NSWRL celebrates latest Women in Sport Leadership graduates

Author: NSWRL
Timestamp: Tue 6 Feb 2024, 12:22 PM

The achievements of 17 women from diverse sports and roles, including two NSWRL Community Award winners, were celebrated at a graduation ceremony last night (Monday 5 February) for the NSWRL’s Women in Sport Leadership program.

NSWRL Chair Paul Conlon, NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden, NSW Office of Sport Executive Director, Policy and Planning Celia Murphy, UNE Partnerships Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Gilmore, NSWRL directors, and Westpac NSW Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder attended the ceremony at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park.

The graduates included 2023 Female Community Coach of the Year Trish Bell and 2020 ‘Gordon Lowrie’ Community Volunteer of the Year Kristie Laird.

Women In Sport Leadership Program

Leading broadcaster and Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson hosted the graduation dinner, with certificates presented to the participants from 12 different sports: Rugby League, athletics, sailing, dragon boats, football, gymnastics, motorcycling, touch football, rowing, surf life saving, tennis and volleyball.

The women completed a 20-week, professional development course including face-to-face workshops supported by individual coaching sessions, and group webinars to complete assessment in two modules, which gives them nationally-recognised credits towards a Diploma or Certificate IV in Leadership and Management.

The innovative training initiative, first run as a pilot program in 2021, was developed by the NSWRL in partnership with the University of New England (UNE), to help reduce the barriers women face in achieving leadership roles across elite sports by supporting their career development in the key areas of leadership self-awareness and communication.

Trodden said NSWRL was pleased to work with UNE Partnerships to play a role in helping more women succeed in sporting administration and leadership.

“Programs like this help break down some of the barriers that still exist towards gender equity and having female voices listened to in the world of sports organisation and delivery,” he said.

“Women’s participation rates in Rugby League have broken through the 20,000-mark for the past three years and continue to keep growing. I look forward to women occupying even more roles, including coaching, officiating, boards and administration, in the future.”

Gilmore said: “UNE Partnerships is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an important program which empowers women with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle complex challenges and make a positive impact as they step into leadership roles across a range of sports.”