Women in sport summit speakers

Andrew N. Liveris AO is a distinguished business leader with an extensive career in the chemical industry. He served as Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company and Executive Chairman of DowDuPont, accumulating 42 years of experience at Dow. His tenure as CEO was the longest for a non-family member, during which he held various roles across manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing, and management.

Currently, Andrew holds several prominent positions:

• President of the Board for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee
• Chairman of the American Australian Association
• Chairman of The Hellenic Initiative
• Director of Lucid Motors, IBM, Saudi Aramco and Worley (Deputy Chairman)

He also serves on the Advisory Boards of Salesforce, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Teneo and NEOM. He is also a Special Advisor to the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

Andrew’s influence extends to academia, international relations and global leadership:

• Trustee of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
• Trustee of the United States Council for International Business
• Member of the B-Team Leaders Group
• Member of the Concordia Leadership Council

His advisory roles have spanned three U.S. presidencies:

• Co-Chair of President Barack Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee
• Advisor to President Trump
• Co-Chair of the Build Together Coalition under President Biden, which successfully advocated for the USD 1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

He served as a Special Advisor to the Australian Government’s National COVID-19 Coordination Commission.

Andrew is also an author and philanthropist:

• Author of Make It in America (2011), advocating for the importance of manufacturing in the 21st century
• Established the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership at the University of Queensland with his wife, Paula, in 2018
• Author of Leading Through Disruption (2023), presenting a new leadership paradigm for resilience and agility

Andrew was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2014 for his services to international business.

Rhiannon Pearce is South Australia’s Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Local Government and Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

 Previously, Rhiannon served as Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services and Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

 Rhiannon also previously served as Assistant Minister and Parliamentary Secretary to the former Deputy Premier, the Hon Susan Close, and Assistant Minister for Junior Sport Participation.

 Rhiannon grew up in Telowie in South Australia’s magnificent southern Flinders Ranges, completing high school in Port Pirie.

 Upon moving to Adelaide, she completed a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Adelaide.

 Rhiannon entered the South Australian Parliament at the 2022 state election after being elected as the Member for King in Adelaide’s north and north eastern suburbs.

Mark Falvo is Chief Executive Officer of Netball Australia and one of Australia’s most experienced sports executives, with more than 15 years’ experience leading major sporting organisations, international events and transformational projects.

The former Chief Operating Officer and Deputy General Secretary of Football Australia, Mark played a lead role in the growth of Australian football, including Australia’s successful bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, record broadcast deals, equal pay and conditions for the Socceroos and Matildas, the establishment of the Western Sydney Wanderers, A-League expansion and the creation of the FFA Cup and National Premier Leagues.

Following his appointment as CEO of the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 in June 2025, Mark led the tournament’s strategic planning and foundation phase before stepping into the dual role of Interim CEO of Netball Australia in April 2026. He was appointed permanent CEO in August 2026 and now leads the organisation’s strategic direction and growth of Australia’s most popular sport for women and girls as it enters its centenary year in 2027.

Jennie Sager is the Director, Baseball NSW. 

She has over 20 years experience in global commercial executive leading transformation, growth, and business reinvention across sport, technology, media, entertainment and consumer platforms.
 
Most recently, as CEO of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), she led the relaunch and transformation of the league during a defining period of growth and momentum – repositioning the business for long-term commercial success, expansion, and greater cultural relevance.
 
In a single season, the WNBL delivered record-breaking results across audience growth, engagement, sponsorship, and revenue.
 
Prior to the WNBL, Jennie held executive leadership roles at publicly traded global media companies, Nextdoor and Twitter, leading commercial, growth, and market expansion initiatives across Australia, Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. My experience spans global market leadership, organisational transformation, revenue acceleration, IPO readiness, strategic partnerships, and operating in complex stakeholder and regulatory environments.

Beck Hamilton is the inaugural CEO of Sport Climbing Australia and a sports executive with leadership experience across AFL, Rugby, Judo, Olympic and Paralympic sport. Following an 18-year career in marketing and entertainment, including as Director of Marketing for Disney Theatrical Australia and New Zealand.

She was selected for the Australian Institute of Sport’s inaugural Executive Women in Sport program in 2019, in the ‘not a sports person’ spot. 

Passionate to use the power of sport to improve health, education, and community outcomes, Beck is focused on building Sport Climbing Australia into a human-centered, financially sustainable NSO that delivers both sporting success, looks after its people, and delivers broader community impact. Outside of work, she is a 30-year volunteer lifesaver and Australia’s most successful female surf boat sweep and coach. The bigger the waves, the better. 

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.

An experienced senior leader specialising in sports marketing and event services, Chantella has led projects and major accounts both domestically and globally.

Her expertise spans strategy and ideation through to creative, production and delivery, with a focus on creating exceptional experiences for fans.

Chantella also brings the perspective of a former professional athlete, having competed at the highest level in both the WNBL and AFLW. She won four WNBL Championships with the Canberra Capitals before going on to play AFLW for the West Coast Eagles.

Melanie MacGillivray is a U.S.-born sports and commercial executive with nearly 20 years of global experience across the sports, media, and digital fitness sectors. She has held senior roles with Major League Soccer, Bundesliga International, Women’s Professional Soccer, and Adelaide-based digital fitness app Sweat leading strategic growth, partnerships, and audience engagement across the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

A former collegiate basketball and soccer player, Melanie brings deep insight into athlete and fan culture. Now based in South Australia, she is passionate about advancing women’s sport, building strong community connections, and driving purpose-led innovation across the industry.

James Pedersen is experienced, people focused senior executive and leader with a strong financial and commercial background across multiple territories and at a national level.

Spending most of his career working with leading brands in the media and marketing sector, with proven ability to deliver key business outcomes as well as turn around underperforming teams. 

Passionate about coaching and mentoring those around me, as well as navigating change management and driving innovation.

Owner of Peak Preparation and an Australian leader in Sports Science, Sacha has over 15 years’ experience in the field of scientific training and preparation techniques for individuals, organisations and schools.

Sacha’s purpose is to unlock possibility and cultivate greatness to achieve full potential and bring an elite mindset to enable high performance.

Her powerful and exciting strategies will improve performance and achieve goals.

Leanne McClurg is a senior executive and governance leader with extensive experience across energy, infrastructure, strategy, and business transformation. Recognised for her trusted leadership in complex and high-stakes environments, she has built a reputation for delivering sustainable commercial outcomes while developing high-performing teams and future leaders.

Leanne is known for her outcomes-focused approach, commercial acumen and ability to build strong, long-term relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders. She also serves on the Board of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), contributing to the governance and strategic direction of one of Australia’s leading sporting organisations. Passionate about the role sport plays in strengthening communities, she is a strong advocate for effective governance, women in leadership and creating pathways for the next generation of talent.

Jess Stoll  is a women’s health and musculoskeletal physiotherapist based in the Illawarra. She is the founding director of The Female Collective, a dedicated women’s only physiotherapy practice with clinics in Wollongong and Nowra, as well as a rural outreach program that improves access to care for women in southwest NSW

With a strong passion for female athlete health and performance, Jess works with women across all levels of sport, supporting them to optimise performance, recover from injury, and navigate the unique health challenges faced by female athletes.

Jess has extensive experience in elite women’s sport and currently serves as Head Physiotherapist for the St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW (2023 to present) and Physiotherapist for the Samoa Women’s National Rugby League Team, Fetu Samoa (2023 to present).

She has also played a leading role with the NRL and League Ahead, delivering education programs on female athlete health and performance to players and staff.

Dr. Hunter Bennett is a Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Science (Allied Health and Human Performance), member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) research centre, and ESSA-accredited Exercise Scientist.

His research explores training strategies to optimise physical performance and topics pertaining to injury surveillance and prevention in athletic populations.
 
Hunter completed his PhD in 2020, with his research exploring how movement assessment can help guide exercise prescription. Before this, Hunter completed his degree in Applied Sciences (Human Movement and Health Studies) in 2012, majoring in Sport and Exercise Science. In 2014, he completed a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning), before undertaking an Honours year that resulted in the development of an aerobic exercise test for active duty fire service personnel. Other areas of interest include all aspects of exercise prescription, with emphasis on modes of training that can elicit relevant outcomes in athletic, healthy, and clinical populations.
 
Hunter has been teaching at a tertiary level since 2012, and researching since 2016. He is currently supervising three PhD, five master’s by research, and two honours students, all within the broad realm of Exercise Science. 

Kelly is a Master L3 ASCA coach and is currently a Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach for the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL team and also serves as Pathways Performance Lead in the Dragons pathways delivery.

In 2023, she was awarded ASCA Coach of the Year in recognition of excellence in elite strength and conditioning coaching and contribution to the profession. Awarded for impact across high-performance sport and leadership within the S&C community.

