Over 750 already registered for three-day event. Registrations for day one close 10.00am Wednesday.

More than 750 people have registered to attend the second annual Sport NZ Women + Girls Summit 2020, which will take place this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 1.00pm and 4.00pm as a free virtual-physical hybrid event. This is already more than twice the number that took part in the physical event held in Wellington last year.
 
The Summit is the second in a series of three events taking place in the run-up to the staging of the 8^th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport in Auckland in May 2022. The Summit is being delivered on behalf of Sport NZ by Women in Sport Aotearoa (WISPA) and The Shift Foundation. The full virtual programme is supported by a series of physical events in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Gisborne, Hamilton, Tauranga and Napier.
 
“The Sport NZ Women + Girls Summit is an opportunity for people across the play, active recreation and sport sector to come together to celebrate the progress being made to address gender imbalance, and to draw ideas and inspiration that empower people to do more,” says Sport NZ GM of Community Sport Geoff Barry.
 
“As we approach the second anniversary of the Government’s strategy for Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation, now is an important to time to take stock of what has been achieved and to strive for more advances in female participation, leadership, value and visibility.”
 
Each of the three days will be headlined by an exciting keynote: Māori Agribusiness icon and leader, Mavis Mullins MNZM; former elite AFL footballer turned Australian sports commentator and administrator, Chyloe Kurdas; and Craig Spence, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at the International Paralympic Committee.
 
Sport NZ will deliver a daily update on progress against the Government strategy and there will be also be interactive panels and workshops, including:

• A look at the social and economic benefits of hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, featuring FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman; Manager of NZ Major Events Susan Sawbridge; Football Fern Sarah Gregorius; CEO of the New Zealand Football Foundation, Dr. Michelle Cox, and Holly Nixon, Women’s Development Officer, NZ Football.
• A deep-dive into new research recently released by Professor Holly Thorpe and Dr Nida Ahmad at Waikato University looking at the experiences of Muslim women in play, active recreation, and sport in Aotearoa New Zealand in the wake of Christchurch 2019.  
• A first look at results from a major media analysis study conducted by Sport NZ to explore gender balance in sports reporting, coverage and athlete portrayal. This will be followed by panel discussion featured senior editors from Newshub, NZME, Radio NZ and Stuff.
• An exciting set of panels, including the ‘Future of Work’ through the lens of diversity and inclusion; participation strategies and the impact of coaching on participation of women and girls; and a discussion on non-traditional female participation.

“While COVID-19 is presenting significant challenges for women and girls when it comes to play, active recreation and sport, it has also given us a unique opportunity to make the Sport NZ Women and Girls Summit more accessible through technology,” says Rachel Froggatt, Chief Executive of Women in Sport Aotearoa.
 
“The number of registrations we are receiving certainly indicates strong levels of urgency around a need to have this national conversation. I’m looking forward to robust discussions about the changes we need to action to ensure women and girls are best supported in future.”
 
“Young women have found it easier to attend the Summit as a free virtual-physical hybrid”, says Robyn Cockburn, Chair of The Shift Foundation.
 
“There are a wide range of panels and workshops showcasing young women as leaders and hearing their insights about increasing the appeal of play, active recreation and sport. The Shift Foundation are once again proud to support the development and facilitation of the Summit.”
 
Registrations are still open at the Sport NZ Women + Girls Summit Digital Hub. Registrations for each of the three days (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) close at 10am for a 1pm start time. They will re-open at 5.00pm for the next day’s session.

ENDS
 
Media Contact
Philip Clark
Group Media Manager, Sport NZ
T: 027 838 5710
E: Philip.Clark@sportnz.org.nz