South Australian women in leadership roles were celebrated at a networking event hosted by Australia’s British High Commissioner last night, as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Hindmarsh Stadium will tonight feature one of the most highly anticipated blockbusters, as reigning European champions, England’s ‘Lionesses’, take on China PR – the State’s largest trading partner – in the last of four Group Stage matches held at the stadium.
Coinciding with the match, the Malinauskas Labor Government supported the networking event in conjunction with the high commissioner and the British Deputy Consul General.
The British High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadell and the British Deputy Consul General Catriona Boyd hosted an all-female panel featuring women in leadership and sport, including South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close, and the English Football Association’s Women’s Football head of marketing and commercial Marzena Bogdanowicz.
The panel session was facilitated by the Australian British Chamber of Commerce’s new CEO Ticky Fullerton, who was previously the NSW Director for the Chamber and Business Editor at Large at The Australian Business Review.
Attendees had the opportunity to meet industry leaders, researchers and academics in Adelaide for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, leveraging off the A-UKFTA that entered into force between the United Kingdom and Australia on 31 May 2023.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the first-ever FIFA tournament to be co-hosted across two Confederations – Australia, which is a member of the Asian Football Confederation and New Zealand, the Oceania Football Federation – will feature 64 matches of the biggest event in the international women’s game, with 32 teams from around the world – including defending champions the United States and 2022 European champions, England, chasing their first title.
The Lionesses historic Women’s Euro 2022 Championship victory drew over 17.5 million viewers in the United Kingdom, demonstrating the pull of the team and the opportunity for Adelaide to put itself on the map.
As put by Susan Close
I am delighted to host the British High Commissioner to Australia and the British Deputy Consul General in Adelaide and to continue to nurture our relationship for the benefit of both our regions.
The women in leadership event builds upon a mutually beneficial relationship and provides more opportunities to take advantage of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.
As put by Katrine Hildyard
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is magnificent. On and off the pitch, it is bringing people together and it is advancing change – for women, for football and for relationships between communities.
Sports diplomacy strengthens relationships between people, communities, nations and regions and is an increasingly important aspect of diplomatic practice. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is providing an unprecedented opportunity to harness the power of sports diplomacy for change.
Sport is a universal language and plays a unique role in shaping and showcasing identity, values and culture. Bringing women from across the globe together to explore leadership and connection whilst we welcome and celebrate the strength and leadership of these remarkable athletes is powerful.
As put by Nick Champion
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 provides the ideal opportunity for South Australia to enhance economic and bilateral relations with the United Kingdom on the back of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.
It also provides the opportunity to build upon relationships with other nations participating in the tournament, drawing on our business networks and the sports industry to leverage commercial opportunities.
As put by British High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadell
Sport, like business, is about both competition and collaboration.
As the greatest women footballers in the world, including our Lionesses, compete in Australia, I can think of no better backdrop to meet with women in leadership in Adelaide to share learning and opportunities.
