+ In January WSA launched a major new national initiative – the inaugural Women in Sport Photo Action Awards (#WISPAA). Hundreds of images were submitted as part of the competition with 30 finalist images announced and both a professional and amateur winner crowned.#WISPAA partners included Nikon, the IAAF, Epson AAP and MMR. In June WSA held a Melbourne Exhibition launch event at 50 Lonsdale St featuring the #WISPAA winners and finalist images with a fantastic turnout of 100 leaders in sport including Federal Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck. The images were then turned into an exhibition which toured around Australia with thanks to large support from ISPT. Fantastic work by WSA Director Louise Evans who brought the competition and exhibition to life.
+ WSA continued to grow in national prominence and influence in 2019 due to strong advocacy via social media channels, traditional media interviews and bespoke media releases. Twitter followers and Facebook page likes continued to increase and WSA’s media releases and requests for media interviews resulted in WSA appearing in the traditional media on multiple occasions. Highlights included being featured on leading news organisations from the BBC TV World News and ABC TV 7pm News and ABC Radio, to The Australian, The Guardian, SBS, The Herald Sun, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
+ WSA also undertook a website redesign which was completed by AAP who also assisted with #WISPAA. The fresh look and feel of the website is perfect to take us into a new era of WSA.
+ WSA’s Women in Sport Mentoring Program continued to flourish with 30 new mentees from a range of sporting organisations joining the program from both Melbourne and Sydney. Both mentoring programs were followed by networking events giving the mentees a chance to put their new skills into action with some leaders in sport.
+ WSA directors attended and/or addressed a wide range of events and forums including International Women’s Day, Women in Sport Leadership Summit, Change Our Game events in Victoria, Sport Australia Hall Of Fame Gala, Sport Australia National Integrity Forum, Gymnastics Victoria Women In Sport Breakfast and the Women’s Health Magazine Women in Sport Awards.
+ WSA’s board was strengthened with four new Board Directors – Isaak Dury, Rebecca Read, Anthony Moore and Warwick Waters. Carol Fox was re-elected President, Gen Simmons was appointed Deputy Chair, David Bond was re-elected Treasurer and Alison Buxton became Secretary.
