New Events Partnership: Stella Athletes and Gaining Ground to Design and Deliver Elite Women in Sport Panels
Stella Athlete Management and Gaining Ground WA are proud to announce a partnership that will design and deliver women in sport panels with elite athletes that empower, engage, and educate women and girls playing and working in sport in Perth and Western Australia.
The first-of-its kind partnership will connect women in grassroots sport with elite women athletes in a safe and inclusive space to share stories on topics of leadership, mental wellbeing, and gender equity.
Women and girls attending will have access to community role models and leave with wellbeing and advocacy tools they can use on and off the pitch, while the conversations moderated by professional storytellers will provide a platform for athletes to share issues that they're passionate about and influence a younger generation coming up in sport.
"Our ultimate goal is to foster an environment where we see more women and girls starting sport, staying in sport, and leading our sports,” said Lauren Gandini, Managing Director, Stella Athletes.
The partnership kicks off ahead of Paris 2024, the first Olympics in history to achieve gender parity. Three events are planned for 16 July, 10 October on World Mental Health Day and 18 November as an end of year networking event.
On 16 July, Maintaining Momentum: Driving Positive Change for Women in Sport will bring together 2X Paralympian Amber Merritt, West Coast Eagles' Kellie Gibson and Women’s National Cricket League’s Taneale Peschel in conversation with RTRFM Producer Danae Gibson. They’ll share their journeys, insights, and strategies for fostering leadership, enhancing mental wellbeing, and promoting gender equity in sports.
"As sport participation increases among the magic of the Matildas, we must have support programs in place that sustain women and girls in sport and realise social return on investment,” said Kris Marano, founder, Gaining Ground WA. “This partnership will be incremental in enabling women and girls with role models and tools to lead to their true capabilities.”
Gaining Ground WA and Stella Athletes are women-founded and led companies created to support and enhance women's wellbeing in sport. This collaboration aims to empower women through storytelling and shared experiences, in-person and locally to connect and grow our community of women in sport. The partnership will also allow Gaining Ground WA and Stella Athletes to continue to identify role model and mentorship opportunities to connect grassroots players and elite athletes in club environments.
Tickets are on sale now to the 16 July kick-off event. Whether an athlete, coach, or sports enthusiast, there will be something for everyone.
As women's sport gains momentum in Western Australia and globally, we have the greatest opportunity in history to invest in the future of women and girls, so they can lead to their true capabilities. Every woman and girl deserves a role model who believes in her.