Tim Frampton, General Manager – Football Operations, Melbourne Victory Westfield W-League Team

 ”Athletics Australia are pleased to endorse the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Conference in 2012. Our sport offers a fantastic platform for women of all ages, backgrounds and abilities from local participation to high performance. We welcome the opportunity to explore strategies that engage women in sport through participation, officiating, coaching, administration or management and to raise the profile of our fantastic female athletes”.

We look forward to hearing more information on this conference as the date approaches.

Dallas O’Brien, CEO, Athletics Australia

Quick Facts

Purpose

The Asia Pacific World Sport & Women Conference 2012 looks at the world’s most popular sport and provides a global platform to explore ‘how’ and ‘why’ women consume sport. Learn how to increase female consumption from grassroots participation and international representation to the boardroom and stadia across the Asia Pacific Region and beyond. The conference will feature ‘Football’ as the platform that reaches the greatest number of women and girls globally, but will also draw on the experiences of sports as diverse as Touch, Bowls, Swimming and others to help communities, governments, businesses and sporting bodies engage with women and girls.

It’s all about Money. Members. Marketing. Media and Men……. and why it makes sense to get more women involved in the business of sport.

Where and When

Australia’s iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground – MCG Stadium from 7-9^th October 2012

For Government

To understand how females consume sport to increase profile and participation

Conference Topics

The 5 ‘M’s will showcase how and why it makes good business sense to increase female consumption of sport.

Money.          Commercial reality in the business of sport.

• How can sport secure more $$$ through corporate sponsorship and government funding through increased female consumption?
• Learn how other industry sectors have increased greater female involvement to secure a brighter future.

Members. Women are members too.

• Learn how tailoring sports products and services to suit the female target audience can increase membership for swifter growth.

Marketing.     Is Sport is getting in touch with its feminine side?

• Learn how and why it makes good business sense to develop a marketing model for sport that goes beyond the sale of female sexuality.

Media.           Not just a curtain raiser.

• Learn how modern media is tapping into the female market for maximum effect.

Men. Astute businessmen get involved.

• Learn how good business models are being applied across traditionally male dominated sporting environments to attract more women and girls for commercial growth and long term gain.

Why Football (Soccer) as the platform?

Football or Soccer is the world’s most popular sport with over 4.1 billion fans, players, administrators and officials across the globe.  Men and Women have access to all levels of the sport, from grassroots participation to international representation in worldwide competition; as members and in governance roles from club level to international member federations.

*In Australia the top ten organised physical activities in 2010, in terms of total participation rate, were aerobics/fitness, golf, outdoor football (soccer), netball, Australian rules football, tennis, basketball, touch football, outdoor cricket and lawn bowls. (*Source Australian Sports Commission ERASS Report 2010)

Let’s explore what makes these sports so accessible and popular and let’s learn ‘how’ and ‘why’ other sports ‘can’ and ‘do’ model around the success of football and the corporate investors that support it.

Who should attend?

All practitioners in the business of sport involved in

• Leadership (grassroots to senior management and the board room);
• Contribution (sport, government and corporate partners);
• Involvement (participation at all levels including fan based);
• Achievement (high performance and alumni at all levels);
• Recognition (acknowledgement and reward);
• Governance (policy, strategy and advocacy)

Why hold the conference in Melbourne Australia?

• Recently voted the world’s most liveable city, Melbourne is also known as the sports capital of the world.
• Short travel times from most Asian ports secure Melbourne as one of the favoured destinations for many international business, government and sports professionals.

Event Highlights

Event highlights will include:

• Inspiring International and Australian Key Note Speakers and Presenters;
• Global and local success stories across health, education, performance and leadership in sport;
• Two Day Conference Program; Workshops and practical sessions focussed on strengthening women’s involvement and participation;
• Master Classes for leading sport administrators and corporate partners;
• National Awards; Pre Conference Cocktail Reception; Conference Dinner;
• Blockbuster football game at one of Australia’s premier stadiums;
• Exclusive hosting opportunities for alliance partners.

Delegates

The target audience includes:

• Stakeholder representatives from international sports governing bodies;
• Australian and International multi sport associations;
• Federal, State and Local Government departments and sporting associations, clubs, athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, volunteers and parents;
• Media and broadcasting partners;
• Corporate Partners;
• Senior practitioners across law, finance, health and education working in the sport, recreation and leisure markets.

What’s in it for you?