She is passionate about the development of coaches in the industry and knowledge sharing across different sporting contexts and environments.

She currently leads the speed and reconditioning for the NRL program, the strength power diagnostics and pathways s&c systems for the St George and Illawarra Steelers s&c coaches. Prior to her role at St George, she was Head of Strength and Conditioning at the QLD Firebirds and spent an extensive time at the QLD Academy of Sport prior to that, working with Olympic and Paralympic programs.

Emma Nedov is an Olympic gymnast, speaker and founder whose years in elite sport shape how she leads, speaks and builds today. After three and a half years away from competition and two Olympic campaigns that fell short, she returned to gymnastics at 28 and, just nine months later, earned her place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. That comeback became a powerful demonstration of the self trust, intentional action and high performance principles that now underpin her work.

Her talks translate lessons from elite sport into practical ideas for leading with greater clarity, confidence and purpose. Beyond speaking, Emma is building the infrastructure she believes should exist around high performance athletes. She founded ND Network, an athlete first ecosystem supporting performance, partnerships and progression, and NYRA, a performance products brand built from lived experience in elite sport.

Across each of these ventures is the same philosophy: high performance is not just about what you achieve in the arena, but who you become in the pursuit of something extraordinary, and what you choose to build with that experience afterwards.

Kate has nearly 20 years experience working in State and Local Government, primarily in advocacy, sport and major events. Kate’s current role at the City of Ipswich focuses on advocacy to the State and Federal Governments for funding for major projects.

Her responsibilities also include coordination and planning for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games for Ipswich City Council as a co-host city. Including compiling and releasing a Team Attraction brochure for international high performance pre-games training at Ipswich venues.

Her previous State Government roles spanned multiple portfolios, but most recently she was involved in sport, tourism and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She was part of the 2021 successful Olympic and Paralympic Games bid team which saw Brisbane granted the 2032 Games.

Lauren Stribley is an Advanced Sports Dietitian and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician, passionate about working with female athletes to help them achieve their wellbeing and performance goals.   

Lauren currently works for Sports Dietitans Australia, providing education and advocacy for SDA members, to provide performance nutrition, combined with world-class clinical expertise with practice, real-world strategies that fuel success.  

For the past 12 years, Lauren has fuelled elite female athletes, including the Australian Women’s Cricket team and Adelaide Thunderbirds. Lauren currently consults to SA Women’s Cricket team, WBBL Strikers, and Port Adelaide AFLW team. 

Lauren is an advocate for female leaders and athletes. 

Nikki Ayers OAM PLY is a Paralympic gold medallist, ICU nurse, midwife, public speaker and advocate whose story is one of resilience in the face of adversity. A traumatic knee injury in 2016 ended her Wallaroos dream, leading to sixteen surgeries and thirteen months of rehabilitation before she discovered para rowing. In 2024, she and doubles partner Jed Altschwager won Australia’s first-ever Paralympic rowing gold medal at the Paris Games.

Away from sport, Nikki is a passionate advocate for inclusion, LGBTQIA+ rights and serves as Co-Chair of the Tennis Australia LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group. She is also an advisor to the Clayton Church Homes governance committee and a recently appointed Board Director of the same not-for-profit organisation.

Dr. Ella Smith is a sports physiologist at the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI), where she works within high-performance sport to optimise athlete preparation, performance, and recovery. She completed her PhD in female athlete physiology, examining the relationship between female hormones and performance, with a focus on how hormonal fluctuations and associated symptoms influence physical performance.

Dr. Smith has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications. Her research has contributed to a stronger evidence base in female-specific physiology, including responses to energy availability and competition performance, helping address longstanding gaps in female representation in sport science research.

In her applied role at SASI, Dr. Smith delivers physiological testing and monitoring, using data-informed approaches to guide training and performance decisions in conjunction with the wider interdisciplinary team. She also continues her work in the female athlete space, most recently by developing practical guidelines to better support athlete mothers. Her broader aim is to continue striving to reduce the sex gap in sport through both research and applied practice.

Charlotte worked with the Port Adelaide Football Club, assisting the AFL program while serving as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the SANFL team and working closely with the club’s development squads.

With over 12 years of experience in sport, Charlotte has coached athletes across all levels of Australian Rules Football, from junior pathways through to elite competition. She holds a Master of Strength & Conditioning and is an ASCA Level 2 Professional Coach. Outside of her professional role, Charlotte is a passionate CrossFitter and is particularly interested in integrating gymnastics principles into athletic development to enhance movement quality, strength, coordination, and long-term athletic performance.

