2026 Female Festival of Sport Breakfast
AFL Barwon is proud to host a special breakfast conversation with two of Australia’s most influential sporting leaders — Laura Kane, AFL’s Executive General Manager of AFLW, Health and Football Operations, and Sharelle McMahon, one of Australia’s most iconic netballers and now General Manager of High Performance and Pathways at Netball Victoria.
Together, they’ll reflect on their journeys so far, and explore the future of women’s sport in Australia: the momentum, the possibilities, and the next era of opportunity for girls and women across football, netball and the broader sporting landscape.
From community pathways to elite performance, from leadership to visibility, this conversation will look ahead to what’s next — and what we must build now to ensure the next generation thrives.
Held at the newly opened Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, this is a rare chance to hear from two trailblazers shaping the national agenda, and to connect with others who are passionate about creating a stronger, more inclusive future for women and girls in sport.
Join us for an inspiring morning of insight, connection and possibility.
Laura Kane
As Executive General Manager of AFLW, Health and Football Operations at the Australian Football League, Laura Kane oversees the continued growth of the AFLW competition, with a focus on elevating the league’s profile, deepening fan connection and unlocking new commercial partnership opportunities. A strong advocate for women’s sport, she is committed to strengthening participation pathways, enhancing the elite competition, and positioning AFLW as one of Australia’s leading sporting codes.
Since joining the AFL in 2021, Laura has held senior executive roles across football operations and competition management. Prior to this, she spent more than five years at the North Melbourne Football Club, helping advance women’s football programs and talent pathways.
Laura began her career as a solicitor and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Victoria University. She brings a strong focus on leadership, governance and innovation, and is widely recognised for championing the growth and long-term success of women’s sport in Australia.
Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle McMahon is one of Australia’s most celebrated netballers, a former captain of the Australian Diamonds, Sharelle represented her country 118 times across a remarkable international career spanning more than a decade. She won two Netball World Cup titles, two Commonwealth Games gold medals and two Commonwealth Games silver medals, while also becoming the first athlete from a team sport to carry the Australian flag at a Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in 2010.
At domestic level, Sharelle enjoyed an outstanding career with the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Vixens, winning six national championships and establishing herself as one of the game’s most influential players. Her achievements have been recognised with induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, a bronze statue at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena, and the naming of the Melbourne Vixens’ Most Valuable Player award in her honour.
Since retiring from elite competition, Sharelle has continued to shape Australian sport through leadership, coaching and high-performance roles across netball, cricket and women’s sport administration. She currently serves as General Manager of High Performance and Pathways at Netball Victoria, where she is helping develop the next generation of athletes and leaders.
Female Sport Education Session hosted by Epworth Geelong
Join Dr Alex Bonner, Dr Rekha Ganeshalingam and Emily Brown for an insightful panel discussion exploring the unique health and performance considerations of female athletes.
This engaging session will examine the relationship between menstrual health and athletic performance, effective load management strategies, and practical ways to support the participation, wellbeing and long-term development of women and girls in sport.
Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, health professional or passionate supporter of female sport, you'll gain valuable insights from industry experts and experienced practitioners working at the forefront of athlete health and performance.
Date: Tuesday 7 July
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Venue: Epworth Geelong
Be part of the conversation and learn how we can better support female athletes to thrive both on and off the field.
Social Run with The Athlete’s Foot & AFL Barwon
Join The Athlete’s Foot & AFL Barwon to celebrate the Female Festival of Sport with a morning run and coffee!
Start your day celebrating movement, community, and the incredible women involved in sport at the Female Festival of Sport. Join The Athlete’s Foot and AFL Barwon for a relaxed social run, followed by coffee and a chance to connect with like-minded people.
Event Details
• Meeting Point: Front entrance of the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre (look out for The Athlete’s Foot flags and signage – you can’t miss us!)
• Meet: From 6:45am
• Run starts: 7:00am
• Post-run: Coffee and a casual catch-up on us
Bonus: The Athlete’s Foot team will have a range of wear-test shoes available to try during the run, plus Bounceback Cards for all participants.