• Lead the promotion and consumption of sports business by women;
• Pre launch opportunity to secure your place to reach a direct international audience of 1000-1500 delegates and indirect international audience reach of over one million* over the next 12 months; and over 2.1 million ** organised sport participants (*based on average e communications and media publications produced and distributed by Alliance Partners)(** based on participation in organised physical activity Australian Sports Commission ERASS Report 2010)

• Economic benefits to the host country/state;
• Leverage brand, business development and revenue opportunities for your organisation.

John Boultbee

Head of International Department, Football Federation Australia

‘The Australian WomenSport and Recreation Association (AWRA) is very pleased to endorse the ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference in 2012. We encourage all stakeholders and potential conference partners to support this new, exciting initiative, as we are sure that the end result will be a highly successful Conference for football and for women’s sport.’

Janice Crosswhite OAM

President, Australian WomenSport and Recreation Association

‘I commend both the conference organisers and Football Federation Australia for their interest in overcoming the barriers to women’s participation in their sport. I recommend interested government, community and sporting organisations to support the facilitation of the innovative conference proposal.’

Kate Lundy

Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

‘This conference will present an opportunity for all stakeholders to develop a clear and workable strategy to increase female involvement and participation in all areas of sport with a particular focus on football.

As this is the primary objective of the Member Federations of FFA we are pleased to endorse the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Conference and encourage you to be a part of this exciting initiative.’

The nine Australian Football Member Federations

‘On behalf of Global Dialogue Foundation, we commend this important initiative and encourage participation by all stakeholders. Let the inaugural event inspire a wave of similar events throughout the world. The Global Dialogue Foundation look forward to participating in the conference and strengthening the role of community, private sector and non-government organisations in cross-cultural understanding across the sporting environment’.

Peter (Pece) Gorgievski

Co-Founder and CEO, Global Dialogue Foundation

‘Bowls Australia is very pleased to endorse the ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference in 2012. I am very enthused to support this exciting initiative for the promotion of women’s sport.’

Neil Dalrymple, CEO, Bowls Australia

‘FIFA has long advocated the ‘football family’ and identified as far back as 1999 that the ‘future of football is feminine’ but academic research indicates that girls and women remain largely on the semi-periphery of the ‘football family’.  I organized the 2005 ‘Women, Football and Europe’ Conference as part of the 2005 UEFA Women’s Euro Championships and this was the clear message.  Whilst it cannot be disputed that more girls and women are playing the game globally and to ever-improving standards – see recent World Cup and Olympic finals as evidence – there is still much to do locally, nationally and internationally.  Basic issues like funding streams, facilities, professionalization, coaching, administration support, and corporate sponsorship and media exposure need addressing for FIFA to deliver its 1999 promise.  The importance of this Conference to bring such issues to the fore is explicit and I hope key stakeholders across the football, sport and business worlds attend the conference and appreciate the need to engage women more centrally in the future development of football.  If the Conference can get such stakeholders to think about ‘football’ rather than ‘boys/men’s football’ and ‘girls/women’s football’ as separate entities then a significant message will have been delivered’.

Dr Jonathan Magee, Senior Lecturer,

Division of Sports Development and Coaching, University of Central Lancashire, UK.

‘On behalf of Touch Football Australia (TFA) we are both pleased and excited to add our endorsement to the ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference for 2012.  As a sport with almost parity within our playing ranks we recognise not only the vital role women play on the sporting field but also off of it as officials, staff members, volunteers and leaders.  As a sport focussed on growing our female participation over the coming years and recognising the significant contribution of these members the agenda provides a clear opportunity to understand the core drivers which will assist us to fulfil these objectives.  As a truly inclusive sport Touch Football Australia commends this initiative and we are enthused by what will be a highlight of 2012.’

Colm Maguire, CEO, Touch Football Australia

‘The International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) supports this conference and trusts that it will be a catalyst for the advancement and empowerment of women and sport globally.’

Johanna Adriaanse, International Working Group on Women, IWG Co-chair.

‘Women on Boards is happy to endorse the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Organising Association conference in October 2012.  The increased representation of women in leadership and on boards in the sports sector was where our organisation started and we continue to work to this goal for the sports sector.  We look forward to supporting the conference and strengthening gender diversity in the sporting arena.’