Charlotte is the Senior Athletic Development and Rehabilitation Coordinator at St Peter’s College, where she has worked for the past seven years, leading the development of athletic performance, rehabilitation, and long-term athlete development programs across the school. Before joining St Peter’s College.

Danielle Grant-Cross is a respected leader with more than 30 years of experience in people and change management, specialising in communications, stakeholder engagement, organisational transformation and operational leadership. She has successfully initiated, designed, delivered and evaluated organisations, services, programs and projects across primary health, aged care, hospital and health services, sport, and health promotion sectors.

Currently CEO of the SA Sports Medicine Association, Danielle is recognised for her ability to build strong relationships, unite diverse stakeholders and lead high-performing teams to achieve meaningful outcomes. Her experience spans the Royal Commission, federal, state and local government, the not-for-profit sector, and business ownership.

With extensive board and committee experience, Danielle brings strategic insight, practical leadership and a collaborative approach to complex challenges. A former Australian Squad and National League netball player, Adelaide Ravens and State Captain, she combines high-performance leadership with a passion for empowering people, strengthening communities and driving positive change.

Millie is an Adelaide-based physiotherapist with extensive experience in neurological rehabilitation and concussion management. As the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist at Unley Concussion Clinic and Clinical Engagement & Implementation Lead at Your Brain Health, she combines clinical practice, education, and community engagement to improve concussion care across Australia. 

With a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and a Master of Physiotherapy, Millie has a particular interest in evidence-based concussion assessment and management. Alongside her clinical roles, she is an experienced educator in neurological rehabilitation. Millie is enthusiastic about improving concussion awareness and brain health literacy, often delivering engaging education to healthcare professionals and the broader community. By translating the latest evidence into practical, accessible learning, she empowers clinicians, athletes, parents, teachers, and families to confidently recognise, assess, and manage concussions. 

Bec Haagsma was appointed as AFL Executive General Manager Customer, Commercial and Technology in February 2025.  As a member of the AFL Executive, Bec’s remit includes the AFL’s commercial portfolio, fan engagement and growth, marketing, brand, the AFL digital product and content functions, and the technology, AI and IT transformation of the league. 

Prior to joining the AFL, Bec held the role of Chief Product and Technology Officer at Nine Entertainment Co. Alongside her executive role she also held NED positions at Domain Group (ASX DHG) and Future Women. This included running the streaming operations for the Paris Olympics. 

Before Nine, Bec spent seven years at Telstra in senior executive roles, and she has also held executive roles at ACP Magazines (now Are Media), and the global B2B publisher, Reed Elsevier. Her career started in the Museum and Heritage sector.

She holds a Master of Arts degree (Political Science) from the University of New South Wales, and is a graduate from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Bec is a also a very proud mother, grandmother and recently converted golf tragic.

Abby is currently in her third season as an NRL Sports Scientist with the Dolphins, working across athlete monitoring, performance testing, data analysis and performance reporting for both the NRL and development squads.

Her role focuses on using data and technology to inform performance decisions, developing streamlined reporting systems and maintaining athlete databases to monitor performance, rehabilitation and return-to-play progression, as well as long-term athletic development.

Abby began her career with the AFL Lions,  as a Game Analyst gaining valuable experience across both performance and analysis environments.

An accomplished Senior Manager with over 25 years of experience spanning the private and public sectors, specialising in human resources, tourism development, and economic growth. Over a 15-year career in local government, Elaine has a proven track record of revitalising regional economies by leveraging tourism and major event delivery.

During her tenure as Manager of Economic and Community Development at Northeast Victoria’s Alpine Shire Council, she successfully spearheaded the expansion of the regional tourism cycling economy and oversaw major community events. Additionally, as Chair of the Board for Alpine Community Plantations, she played a pivotal role in the transformation and evolution of Mystic Park Mountain Bike Park.

Now returned home to South Australia, Elaine leads economic activation, strategy, and community growth for the iconic The Barossa Council. In her current capacity, she serves as the primary liaison between state government, the AFL, and local communities to spearhead major regional initiatives, including the high-profile Gather Round at Barossa Park

Jeremy started out as a journalist with News Limited and Australian Associated Press, covering everything from police rounds to Test cricket, royal commissions and feature writing (Clive James was funny and Magic Johnson was tall . . . probably still is). He moved to the dark side of media and PR management with the Western Reds during the tumultuous Super League war, before taking on executive media and marketing gigs with the Australian Jockey Club (the infamous Royal Randwick lawn parties were a glorious shambles), and Triathlon Australia. In establishing his own consultancy, Barking Dog Communications. 

