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.
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.
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.