Claire Braund, Executive Director, Women on Boards

‘Table Tennis Australia is pleased to endorse the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Conference in 2012. Overcoming the barriers to women and girls participating in sport has been an issue that our sport has been trying to address both domestically and internationally and I applaud the conference organisers on their conference initiative.’

Peter Marriott, CEO, Table Tennis Australia

‘Badminton Australia has much pleasure in endorsing the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Conference in 2012.  This is a very exciting initiative and will greatly support the promotion of women’s sport. Badminton Australia encourages people to attend.’

Paul Brettell, CEO, Badminton Australia

‘Equestrian Australia is pleased to endorse the inaugural ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference in 2012. Our sport is one of the few in the world where men and women compete alongside each other on equal terms and for equal prizes.  But like most sports, we’re always eager to look at ways where we can better promote and build profile for women in sport. We’re proud that our membership is made up of 87% females – but we also remain committed to look at ways to have women involved at all levels from participation through to leadership roles.

We look forward to supporting the conference and working collectively with the industry to further promote women in sport.’

Grant Baldock, CEO, Equestrian Australia

‘The Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Conference 2012 will provide a wonderful opportunity to share experiences and explore opportunities to promote the consumption of sport by women.  It will connect experienced practitioners with policy makers and the corporate world and challenge them to embrace change.  Australian Rugby Union applauds this initiative.’

Ian Alker, General Manager, Australian Rugby Union

‘In Australia we are proud to boast that our membership is nearly a 50/50 split between males and females, particularly at the school level.  At our recent National Schools Championships we had 465 teams competing with 235 or nearly 51% female teams.  The Asia Pacific World Sport and Women conference presents Volleyball Australia with the opportunity to utilize marketing and media to enhance our profile and participation numbers to ensure females remain in the sport. We wish you the best of success with the event.’

W. Joan Perry, CEO, Volleyball Australia

‘Melbourne Heart FC is pleased to endorse the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Conference 2012. Our club supports initiatives that improve opportunities for women and girls to participate and lead. Football and sport provide the perfect platform to advance these opportunities.’

Scott Munn, CEO, Melbourne Heart FC

‘Women play a big part in amateur boxing, from athletes to officials and coaches to administrators. They are a vital key to our core business. Boxing Australia endorses the Asia Pacific World Sport & Women’s conference and looks forward to the key outcomes, strategies, innovations and trends that may be useful to maximising women’s participation in sport.’

Kable Kelleway, CEO, Boxing Australia Inc.

‘On behalf of Australian Canoeing I endorse this conference.

We are committed to the promotion of female participation in Canoeing and this conference will be an exciting opportunity to discuss strategies to help in that goal.’

Greg Doyle, CEO, Australian Canoeing

‘On behalf of the ACT Football Federation (Capital Football) and Canberra United FC (Westfield W-League 2011/12 Premiers) I am pleased to support this important new Conference. After more than thirty years of active engagement in football, and predominantly in areas that have led to the improved status and opportunities for girls and women, I believe this conference will provide tremendous inspiration, education and strategies for future development of the world game and other sports.  Whilst the number of international programs and the quantity of females participating in football has improved significantly over the past decade, there is still a great deal of work to be done to advance and empower women in leadership, management, coaching and refereeing roles. With this in mind, I look forward to the conference outcomes as I expect they will help to shape and drive cultural and systemic changes within many sports.’

Heather Reid, CEO, Capital Football and Canberra United FC

‘Golf Australia is pleased to endorse the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women

Conference. We think it is a terrific initiative and one that will deliver some key benefits to a number of sports including golf. Whilst we have over 100,000 female members, we see great potential to increase the number of females involved in golf and we are always enthusiastic to explore new ways to connect with existing and potential female golfers.’

Stephen Pitt, CEO, Golf Australia

It’s all about Money. Members. Marketing. Media and Men……. and why it makes sense to get more women involved in the business of sport.

Where and When
Australia’s iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground – MCG Stadium from 7-9th October 2012

Conference Topics
The 5 ‘M’s will showcase how and why it makes good business sense to increase female consumption of sport.

Money. Commercial reality in the business of sport.
o How can sport secure more $$$ through corporate sponsorship and government funding through increased female consumption?
o Learn how other industry sectors have increased greater female involvement to secure a brighter future.

Members. Women are members too.
o Learn how tailoring sports products and services to suit the female target audience can increase membership for swifter growth.

Marketing. Is Sport is getting in touch with its feminine side?
o Learn how and why it makes good business sense to develop a marketing model for sport that goes beyond the sale of female sexuality.

Media. Not just a curtain raiser.
o Learn how modern media is tapping into the female market for maximum effect.

Men. Astute businessmen get involved.
o Learn how good business models are being applied across traditionally male dominated sporting environments to attract more women and girls for commercial growth and long term gain.

Forward all expressions of interest to: gm@spheresofinfluence.com.au with ‘APWSW 2012 Speaker’ in the subject line

Olympian and Lawyer, Margot Foster, has been appointed Chair of the inaugural ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference Advisory Board.

World Sport & Women Organisaing Association President, Patrizia Torelli said in today’s announcement ‘we’re delighted to have such a well-known and distinguished sports administrator, with expertise in sport governance, leading our strong advisory board, which is made up of leaders in sport, business and government. Margot’s passion for excellence in sport and in sport business sets her apart from many of her peers and we are thrilled to have the services and assistance of someone of her calibre.’

‘Margot is well known and respected for her ongoing contribution to the development of women and sport, making her the perfect person for this role,’ continues Patrizia. ‘For a number of years now, Margot has hosted the ‘For the Sport of it All’ lunches which have brought together a wide range of women who are engaged in sports leadership and administration and whose connections work to the benefit of everyone who attends the lunches and sport as a whole.’

The ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference, which will be held in Melbourne, Australia in October 2012 acknowledges the endorsement of FFA in this inaugural conference which will feature actionable and practical ways to show ‘why’ and ‘how’ females consume sport – from grassroots participation and international representation to the boardroom and stadia across the Asia Pacific Region and beyond.

The objectives of the ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference are to help sport, business, community, sponsors, and media to influence the key drivers of sport. The conference is aimed at organisations astute enough to understand that to connect with women and girls, sport must engage MONEY. MEMBERS. MARKETING. MEDIA & MEN.

MONEY. MEMBERS. MARKETING. MEDIA & MEN

World Sport & Women Organising Association President, Patrizia Torelli, recently announced at a reception held at AAMI Park in Melbourne, that Australia will host the inaugural ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference in 2012. 

Guests were joined by a stellar panel including Melanie Jones:  International Cricketer, Broadcaster and Player Agent;  Tom Sermanni:  National Coach of the Matildas;  Melissa Barbieri: Captain of the National Football Team, the Matildas;  Neil Dalrymple:  CEO of Bowls Australia;  Jill McCabe:  Director of the Office of Women (Vic);  Dr. Jonathan Magee:  Senior Lecturer, University of Lancashire;  and Ashley Klein:  Sponsorship and Strategic Partnerships Manager, Collingwood Football Club.  Patrizia signaled a new direction for sports practitioners who are keen to increase participation, grow commercially viable operations and ensure the ‘buy in’  of this valuable target audience.

‘Not just another assembly to confirm what we already know, this two day event for everyone working in the business of sport who wants to know “why” and “how” to do sport better and attract greater numbers of girls and women, on and off the field’, she said. ‘Continuing to ignore 53% of the population would be considered commercial suicide in the corporate world, yet in many areas of sport we see this vital market completely left out of any real commitment from leaders in the sector. It begs the question, “why?” 

The ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference is designed to show ‘why’ and ‘how’ females consume sport – from grassroots participation and international representation to the boardroom and stadia across the Asia Pacific Region and beyond.

 ‘The objectives of the ASIA PACIFIC World Sport and Women Conference are to help sport, business, community, sponsors, and media to influence the key drivers of sport. The conference is aimed at organisations astute enough to understand that to connect with women and girls, sport must engage MONEY. MEMBERS. MARKETING. MEDIA & MEN’ Patrizia said.

‘Why? – Because Money talks; Members buy; Marketing sells; Media tells; and astute business Men listen,’ she concluded.

 The announcement of the Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Advisory Board is expected to be announced in the coming days.

Responsible for the leadership, development and management of lawn bowls in Australia, the national sporting organisation’s commitment to innovation, both on and off the green, is reflective in its desire to be an employer of choice within the sporting industry.

In the interest of continuous improvement, Bowls Australia approached Spheres of Influence to conduct a 360 degree review of the organisation’s staffing skill sets, identifying its current strengths and at the same time highlighting potential areas where future professional development may be beneficial.

‘It may sound clichéd, but I’m a firm believer in investing in your staff,” Mr Dalrymple said.

