Gender Equity and providing an empowering environment for all our employees is our priority at Netball NSW.
Today, on International Women’s Day, Netball NSW held a special guest speaker event where Staff, Life Members and the Historical and Archive Committee heard from inspirational panelists who shared their insights on this year’s theme of ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future’
Sport has been recognised as a key avenue through which females can build their confidence, develop leadership skills and have positive wellbeing. However, the NSW Her Sport Her Way strategic report 2019 – 2023 highlighted that there was a large gender disparity in terms of participation, places and spaces, investment and leadership opportunities available to females in sport.
Our panel of speakers (speaker Bios) included Sallianne Faulkner (Netball NSW Board Member), Bem Le Hunte (Author and Professor and Director of Teaching Learning - UTS), Briony Akle (Head Coach, NSW Swifts), April Brandley (GIANTS Netball Player) and Chris Lamb (Netball NSW Board Member).
With Nicole Toohey, EGM People and Culture, initiating the discussion we heard some powerful and inspiring stories from all our speakers, as well as some timely reminders of stepping into the roles we have, to walk the path of future leaders and having the confidence for women to say YES in a workplace environment.
Brandley shared her insight that success for her is not necessarily all about gold medals, but creating a supportive team environment and that no matter where you are in life that you are a role model.
Akle spoke about the courage and confidence it took to say yes to being Head Coach of the Swifts and how her family are championing her leadership.
Sallianne Faulkner spoke of previous experience where ‘women don’t climb ladders’ and reminded everyone to speak out, because while we have certainly come a long way, we still have work to do.
Le Hunte, meanwhile, talked about the myth surrounding being a parent and not being able to have a career, and the importance of being individually strong but collectively raising the water level as a sisterhood.
Our final speaker, Lamb, expressed the importance to have male champions of change to close the gap on gender equality and utilising the critical mass to influence this change.
Chair of Netball NSW, Louise Sullivan, finished the event by thanking the insightful speakers and those in attendance for their contribution and celebration of International Women’s Day.
