This Special Session will be hosted by SIGA in partnership with the Sorbonne University to whom we are thankful.

Held in the week of the Quarter-Finals of the Women`s World Cup, this Special Session will address the importance of Female Leadership in Sport, its important role in promoting good governance and, in particular, diversity of thought in a fast, ever-evolving dynamic sector, as well as the challenges facing future female leaders and the best solutions to pierce the gender glass ceiling.

All SIGA Mentors and Mentees from the SIGA Global Female Mentorship Programme for Aspiring Female Leaders in Sport are invited. This is an opportunity to exchange ideas and measure our progress. After all, this issue is not confined to International Women`s Day but should be on the agenda on a permanent basis if we are to instigate meaningful change.

III SIGA SPECIAL SESSION:

FEMALE LEADERSHIP IN SPORT

Amphitheatre Louis Bachelard, University Paris 1, Patheon-Sorbonne

28 June 2019 (09:00 to 13:00)

Agenda

09:00 Welcome Address

• Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros

CEO, SIGA

09:10 The SIGA Global Mentorship Programme on Female Leadership in Sport

• Katie Simmonds

SIGA General Counsel & Senior Director of Global Partnerships

09:20 Piercing the Gender Glass Ceiling in Sport – Testimonies

• Stacey Copeland

Pro boxer, Commonwealth Champion & SIGA Global Female Mentor

• Honey Thaljieh

Co-founder and first captain of women`s national football team of Palestine & Corporate Communications Manager, FIFA

• Asma Al Thani

Director of Marketing & Communications, Qatar Olympic Committee

09:40 Panel 1: Good Governance in Sport: Changing Cultures at the Top

Whether in sports bodies, marketing, broadcasting, sponsorship or in policy, women remain underrepresented in decision-making roles, which has a knock-on effect on how sport is run and governed. This panel will examine have to create more pathways for women in leadership positions to ensure long-lasting systemic change. What is the current reality in sports organisations’ governance structures? How can we respond to the challenges to effect change now to secure more diverse and representative leaders at board room level? What role can both men and women play in shaping mentalities to create this cultural shift?

• Amanda Vandervort

Board Member, AFDP Global / former Vice President, Fan Engagement, Major League Soccer

• Ashleigh Huffman

Global Director of Gender Equality, Athletes for Hope

• Katie Simmonds

SIGA General Counsel & Senior Director of Global Partnerships

• Patricia Moyersoen

President, Association of International Football Lawyers/ Member, Women in Sports Law

• Sarah Solémalé

MA Governance Services Manager, FIFA

10:40 Coffee Break

10:55 Panel 2: Women in Sports Business: Creating Value

As more and more women are present in strategic conversations, does this impact the direction of the sport and / or company? This panel brings together female leaders in the sports industry at both operational and policy level, who will share their experiences of the challenges facing women in business in the sports industry and how they turn adversity into success and create value.

• Claire Furlong

General Manager, International Cricket Council

• Délphine Moulin

Director of Vision & Innovation integration, Celebrations & Ceremonies at Paris 2024 / Recipient of the Medal of Sports, awarded by the French Minister for Sports (2016)

• Emma McClarkin

Director, Global Sports Policy, SIGA / former Member of European Parliament

• Karen Webb-Moss

Chief Operating Officer, the International Centre for Sport Security / Former Vice President Image and Marketing Communications, IOC

• Holli Richmond

Executive Director, United States President’s Council on Sport, Fitness & Nutrition

• Mary Davis

Dean of fashion institute of Technology, State University of New York

11:45 Panel 3: The Future: Finding Allies

This panel will discuss how to ensure the conversation continues outside of safe spaces. How do we bring more male allies on board? What wider societal shifts need to happen? How do we make the conversation more mainstream and avoid talking to ourselves? What can we, collectively do, within 6 months or 12 months, to promote female athletes as well as female leaders?

• Catherine Ordway

Assistant Professor, University of Canberra

• Elda Gjoka

Strategic Consultant & Advisor to the President of the Kosovo National Olympic Committee, Senior Elite Trainer & Motivational Speaker, CEO, Genuine Effect Ltd

• Floriane Varetta-Lonjaret

Co-founder d’Égal Sport

• Isobel Carnwath

Director of Brand, Commerce & Communications, International Mixed Martial Arts Federation

• Katrina Radke

1988 US Olympic Swimmer & President of the Minnesota Chapter of the US Olympic & Paralympic Association

• Shellie Pfohl

Special Advisor, SIGA AMERICA /Former CEO, US Centre for SafeSport / former Executive Director, United States President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition

12:35 Interactive Session with the Audience

12:50 Conclusions & Game Plan for the Future

• Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros

CEO, SIGA

SIGA is the largest independent global coalition in the field of sport integrity, with more than 100 international multi-industry members and supporters. We bring together sport, governments, academia, international organizations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs, and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.

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We hope you can make it!

Kind Regards,

The SIGA Team