‘A quick glance at our strategic plan reaffirms our mission to be innovative and to create a proactive culture that is attuned to environmental changes within and outside of sport.

‘The outcomes of Spheres’ review will allow us to tailor our ongoing HR strategies, professional development protocols and educational initiatives in terms of staff recruitment and retention.’

Over a three month period, Bowls Australia’s staff was invited to undertake a self-assessed review, highlighting their own areas of interest and career development goals, before being provided with a customized strategic plan for their own professional development.

In order to encourage frank and honest assessments, the organisation limited its access to a summary report on the current status of its ‘whole-of-staff’ skill sets, along with recommendations on how to fill those skill gaps by either upgrading current expertise and skills or offering new areas of skill development for existing staff.

‘The very essence of the review was to assist in the professional and career development goals of our staff,’ Mr Dalrymple said.

‘This process will also assist in determining suitable opportunities for career development and advancement within BA, which may or may not have been obvious to the organisation.’

‘I’m confident that it will allow us to produce a more coordinated approach to the opportunities we offer our staff, and in turn, a more efficient and driven national office.’

Ms Patrizia Torelli, Managing Director of Spheres, is also a member of the board of Bowls Australia.  She was appointed to the board subsequent to the decision by Bowls Australia to award the contract for the professional development review to Spheres.  

‘Personal Brand Disorder’, or PBD, is the result of exposure to dysfunctional business practise brought about by complacency and lack of diligence, inflamed by inaction.

The Spheres team is experiencing an increase in ‘patients’ seeking advice to treat the virus that is crippling many Board Directors and CEOs.

A number of business leaders have presented with serious symptoms in recent weeks ranging from the first signs of discontent to outright fever pitch dissatisfaction.

Surprisingly, in a number of cases, the symptoms are presenting after the election of a new Board.

‘The new Board was elected just over twelve months ago and their enthusiasm for the business is evident in their scrutiny of all things operational,’ states Douglas, education sector CEO (not his real name).

‘The greatest risk, however, was the level of governance knowledge and strategic diligence attributed to the new group. I felt as though I was constantly putting out fires, rather than building the business…….to the point where our membership was being affected and ultimately our existence. There was little or no regard for the expertise which exists within the organisation itself, or consideration given to the fact that we have grown from a series of small state chapters to become one of the world’s leading international associations. I felt as though my tenure was untenable.’

One very experienced Board Director has been adversely affected by the appointment of just one new board director to the board of an international sporting association.

‘Unfortunately not all Board nominations or appointments are scrutinised to the extent to which they should be in relation to the needs of the organisation. In this case the appointment of a new board director has resulted in the resignation of the CEO and a number of experienced directors,’ says Penelope (not her real name).

‘The lack of experience in governance protocol and practise demonstrated by the current board places it in the ‘high-risk’ category and I now fear for the long-term sustainability of the organisation,’ the independent director concluded.

Spheres has responded by providing customised solutions for each client, including independently audited references through the 360 Personal Brand review program.

Australia-wide Business Training Chief Executive, Larry Gould, recently commented ‘Companies are reassessing the landscape in which they operate and realise the crucial role of human capital in securing their business growth objectives.’

‘They are rapidly modifying the HR practices of the past and seeking to implement modern talent management strategies that are more closely aligned to their business objectives.’

Spheres agrees and provides our top three PBD remedies for healthy leadership:

• Seek independently audited references for CEO and Board reviews and appointments;
• Align the organisational brand with your ‘human capital’ brand
• Leverage all available brand resources, internal and external, to grow the business.

So what were the outcomes for our intrepid leaders?

‘Spheres provided our organisation with a brilliant ‘Status Report’ and ‘Road Map’ to support the Board and comfortably refocus its energies on growing the business whilst enjoying the reassurance that they are leading a strong, capable management team,’ concludes Douglas.

Whilst Penelope has secured two senior Board roles she believes fulfill her desire to contribute in more productive environments.

‘I knew that I had to move on as the rest of the Board were unable to challenge the leadership style and demand appropriate governance and strategic direction. My 360 Personal Brand Review gave me the confidence to pursue better options, knowing that I had the proof to back up my stated experience and reputational value whilst building my brand at the same time. I now know that the symptoms I was suffering can be treated and ultimately cured by using the tools provided through my very own 360 Personal Brand Review.’

For more information about 360 Personal Brandvisit www.360personalbrand.com.au or email gm@360personalbrand.com.au