Capacity: Limited to 100 participants. Bring your friends, teammates, or come along solo and meet new people as we celebrate women in sport and the power of community. Spaces are limited, so be sure to register early to secure your spot!
*Coffee limited to the first 100 participants.
Female Club Champion Nominations
We are inviting all clubs to nominate their Female Club Champion – an outstanding female who has made a significant contribution to your club and community.
This prestigious recognition forms part of a week-long celebration dedicated to honouring the achievements and impact of women and girls in sport across the Barwon region.
Whether through playing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, administration or leadership, the Female Club Champion Award acknowledges those who go above and beyond to make a positive difference within their club.
Clubs are asked to submit in 150 words or less their Female Club Champion nomination to AFL Barwon by Wednesday 24 June to
From the club recipients, AFL Barwon will select several individuals to receive additional recognition, highlighting their exceptional contribution to community sport.
Female Club Champions are to be celebrated at Clubs on Thursday 9 July
We encourage every club to recognise and celebrate the women who help make our sporting communities stronger.
Junior Representative Netball Exhibition Match
Celebrate our Bellarine, Geelong and Colac & District Athletes on the big stage.
Alongside Geelong Cougars as they host their Victorian Netball League Home game, our 17U representative teams will take part in an exhibition match to kick off the day.
Come along and celebrate the calibre of netball from the Barwon region, as Geelong Cougars take on the Western Warriors in the Victorian Netball League at “The Arena”.
Date: Tuesday 7 July
Times:
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- 10:30am - Local Representative Exhibition Match
- 12pm - VNL Development Match
- 1:30pm - 23&U VNL Match
- 3pm - Championship VNL Match
Venue: The Arena
What is the Female Festival of Sport?
The Female Festival of Sport is an AFL Barwon initiative which began in 2022 that is designed to celebrate, recognise and empower females who work, volunteer, spectate, or participate in sports within the Barwon region & across Victoria.
The Festival features a week of activities that enable young females to engage in our sports in a fun way, acknowledge females making positive change in the region, and brings the community together to showcase the stories of inspiring females in sport.
The feature event of the week is the Female Festival of Sport Breakfast, which falls on the final day of the Festival. The Breakfast event features a diverse panel that discuss female-related themes and topics with the aim of inspiring and empowering the audience.
The First Female Festival of Sport
The Female Festival of Sport has its first year in the Barwon region, with a variety of events throughout the week and the inaugural Breakfast event held at St Mary's Sporting Club.
The Female Club Champion Award is introduced
The 2023 Female Festival of Sport featured an action-packed week of activities, with the introduction of the "Female Club Champion Award" aimed at recognising a specific female at each club.
The breakfast feautured a panel including Daisy Pearce, Lily Edwards, Sarah Albon & Emily Green - facilitated by Renee Garing.
2024 Female Festival of Sport Breakfast
Supported by The Athlete's Foot, the 2024 Female Festival of Sport Breakfast was held on Friday the 31st of May, 2024.
Hosted by Connie Bolger, General Manager of Partnerships and Marketing at Geelong United Basketball, we heard from an inspiring panel of women in sport. The panel included Kelly Cartwright (Paralympic Gold Medallist), Ali Waight (Queenscliff FNC President), Emma Daffy (All-Abilities & Lara FNC Netballer) + Erin Hoare (Geelong Cats AFLW Player)
2025 Female Festival of Sport Breakfast
Supported by The Athlete’s Foot, the 2025 AFL Barwon Female Festival of Sport Breakfast was held on Friday July 4 at the Geelong West Town Hall.
Hosted by former Australian Diamond and elite netballer Madi Browne, the event brought together local sporting clubs, athletes, schools, community leaders and supporters from across the Barwon region for a morning celebrating, recognising and empowering women and girls in sport.
Attendees heard from an outstanding panel of guest speakers including Meagan Mifsud, Jaz Shelley, Taylah Hassett and AFLW pioneer Debbie Lee, who each shared powerful insights into their journeys, leadership experiences and the challenges and opportunities for females in sport.
The 2025 Breakfast once again highlighted the important role women and girls play across community sport while reinforcing AFL Barwon’s commitment to creating inclusive environments and greater opportunities for future generations.
