“I am delighted to welcome Women in Sport Aotearoa and the Shift Foundation as the joint delivery partners for this new annual event which will showcase and add further momentum to the collective action taking place across the sector to address inequities for women and girls in sport and active recreation,” says Peter Miskimmin, CEO Sport New Zealand.

“They bring a great level of knowledge and experience as a partnership, with Shift’s expertise in working with young women and Women in Sport Aotearoa’s extensive networks, both local and internationally, as global delivery agent for the International Working Group on Women & Sport Secretariat and Conference 2018-2022.”

Both Women in Sport Aotearoa and the Shift Foundation are already well known for their dedicated and inspiring work to empower women and girls to reach their full potential, with joint experience in delivering the ‘She Moves. She Leads. We Win.’ Symposium in 2017.

Co-founder and co-chair of Women in Sport Aotearoa Sarah Leberman says they are looking forward to working with the Shift Foundation to deliver the new Sport NZ event series.

“The focus on gender equity in sport and active recreation is gaining visibility and this event will build on the very successful ‘She Moves. She Leads. We Win.’ Symposium we co-delivered in 2017,” says Ms Leberman.

Robyn Cockburn, Chair of the Shift Foundation says they are looking forward to creating change for girls and women to have opportunities to participate and lead in play, active recreation and sport.

“The Shift Foundation are committed to improving the wellbeing of young women through physical activity. Working together with Women in Sport Aotearoa is something we value, and we are excited that we’ve got the opportunity to continue our relationship over the next few years,” says Ms Cockburn.

The annual event is one of the 24 commitments made by Sport NZ in response to the Government strategy for Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation launched in October 2018.

With a focus on women and girls in sport and active recreation, the annual event will culminate in New Zealand’s hosting of the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport, from 5-8 May 2022.

The first event will take place in Wellington on Monday 7 October 2019.