The Power Shift: →Capital →Influence →Leadership
Australia’s leading commercial platform for women’s sport returns, bringing together the decision-makers, investors, athletes and brands shaping the future of the industry.
19–22 October 2026 | Adelaide
Powered by Ministry of Sport, the Women in Sport Summit has spent the past nine years convening the leaders and organisations driving progress across the sporting landscape.
In 2026, the Summit evolves from conversation → to commercial acceleration.
Women’s sport is no longer an emerging category, it is a rapidly expanding global market. WISS 2026 is built around The Power Shift examining how capital, influence, and leadership are being redistributed across the sporting ecosystem. This is where performance meets investment. Where talent meets opportunity. Where the future of sport is shaped.
The Full Ecosystem of Women’s Sport: Pipeline → Performance → Capital
From grassroots pathways to elite performance and commercial growth, WISS connects every stage of the ecosystem in one unified platform.
Day 1 – WISS Futures Day : Inspire. Discover. Dream For students (years 10–12) Introducing the next generation to career pathways across sport, marketing, media, technology, health, leadership and governance.
Day 2 — WISS Performance Forum : Elevate. Empower. Excel. For athletes, coaches, wellbeing + high performance leaders, sport scientists and educators. Explore the latest science, innovation, education, and leadership shaping the future of performance, wellbeing, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Discover practical insights, evidence-based strategies, and real-world solutions. New Pathways stream for community participation through to elite pathway. (earn ESSA cpd points)
Day 3 — WISS Leadership Summit: Connect. Influence. Advance. For executives, marketers, commercial teams, governing bodies, brands, investors and administrators. Examining the commercial growth, leadership and investment opportunities shaping the future of sport.
Day 4 — WISS Barossa Leadership Experience: A curated executive networking and relationship-building experience designed to facilitate deeper collaboration between delegates, speakers, partners and industry leaders.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: WISS is an inclusive forum for those building and shaping the future of sport:
- Sports executives & governing bodies
- Brands, sponsors & agencies
- Athletes & player representatives
- Investors & commercial leaders
- Coaches & high-performance professionals
- Grassroots leaders + trainers & club administrators
- Media, marketing & fan engagement specialists
- Lawyers, Solicitors & legal administrators
Watch Event Highlights See what makes this event unmissable WHY ATTEND
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (earn ESSA cpd points)
Unrivalled Networking Access: Connect with brands, athletes, executives, investors and decision-makers in one environment, designed to facilitate real conversations, not just introductions.
Build Strategic Relationships: Move beyond surface-level networking and develop partnerships that drive careers, organisations, and commercial outcomes.
Access the Right Rooms: Be part of curated discussions, forums and networking environments where deals, ideas and collaborations are formed.
Shape the Future: Be part of the pathway conversations and education defining the next decade of sport.
Join the leaders driving the next era of women’s sport.
Secure Your seat at the table Now!
Explore Partnerships: For any queries or questions please do not hesitate to contact the team at Ministry of Sport: [email protected]
Four Signature Events. One Powerful Experience.
Women in Sport Performance Forum
For Athletes, Coaches, High Performance Professionals & Leaders, Sports Science Practitioners, Industry Educators.
A stand-alone inclusive event designed to equip delegates with world-class insights into sports science, performance, and leadership. From grassroot pathways to mentor sessions, this event will provide cutting-edge knowledge to elevate performance and longevity in sport.
Women in Sport Leadership Summit
For Executives, Investors, Decision-makers, Governing Bodies, Marketing Leaders, Commercial Teams, Brands, Coaches, Athletes, Sports Administrators, Professionals, Brands, and Organisations.
The flagship Women in Sport Summit is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about shaping the future of sport. Bringing together industry leaders, change-makers, and visionaries, the Summit features keynote speakers, panel discussions, and interactive sessions designed to drive real impact.
Secure Your Ticket Now!
Early-Bird Tickets and tables are selling fast. Join the leaders driving the next era of women’s sport. Secure Your Seat. Event will sell out.
The Full Summit Bundle includes tickets to The Performance Forum and The Women in Sport Leadership Main Summit and unsurpassed Networking opportunities. Join the leaders driving the next era of women’s sport. Secure Your Ticket!
- Sessions led by leading high-performance + wellbeing experts
- Sports science & technology discussions
- High performance systems & leadership
- Insights from elite athletes, coaches, and sports professionals
- Grassroots pathways + longevity sessions
- Networking with Australia’s top performance minds
- Inspiring keynotes from sports executives & governing bodies
- Sessions Investment & capital allocation
- Commercial growth models
- Governance & policy
- Insights into sponsorship & revenue strategy
- Panel discussions: marketing, media & fan engagement
- Networking opportunities with key decision-makers in sport
Speakers
Women in Sport Summit 2026
Verity Edgell is a commercially minded senior marketing and partnerships leader with more than 15 years’ experience building brands and partnerships that connect with consumers and deliver tangible value. Currently the Director of Consumer Marketing & Sponsorship for Australasia at Mastercard, she leads a team who are responsible for integrated marketing and partnership strategy across some of the region’s most high‑profile platforms, including the Australian Open and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team.
With a career spanning agency, rights holder, and brand side roles, Verity brings a rare, end to end understanding of how partnerships work from all sides of the fence — from how they are sold and governed to how they are activated and measured. Known for her collaborative style, she focuses on building strong relationships and partnerships that balance brand integrity, commercial outcomes, and long term impact beyond a single campaign.
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.
Client Services Director and women’s sport expert at Two Circles, a data-driven sports agency. I help teams and clients turn data into strategy, marketing plans into measurable ROI, and customer touch-points into relationships that bring commercial and not-for-profit benefit. I love bringing the stories of sport to life and thinking about where we might go next.
Senior lecturer at the School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work, Griffith University and adjunct professor at Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Fiji. Chair of the Exercise & Sports Science Australia Standards Council, and Director and Company Secretary of the International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Science Practice. Chair of the European College of Sport Science Clinical Exercise Physiology Practice Special Interest Group and co-chair of the Fiji Physical Activity Promotion Symposium.
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.
Ben Parsons
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.
Agenda
Event Sponsors and Partners
Presenting Partner
Premier Partners
Major Partners
Foundation Partners
Travel Partner
The Venue
Adelaide Oval – The heart of South Australia
The Women in Sport Summit 2026 will be hosted at the world-renowned Adelaide Oval, one of Australia’s most iconic and picturesque venues. Located in the heart of Adelaide, the stadium is a premier destination for AFL, cricket, concerts, and major events, attracting visitors from across the globe.
Blending rich heritage with world-class, modern facilities, Adelaide Oval offers a unique experience for delegates. From guided tours and the thrilling rooftop climb to its integrated hotel and diverse dining options, the venue showcases the best of South Australia’s hospitality and innovation.
As one of the country’s leading destinations for sport and major events, Adelaide Oval provides the perfect setting to bring together athletes, leaders, and industry professionals—creating an inspiring environment to celebrate, connect, and shape the future of Women in Sport.
FAQ's
For the Women in Sport Awards - Cocktail
Women In Sports 2025 Highlights
