries. She has two little girls Bodhi and Ariyah and hopes to change the landscape for their future.’ 

Emma Greenwood is a seasoned sports journalist based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. She is currently the Women’s Sports Editor at News Corp, where she has worked since August 2021, where she contributes to News Corp’s national sports newsroom. Emma has significant experience covering a broad range of sports and is particularly known for her coverage of women’s sports.

Jason Cadee is a former professional basketball player whose career spanned over 15 seasons in the NBL. He represented clubs including the Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets, and Gold Coast Blaze. Known for his leadership, playmaking ability, and elite basketball IQ, Jason played 424 NBL games and was a consistent presence at the top level of Australian basketball.

Since retiring from professional basketball, Jason has transitioned into the business world, taking on a key role with Step One as Partnerships Manager. He now focuses on brand/Athlete partnerships, product development, and bringing the same passion and discipline he had as an athlete into the next chapter of his career.

Cassandra Wilkins is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sport Design Australia, a specialised network of curated content professionals dedicated to sports marketing and creative solutions. With a passion for sport, social media and content, she led the National Rugby League (NRL) social media team for seven years, managing more than 30 channels across multiple platforms that reached millions of viewers.

Cassandra is known for her strategic focus on achieving commercial success in sports content and design, helping to elevate visual identity and fan engagement for sporting organisations and brands. She was a 2019 B&T 30 Under 30 Marketing finalist and holds a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and Sport Management from the University of Technology Sydney. A mother and a prominent figure in Australia’s sports content scene, she continues to drive innovation and collaboration in the industry.

Ben Parsons is a sports industry expert with over 20 years of experience in media, entertainment, and sports business. He is the founder of Ministry of Sport, a leading platform providing news, insights, and connections for professionals in the business of sport, and Playa Power, an innovative athlete marketing coaching community launched in January 2024. Playa Power empowers athletes with masterclasses and ongoing support to build personal brands and maximise commercial opportunities. Ben has a background in content creation, talent management, event production, and branding, which underpins his mission to create positive, mutually beneficial outcomes across the sports industry. He is recognised for his ability to connect people, develop new opportunities, and lead strategic initiatives that enhance engagement and revenue in sport.

Leanne Bats is a Future of Sports Architect, blending creativity, technology, fandom, and purpose to shape the industry’s evolution. As Head of Digital & Innovation at Sport Waikato, she drives transformative initiatives, and as Co-Founder of GENSport, she unlocks commercial opportunities in global women’s sport, helping investors drive growth, equity, and next-generation fan engagement. With two decades of experience at the intersection of sport, fandom, digital transformation, and commercial strategy, Leanne is a trailblazer in fan engagement and innovation. She previously led Innovation at New Zealand Rugby, pioneering emerging technologies to deepen connections with the iconic teams in black. Her global impact includes serving as ANZ Regional Partner for FC Barcelona, delivering the club’s developmental philosophy to young athletes across Australia and New Zealand. 

Adam Hickey is an experienced marketing and communications leader based in Greater Brisbane, Australia. As an Independent Partner at Alternative Advisory, he specializes in scaling marketing efforts, team leadership, and change management across diverse industries. With a strong background in media strategy and collaboration, Adam is passionate about simplifying communication and driving impactful results for clients and partners.

Over 20 years’ experience creating and delivering shared excellence through industry engagement. Experienced across business development, relationship management, sales, marketing, communications and complex negotiations in Australia, China, Asia and Europe. Danielle has worked in sport during this time, including the NBA and PRISM Sport and Entertainment. She is well-connected, with a breadth of experience across a broad range of industries and categories to support business growth and pipeline management. 

Kim Crane is the CEO of Paddle Australia, bringing over 30 years of experience in high-performance sport and leadership. She grew up in Torquay, Victoria, with a strong sporting background—her father was a champion surf ski paddler and kayak racer. Kim herself represented Australia as a Hockeyroo and later re-engaged with paddling through outrigger canoeing, competing in events like the Molokai Ultra Marathon. Her extensive career spans leadership roles in organisations such as Hockey Australia, Surfing Australia, and the Queensland Academy of Sport.

Before becoming CEO, Kim was Paddle Australia’s National Performance Director, where she led sprint, slalom, and para high-performance programs, notably preparing athletes for the Paris 2024 Games, regarded as the most successful in the sport’s history. Known for her strategic vision, high emotional intelligence, and people-focused leadership, she is now driving innovation, growth, and a values-driven culture at Paddle Australia, with a focus on broadening the sport’s reach and impact. Kim is also completing an MBA and actively supports women in sports leadership.

Naomi McCarthy OAM is the Director of Griffith Sports College at Griffith University, overseeing all high-performance sport programs and initiatives to support elite athletes in balancing academic and sporting excellence. She developed and leads the Griffith Women in Sport Strategy, advancing opportunities and representation for women in sport. Naomi also serves as Deputy Chair, a position she has held since 2024.

As an athlete, Naomi enjoyed a distinguished sporting career in water polo, representing Australia at the highest level. Her achievements include competing at the Olympic Games and earning national and international honours throughout her time as an elite player. This sporting background informs her leadership at Griffith Sports College, where she continues to champion athlete success both in and out of competition.

