NSWRL to celebrate Women in Sport Leadership graduates
Westpac NSW Blues Women’s assistant coach and respected Rugby League commentator Ruan Sims will be among the graduates to attend the breakfast launch of the Women in Sports Leadership (WISL) Alumni at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday 1 December.
The WISL program, aimed at upskilling women in coaching, administration and management roles, started as a pilot program in 2021 and has a 95 percent completion rate with 63 participants from more than 20 state sporting organisations graduating since its inception.
Sims will be among 60 guests to attend the breakfast at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence, alongside 24 graduates and other guests including NSWRL Board members Kevin Greene and Joe Kelly, Kirin Lindop from the Office of Sport, Matt Beal from UNE Partnerships and Paddle Australia Chief Executive Officer Kim Crane.
The breakfast will include a panel discussion on the impact of the program and their leadership learnings with former graduates including NSWIS Head of Operations and Projects Kate Cass (2022 graduate), NSWRL Far West Junior Community Engagement Coordinator Poi Birtles (2024), and Basketball Programs Manager Rachel Herrick (2024).
“The NSWRL is extremely pleased to host the inaugural Women in Sports Leadership alumni breakfast as it is a program that we are extremely proud to be associated with,” NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said.
“The program was developed in consultation with senior players, coaches and the NSWRL and recognises the barriers that women face in achieving leadership roles across elite sports as well as offering an innovative training initiative to support their career development.
“It is great to see that so many of our former graduates will be attending the Alumni breakfast launch on Monday and I hope the program has made a positive impact and led to further success in their careers.”
It is hoped the Alumni program will allow participants an opportunity to sustain networks, expand learning and create mentoring pathways, foster collaboration across sporting codes and advance women’s representation in leadership and strengthen the NSWRL as a leader in sport capability building and gender equity.
This Women in Sport Leadership program is offered in conjunction with University of New England Partnerships (UNE), the registered training organisation of UNE.
NSWRL is grateful for the support of Holman Barnes Group who are providing the funding which allows the program to be delivered.
Participants complete two Diploma and Certificate-level modules, BSBPEF502 Develop emotional intelligence, and BSBXCM401 Apply communication strategies in the workplace. These units give them credit towards entry to a Diploma or Certificate IV in Leadership and Management should they wish to pursue further studies.