Jeremy has worked for not-for-profits, niche businesses, government behemoths, and billionaires – being often inspired and sometimes bemused. He held a long-standing contract managing Destination Wollongong’s major events portfolio, crowned by securing the 2022 UCI Road Cycling World Championships and 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals. He is now the general manager of Destination Wollongong, which delivers cheeky destination marketing campaigns, champions key tourism infrastructure projects and is aiming to land its next global event, which is akin to catching a marlin with a hand reel. He has written two sporting books, One of Those Days and Test of Character, and is a director of The Man Walk.    

Carly Goodrich is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in government and the sport, active recreation, and health sectors. Carly led the planning and development of open space, sport, recreation, play, and leisure infrastructure in the local government areas of Monash and Casey, working closely with Sport & Recreation Victoria to unlock investment into rapidly growing communities.

Since joining Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia in 2022, Carly has built the golf sector’s capability in government engagement, leading advocacy to reshape perceptions of golf and forge strategic partnerships with government, grounded in research and insight. She is passionate about demonstrating golf’s economic, social, and environmental value to Australian communities, and led the Community Benefits of Golf in Australia Report for the Australian Golf Industry Council — a landmark project highlighting golf’s role as a community asset and equipping decision-makers with a powerful evidence base. Carly continues to drive initiatives and policy that raise the profile of golf as a vital contributor to Australia’s sporting landscape.

As CEO of Sport SA, the peak body for sport in South Australia, Leah has championed women’s sport from vision through to reality, establishing the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport, a program that empowers and connects all women in sport.

Leah has over 30 years of experience in Executive roles in Sport, Education and Human Services, with roles in Government and Non-Government in Australia, Turkey and Hong Kong. She holds a Master of Sociology from the University of Leicester (UK), a Bachelor of Education in Health and Physical Education from the University of Tasmania, a Diploma of Government in Project Management and is a recent graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Liza manages a diverse portfolio of sports partnerships, with primary responsibility for the Shell V-Power Racing Team.

She also oversees key relationships across the AFL, QRL and Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, working closely with rights holders and stakeholders to deliver commercially focused outcomes.

With more than two decades of experience with the Viva Energy Group: Shell brand, Liza combines her passion for sport with deep sponsorship expertise to create meaningful connections between brands and fans that strengthen brand equity and deliver measurable results.

Ali Clarke is a respected communicator and strategist who has spent decades working at the intersection of sport, media and community. With an academic background and Honors degree in Human Movement,  and as a broadcaster trusted for her insight and authenticity, she brings a sharp, people‑centred lens to every conversation. She will guide the conference with her trademark mix of warmth, wit and purpose. 

Having worked and studied in the sport & leisure industry for over 20 years, Kathryn has played a pivotal role in elevating professionalism, performance & standards within the industry. She has represented and guided many of Australia’s leading athletes and stands among a select group of women accredited as a Professional Sports Agent in the AFL, AFLW and Netball. From grassroots through to the elite level, Kathryn has built and managed brands across sport, entertainment, wellness and lifestyle, helping clients develop high-performing, professional and credible identities.

In 2024, Kathryn founded Behind Your Brand, leveraging more than two decades of experience in athlete management, brand strategy and sports marketing. She launched the agency with a clear purpose: to partner with athletes and sporting organisations to build brands and careers with purpose.

Currently, Kathryn represents 7 Australian professional netballers and works with a range of organisations across the sports industry. She is also an Athlete Brand Coach with Playa Power, where she mentors Australian athletes in developing their own personal brand.

Shaun Moody is a senior sports and entertainment executive with more than 17 years of experience driving commercial growth, strategic partnerships, and major event delivery across Australia’s leading sporting organisations.

Currently serving as Head of Partnerships at Tennis Australia and following 11 years in the business, he leads a team of 20+ professionals managing a portfolio of more than 65 global partners impacting the sport and major Events eco-system of Tennis Australia year-round.  

Throughout his career, Shaun has built a strong reputation for delivering high-value and impactful partnerships, enhancing fan engagement through the commercialisation of premium sports properties, and leading high-performing teams.  

Combining connected, strategic relationships across brands, media, venues, rights holders, and government with a strong understanding of the Australian sports landscape, Shaun is recognised as a collaborative leader who delivers sustainable growth and impactful commercial outcomes for brands and organisations globally. 