Jodie has etched a strong career in sports administration, with almost two decade’s experience across a variety of sports and roles particularly lead cricket and now Swimming. Jodie is responsible for driving commercial and sponsorship revenue growth, developing diverse revenue generation strategies, managing broadcast negotiations, and delivering impactful events. Her leadership also extends to overseeing marketing and communications, consumer-facing technology, staff development, stakeholder management, and budget planning, along with advocating for the sport across various levels.

Former Young Matilda’s player and Populous’ APAC Wayfinding Lead, Sophie is the driving force behind the wayfinding team, focusing on strategy, concept, overlay, and signage outputs. Her sporting and architectural background gives her a deep understanding of the specific requirements for wayfinding integration, coordination, and operation in high-performance facilities and precincts. Her work reflects a strong belief in the importance of connecting people to places and creating identity. 

Sophie’s sporting careers have allowed her to travel the world, experience many different cultures, and foster a passion and drive that have innately transferred to her design career. She is focused on the continued development of women’s sport and creating opportunities for young women to develop long-lasting, successful careers in their sport of choice. 

Taryn is a highly skilled architect specialising in elite training facilities, sports precinct master planning and stadia projects. Her portfolio includes Elite Training and community facilities for the West Coast Eagles, Carlton Football Club and the recently completed Home of the Matildas, one of the first dedicated training facilities for a national elite women’s team. 

Taryn has a keen interest in training facilities as spaces for both athletes and the community, and is passionate about universal and inclusive design. This passion fuels a commitment to creating environments that go beyond mere functionality by focusing on usability, adaptability and aesthetics to meet the diverse needs of the primary users and the wider community. Her design approach involves thoughtful consideration of organisational and intuitional ethos, user experience, accessibility, mobility, and sensory stimulation. 

Jessica has built a career around her passion for sport. With over 20 years of commercial experience spanning 10+ Olympic Games, multiple Commonwealth Games and two Rugby World Cups, Jess has been at the forefront of corporate partnerships in both Australia and the UK. 

Jess most recently spent a decade running the commercial program for the Australian Olympic Committee. Before that, she led the corporate partnerships team for the British Olympic Association (Team GB) in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. She is currently building the Australian consultancy business for global sports agency SPORTFIVE, serving as VP of Strategic Brand Solutions, and sits on SPORTFIVE’s global taskforce for growth in women’s sport. 

Jennie Sager is the CEO of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). Jennie is a globally recognised leader in the entertainment, media, and technology sectors, and brings a wealth of experience and an innovative approach as the WNBL enters an exciting new chapter following its acquisition by Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate and the NBL.

Karren Rogers is a Global Media Partnerships Manager at Meta, working with partners in the Sports, Entertainment and Media industries across Australia and New Zealand. 

With 17 years experience in the media industry, Karren has worked with businesses, rights holders, federations, teams, public figures and athletes to help them achieve business objectives, involving negotiating Meta’s first sports deals in Asia, securing Meta’s first Olympics sponsorship where Meta sponsored the Australian Olympic Team, plus partnership deals, including partnering with the Commonwealth Games Committee for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. 

Jason Fielding comes from a global career in sports and entertainment as an agent and consultant and for the past five years has connected those industries through the Voice Capital initiative.

For over twenty-five years, Jason worked with clients and partners including FIFA, Live Nation, Scuderia Ferrari, Manchester United, Liverpool F.C., The Walt Disney Company, Warner Music and talent from the US, UK and Australia.

Jason was an early member of Octagon in the UK and created Octagon’s entertainment division in London before moving to Australia with Octagon in 2004. In 2007, Jason founded The Sound Campaign, which became Australia’s leading music and entertainment agency, which eventually joined forces with Endeavor, where he became a Senior Vice President and Managing Director.

In 2020, Jason founded Voice Capital in collaboration with Main Sequence, APAC’s largest Deep Tech Venture Capital fund with $1b AUM to connect science and culture with venture capital through storytelling.

In 2025, Voice Capital transitioned and is now a team of five Partners based in Australia and the US and is preparing to become a stand alone fund that sits at the nexus of science, capital and culture.

Natalie Cook OAM OLY is a five-time Olympian and founder of the Aussie Athlete Fund, which helps remove financial barriers for Australian athletes. Drawing on her own sporting journey, she mentors and empowers athletes to secure funding, build financial independence and pursue excellence. Through fundraising initiatives, education programs and strategic partnerships, Nat is creating a more sustainable future for Australia’s sporting talent.

Simone Waugh is the Managing Director of Publicis Worldwide Australia, known for her leadership in linking business strategy with brand strategy to create impactful, socially minded campaigns. She has a strong focus on driving positive change through creativity, with experience spanning tourism, healthcare, education, and sports sectors. Simone led the communications for the successful Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games bid and is committed to authentic First Nations storytelling and inclusivity in advertising. She also serves as a Board Director for Netball Queensland and is an active mentor in leadership programs supporting women and athletes. Her leadership style fosters a culture of collaboration, hard work on creative excellence, and kindness within her team.

Caitlyn Bowell is a 26-year-old Sprint Canoe athlete and Paediatric Nurse from Brisbane. From the age of 11, she has been driven by a passion for physical and mental wellbeing and a lifelong ambition to represent Australia at the Olympic Games. Her sporting journey began with the thrill of her first medal, and since then she has gone on to become a State and National Champion across three different sports.

Balancing her career in nursing with the demands of elite training, Caitlyn has faced and overcome injuries and challenges with resilience and determination. Her dedication to Sprint Canoeing continues to fuel her pursuit of excellence as she works towards her ultimate goal: competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.