Leading political and sport figures participate in Gender Equality Symposium

Leading political and sport figures recently attended the Gender Equality Symposium in Brisbane to discuss the role sport plays in advancing gender equality.

Held on Friday 28th July 2023 alongside the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the Symposium was co-hosted by Minister for Sport, Anika Wells and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong.

The event brought together more than 200 national and internatonal leaders, advocates, academics and athletes with guests reflecting on the broad benefits to communities when women and girls receive the support to realise their full potential through sport.

Speakers who provided their personal insights included:

• FIFA Secretary-General, Fatma Samoura  

• Australian Olympic basketballer, Patty Mills AM 

• Paralympic champion, Madison de Rozario OAM 

• US Secretary of State, Antony J Blinken

• Australian Minister for Sport, Anika Wells

• Australlian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong

• Australian Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher

• Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

A group of young, diverse athletes from Australia and the Pacific region also took part in a reverse youth mentoring session. Working alongside senior leaders on the challenges girls and women face in sport and put forward their ideas for the future.

Australia has a long history of hosting world-class sporting events, like the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. The symposium, alongside the tournament, offered a critical platform for driving change and improving equality in sport.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ concludes in Sydney on 20th August 2023. Following the World Cup, the Australian Government will host some of the world’s best female athletes through the:

• 2027 Netball World Cup

• 2029 Rugby World Cup

• 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic games

Image. Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells with attendees at the event. Credit: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.