In this week’s Women in Sport Weekly, we focus on the many different events that are taking place to mark International Women’s Day.
Launch of Sport for Business Women in Sport Conference
We were pleased this morning to launch the 2021 Sport for Business Women in Sport Conference.
The event will take place in a virtual setting on the morning of Thursday, March 25th and we are excited today to announce that two of our keynote speakers will be Lynne Cantwell, Chair of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Committee and recently appointed Head of Performance for South Africa Women’s rugby; and Sue Anstiss MBE, one of the UK’s most prominent advocates for Women in Sport and CEO of Fearless Women.
These two powerful leaders will share the perspective on where Women’s sport stands as we emerge from the grip of the global pandemic and seek to maintain, or perhaps regain, the momentum that was evident before the world changed.
We will also be looking at a number of important areas in terms of Women’s representation in coaching and media coverage, and posing the question of what is next after the strong gains enabled here by the 20×20 Campaign.
Over the coming week, we will name additional speakers, building a forum where everyone who has an interest in the advance of equal respect, recognition and involvement of Women in sport will find something to awake and inspire them.
Attendance is free for all paid members of the Sport for Business community, there is a small charge for non-members to attend.
Register today, log in details will be sent to you in advance of the conference.
CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE FOR BANK OF IRELAND TEAMS
Sport for Business is working with Bank of Ireland to host a special coffee morning on Monday, March 8th where we will talk to international football stars Áine O’Gorman and Stephenie Roch as well as Bank of Ireland Chief Financial officer Myles O’Grady around the challenges faced to secure genuine equality of respect for Women in sport and in the workplace.
GAME CHANGERS LIVE EVENT ON WHY GIRLS DROP OUT OF SPORT
the question which will be posed and discussed at a virtual event on Thursday 11th March at 7 pm.
The event, the 3rd in a series brought by Electric Ireland’s Game Changers NI campaign, will see a panel of experts discuss the huge drop out of girls in sports by the age of 13.
The Panellists who will be taking part in the event will be child psychologist and author of ‘Love In, Love Out – A compassionate approach to parenting your anxious child’ Dr Malie Coyne and Danielle McDowell, former Northern Ireland international and Women’s Development Officer at the Irish FA.
Irish Rugby player and coaching mentor Eliza Downey will also be joining the panel along with businesswoman Anne Costello who provides wellness-based Stress Reduction programmes and courses for the business community.
The discussion will be streamed at Http://www.gamechangersni.com/ at 7 PM on Thursday, March 11th
VERA PAUW IN CONVERSATION
To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, at 10 AM, the Dutch Embassy will be hosting an informal chat with Vera Pauw, Ireland’s women’s football coach and former Dutch player, where she will discuss what inspired her, what continues to motivate her and how women’s sport has progressed over recent years.
Vera will also touch upon the benefits of sports for girls and women, the challenges faced and how the gender gap can continue to be tightened.
Registration via this link.
WOMEN IN SPORT LEADERSHIP WEBINAR
Sport Ireland will host an online Women in Sport Leadership webinar on Monday, March 8th at 1 PM.
Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers will get things underway, followed by a discussion with Dr Trisha Leahy, CEO of the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
Joanne Cantwell will then host a discussion featuring Niamh O’Sullivan the Sport Ireland Director of High Performance, Sinéad McNulty, CEO of the Camogie Association and Kristine Meenaghan, Coordinator of the Cork Local Sports Partnership.
Registration needs to be done by 12 Noon on Friday, March 5th here.
IRFU HOSTING LIVEWIRE EVENT
LiveWIRE 2021 – The IRFU’s Women In Rugby event to mark International Women’s Day will also take place on Monday, March 8th.
The 30-minute lunchtime video conference kicks off at 1 pm to discuss the impact of the pandemic on women in rugby and how females used technology to lead and participate in clubs and community.
The line-up of speakers will include World Rugby Council member Su Carty, Players Eimear Considine and Emily Lane, and Connacht Rugby president Ann Heneghan.
Registration is free and can be done here.
SWIM IRELAND WOMEN IN SPORT LEADERSHIP CELEBRATION
This successful programme has now seen over 100 women from across the sporting spectrum pass through six courses and emerge stronger as a result. Our own rob Hartnett was honoured to be invited to speak to the group on the power of building your network and we are looking forward to a celebration from across all the graduates, taking place on Wednesday, March 10th at 7 PM.
John Treacy, Joanne O’Riordan and Sarah Keane will be among those joining Course coordinators Lisa Clany and Sarah O’Shea on the night.
SIGA FEMALE LEADERSHIP WEBINAR
Women’s Sport is undoubtedly growing. It is generating more revenue and demonstrating an increase in participation and engagement both on and off the field of play. In some cases, such as in the US women’s soccer, Women’s Sport shows an unrivalled growth rate. However, are Sports Federations and Leagues doing enough to ensure the long-term development and sustainability of Women’s Sport?
From Women’s World Cups to programmes and campaigns designed to increase female participation at all levels of the game, this panel celebrates those sports organisations that are making a difference and addresses what needs to be done next in the short, medium and long terms for sustained success.
Katie Sadlier, the Head of Women’s Rugby at World Rugby is joined by Sarai Bareman, Chief Women’s Football Officer at FIFA, Jackie Davidson, Assistant Direct Golf Development at the R&A and Sarah Walsh of the Australian Football Federation for a conversation hosted by the Sports Integrity Global Alliance.
Monday, 8th January 3,30 PM Live Stream
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Each week we carry a Women in Sport Weekly Column, highlighting stories here in Ireland and around the world that are relevant to the idea that we are only catching up to what is happening elsewhere and that while we may be strong in some areas, there are certainly others where we need to prod and poke to ensure fairness.
That’s all, it’s not a takeover, it’s not at the expense of sport that is there already, it is just recognition that sport should be more conscious of its obligation to the 50.5 per cent of the population that has just as much right and talent to play sport as anyone.
If you think there is a story around Women in Sport that we should feature please get in touch and let us know.
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