Janelle Cuthbertson is a former AFLW player, leader, and speaker who brings a refreshingly honest perspective on high performance, pressure, resilience, and identity. 

After competing at the elite level with Fremantle and Port Adelaide, named AFLW All-Australian in 2021 and later captaining Port Adelaide. Janelle understands what it takes to perform under pressure but she’s equally passionate about the conversations that happen away from the spotlight.

What makes Janelle’s speaking so impactful is her ability to connect with people in a genuine and relatable way. Whether she’s speaking to corporate teams, schools, sporting organisations, or
emerging leaders, she shares lessons on resilience, leadership, pressure, confidence, and mental wellbeing in a way that feels real, practical, and human. Janelle is passionate about creating meaningful conversations that leave people feeling more  connected, self-aware, and empowered

Belinda Marsh is SANFL’s Head of Infrastructure, Government Relations & Community Engagement.

With extensive experience in placemaking and stakeholder partnerships, she leads football facility development across South Australia and now oversees broader community football planning, supporting the growth of the game in emerging development areas.

She works closely with government and industry partners to deliver infrastructure and community outcomes that help football thrive.

Dr. Melanie Hayman is an Associate Professor at CQUniversity and an internationally recognised researcher in women’s health and female athlete performance. She has over 100 research outputs, with 30% ranking among the world’s top 10% most-cited publications and 40% appearing in top 10% journals.

Her research has informed national and international guidelines and resources, including the AIS Best Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood.

Dr. Hayman currently serves on the four-person IOC Steering Committee leading the global update of the IOC Consensus Statement on Exercise and Pregnancy. She also chairs the Sports Medicine Australia Queensland Council and collaborates with organisations such as the IOC, WTA, AIS, ESSA, NRLW and AFLW.

Sheridan Hawkins is the NRLW Wellbeing and Education Manager at League Ahead, where she leads the design and delivery of wellbeing and education programs that support female rugby league players across the NRLW.

With more than five years’ experience in athlete wellbeing, Sheridan has worked both within a professional sporting club environment at the Sydney Roosters and now at a system-wide level through League Ahead, helping shape best practice across the game.

Passionate about empowering athletes beyond performance, she is committed to developing evidence-informed, player-centred initiatives that enhance life readiness, mental fitness, career development, and the unique health and wellbeing needs of women in elite sport.

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. 

Clare is Client Services Director and women’s sport expert at Two Circles, a data-driven sports agency. She helps 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 & loves bringing the stories of sport to life and thinking about where we might go next.

Dr. Darah-Bree Bensen-Boakes is a sleep researcher and lecturer at Flinders University. She recently completed her Clinical Ph.D. with her thesis focusing on sleep psychology. At Flinders University, Darah is the current Director of the Sleep and Psychology Laboratory. She leads studies investigating the relationship between sleep and chronic pain, and treatment trials exploring optimal therapy avenues for young people experiencing sleep difficulties following a traumatic event. She is also conducting research into the impact of hormonal contraception on sleep and mental health in young women.

Darah is also a psychologist working in private practice. In her clinical practice, Darah works with women across the lifespan to help them achieve better sleep and address co-occurring difficulties such as chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. 

Nathan is 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.

Nicole Pensko is a strategic commercial leader driving the integration of data and performance in the sports technology landscape. As Catapult Sports’ Vice President, Commercial for the APAC region.

Nicole is at the forefront of the sports industry, partnering with elite federations, leagues, and teams to turn complex performance data into both a competitive advantage and a tangible commercial asset.

With over 20 years of experience in the sports and technology sectors, including leadership roles at Canterbury of New Zealand (rugby sports clothing brand), Basketball Australia, and Basketball Queensland, Nicole has a proven track record of scaling revenue and fostering data-driven client engagements.

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 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.

A media, social media, PR and brand specialist, Michelle has over 16 years experience in the sports media industry.

Originally from Tasmania, Michelle worked in public affairs, media and social media roles in cricket for eight years across Cricket Australia, Cricket Tasmania, Hobart Hurricanes and Durham County Cricket Club in the UK. 

She joined the Sydney Swans in 2017 and over that time has built the club’s social media presence and also worked across media management, PR, marketing and brand partnerships.

Her current role is focussed on creator and content brand partnerships and developing athletes’ brands and working on the important role sport, culture and athletes play in the current media landscape.