AFL Barwon Female Festival of Sport
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.

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.


