(Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells MP with attendees at the event. Image courtesy of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.)
On Friday 28 July 2023, the Gender Equality Symposium ran alongside the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ in Brisbane. Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells MP co-hosted the event with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong.
The event brought together more than 200 leaders, advocates, academics and athletes from our region and across the world. Guests reflected 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
- Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells MP
- Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong
- Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher
- The Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Premier of Queensland.
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, is a critical platform for driving change and improving equality in sport.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ concludes in Sydney on 20 August 2023. The Australian Government will continue to be a strong supporter of our female athletes, hosting some of the world’s best female athletes through the:
