The event was supported by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and focused on leadership skill development, safeguarding, diversity, and inclusion.                                                              

This inaugural workshop welcomed young women who are either retiring or retired athletes, as well as those actively involved in their sports communities with a desire to enhance their leadership journeys.

Participants from across Oceania were nominated by their respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs), representing 10 NOCs and 14 sports.

The workshop, facilitated by Robyn Cockburn, NZOC’s Wahine Toa (Women in Sport Leadership) Programme Director, aimed to help young leaders identify their own strengths, understand opportunities and challenges, and develop strategies to achieve their goals.

ONOC President Dr Robin Mitchell commended the workshop and said:

“This workshop is a crucial step in empowering young female leaders across Oceania and fostering a safe, inclusive future for sport in our region. By equipping young women with leadership skills and fostering a deeper understanding of safeguarding, we are ensuring that the future of sport in our region is not only strong but also safe and supportive.”

The first day focused on sharing their own experiences, getting to know their peers, and understanding the range and extent of differences and similarities across Oceania. The afternoon was a full immersion visit to the marae of Ngati Whatua Orakei, the tangata whenua (people of the land), including a powhiri (welcome), a korero (discussion) about leadership in a tribal context, a historical presentation of the effects of colonisation, and the future that lies before the tribe.

NZOC Safeguarding Officers, Alexis Pritchard OLY and Alysha Jensen, delivered an introductory module on safeguarding, supported by resources from Team Up and role-playing exercises led by Team Sports Psychologist, Rachael McLeod.

Pritchard noted:

“It was very positive to see the commitment that each of the women made to be champions for safeguarding in their own sports and their desire to seek more knowledge and understanding.”

The workshop also featured an inspiring talk by Gabby Wright, who shared her personal story of becoming disabled at the age of 13, emphasising her philosophy of “drawing her own box, rather than being put in a box by others’ judgements,” and spoke on the importance of disability inclusion in sport.

Participants were able to outline individual action plans which were shared with the ONOC Equity Commission.

ONOC Equity Commission Co-Chairs, Liz Dawson (NZL) and Helen Brownlee (AUS) noted the significance of the workshop saying:

“The leadership, safeguarding and inclusion concepts delivered by the facilitation team resonated strongly with all present, and the attendees are enthused about learning more, and contributing to their sporting communities. The women who attended the three-day workshop have been given the knowledge to understand the concept of safeguarding, the principles, and rights of those participating in sport to do so in a safe space, and to recognise abuse and harassment and how to seek help.”

Commission member, Michael Wulf, Head Coach of the Samoan Women’s Touch Rugby Team, former President of Samoa Touch Rugby, and the sole male ally at the workshop said:

“I am full of admiration for the work this group of women have achieved, and I appreciate the sharing environment and safe space they have created for me.”

Workshop participant, Calina Panuve from Tonga, said:

“I found it (workshop) incredibly insightful, especially regarding policies and our rights within our NFs and NOCs, as well as lessons that can be applied beyond the sporting realm.”

Key takeaways from the workshop included recognising the diversity of people with similar challenges, the need to involve young people in coaching, refereeing, and technical roles, addressing unconscious bias, emphasising equity in high-performance pathways, and educating young people about safeguarding to drive cultural change.

The outcomes of the workshop provide the ONOC Equity Commission and Team Up with an opportunity to engage with NOCs on policy development, safeguarding training, and the potential creation of a leadership programme tailored to young women in the region.

With Olympic Solidarity funding and NZOC’s support, this event marks a significant step toward ECO’s vision of sport in Oceania as a safe, equitable, and unifying force. This workshop represents a tangible outcome of the collaborative efforts between OIN members.

Following the workshop, ONOC Equity Commission members convened to draft their new Strategic Plan, incorporating valuable insights from the event to guide the commission’s direction over the next four years.

ENDS

About the ONOC Equity Commission:

The Equity Commission Oceania (ECO), formerly the Women and Sport Commission (WASO), was established in April 2004 to promote and coordinate the involvement of women in sport across the Oceania region. The Commission works with the vision to see ‘women and girls empowered through sport’.

About Team Up:

Team Up is the Australian Government’s sport for development program in the Asia-Pacific. With more than 60 partners across seven Pacific Island countries, our programs are specifically designed to provide all people, regardless of gender or ability, the opportunity to realise their full potential through sport.

About the Oceania Impact Network:

The Oceania Impact Network is a group of organisations which share a commitment to promoting equality and inclusion in, and through sport, and ending violence against women and girls in the Pacific and is initiated by the Oceania National Olympic Committees through its Equity Commission, the Australian Government’s sport for development program Team Up, the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office and the International Olympic Committee through Olympism365 and Olympic Solidarity. The Impact Network is collaborating with the aim of ensuring more women, girls and communities can access the benefits of sport, that more sport organisations are safe and inclusive, and that policies, institutions and networks in the region support and celebrate gender equal, inclusive, and safe sport.

About NZOC:

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) was established in 1911 and achieved recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1919.

Since inception, the NZOC has selected, prepared, and led more than 60 national teams to Olympic and Commonwealth games around the world.

The NZOC administers Olympic Solidarity programmes in support of athletes (including for refugees), teams, coaches, and administrators. Support is provided for sporting activities, capacity building for coaches (technical courses and Olympics scholarships), equipment purchase, and development of national sports structure through the National Federations (NFs) in various sports.