Women’s Coaching Network, Adelaide 2026

Enhancing developmental networks for women coaches in high performance sport

Connect. Learn. Lead. A national gathering for women coaches shaping the future of high performance sport.

Be part of the inaugural Women’s Coaching Network — a two-day national gathering for women high performance coaches to connect, exchange ideas and strengthen the relationships that support long-term career growth.

Launching in Adelaide from 10–11 November 2026, this invite-only event will bring together women coach alumni, international thought leaders and key system partners for connection, learning and practical action.

About the event

The Women’s Coaching Network (WCN) is an AIS Women in High Performance Coaching Initiative created for alumni of AIS women’s coaching programs. Hosted in partnership with the South Australian Sports Institute, opens in a new tab and proudly supported by The Power of Her, opens in a new tab, the event marks the beginning of a national network focused on connection, visibility and development for women across the high performance coaching pathway.

Across two days, participants will build trusted relationships, share lived experiences, hear from international experts and explore practical ways to strengthen systems that support women’s progression, retention and leadership in coaching.

Why this network matters

Women coaches consistently tell us that access to the right networks, relationships and development opportunities can shape whether they progress, stay and lead in high performance environments. The WCN responds to that need by creating a national space where women coaches can connect with “people like me”, learn across sports and systems, and build the enduring professional relationships that support career momentum.

• Build meaningful peer and professional connections.
• Learn from international experts and system leaders.
• Share experiences, ideas and practical strategies across sports.
• Contribute to stronger environments for women coaches to thrive.

Who should attend?

The Network is designed primarily for women coaches who are alumni of AIS high performance coach programs, including Summit, National Generation 2032, ENHANCE, Experiential Learning Program, Women’s Talent Programs, Transition Support and Leadership Initiatives, and ASPIRE. Day 2 also includes invited performance leaders, coach educators and system partners who influence coaching pathways, role design and development opportunities for women coaches.

• Women coach alumni seeking connection, learning and support across sports and systems.
• Performance leaders who influence coaching pathways, role design and development opportunities.
• Coach educators and facilitators shaping learning environments for women high performance coaches.
• System partners committed to strengthening representation, retention and visibility of women in coaching.

What you’ll explore

• Belonging and connection: building trusted relationships with coaches who share similar experiences and ambitions.
• Learning across sports: exchanging knowledge, ideas and strategies across high performance environments.
• Pathway development: exploring how leaders, coach educators and organisations can strengthen opportunities for women coaches.
• Visibility and leadership: elevating women coaches’ voices, experiences and contributions within the national system.

Program overview

Program details

The full program will be shared with invited participants closer to the event.

International Speakers

Hear from three international presenters who bring deep expertise in gender equity, leadership, careers, coach learning and professional networks. Their insights will help participants connect lived experience with practical action at coach, organisational and system levels.

Professor Leanne Norman

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Professor Leanne Norman is Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director of the Loughborough University Flagship Institute for Women in Sport at Loughborough University. Her work focuses on gender equity, diversity and inclusion in sport workforces, with a particular emphasis on women’s experiences in coaching, sport organisational culture, coach–athlete relationships, and inclusive leadership pathways. Leanne has led national and international research projects and worked with sport councils, governing bodies, federations and charities to translate evidence into practical change. At the Women’s Coaching Network, she will bring research-informed insight into how sport systems can create more inclusive coaching environments and stronger career pathways for women coaches.

Leanne Norman | Linkedln, opens in a new tab

Professor Ali Budjanovcanin

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Professor Ali Budjanovcanin is a Reader in Leadership at King’s Business School, King’s College London, and a theme lead in the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. Her research focuses on careers, leadership and how people navigate professional pathways across changing and complex workplaces. Ali’s expertise spans leadership development, career decision-making, occupational identity and organisational behaviour across public and private sector settings. She designs and delivers leadership programs for executive audiences and brings a valuable lens to the Network by helping participants consider how women coaches build careers, exercise leadership and sustain momentum in demanding high performance environments.

Ali Budjanovcanin | LinkedIn, opens in a new tab

Vicky Huyton

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Vicky Huyton is the founder of the Female Coaching Network (FCN) and a performance coach mentor and consultant with more than 25 years’ experience across elite sport. Her work focuses on understanding why women coaches do not always progress, stay or lead in high performance environments, and on supporting organisations to create practical, sustainable strategies for retention, progression and senior representation. Through the Female Coaching Network, Vicky has helped build one of the world’s largest global communities for women coaches. At the Women’s Coaching Network, she will bring a practical, system-focused perspective on building networks that support women coaches to be seen, supported and ready for senior roles.

Home - Female Coaching Network | Academy, opens in a new tab

Our “Elders”

Building on Our Australian Way, we recognise the knowledge, insight and wisdom of experienced Australian high performance coaches, while drawing respectfully on traditions of learning from First Nations Peoples. Our “Elders” are coaches who have helped shape the system, continue to lead the way for the next generation and will support the event through their presence and contribution.

Our Facilitators

Facilitators will be announced soon.

What to expect

Across the Women’s Coaching Network program, participants can expect an interactive and applied learning experience that combines purposeful connection, peer learning, practical capability development and exposure to high performance coaching environments. The program will help coaches build relationships, apply evidence-informed tools, explore pathway opportunities and identify actions they can take back into their own coaching contexts and organisations.

• Purposeful connection activities designed to connect coaches across sports, programs, pathways and lived experiences, and to strengthen relationships that can continue beyond the event.
• Practical presentations and facilitated breakout sessions using evidence-informed frameworks, including the FCN Coaching Compass, Talent Development Framework, Capability Capital and Mentorship Framework.
• Scenario-based workshops focused on communication, wellbeing, mentoring, pathway navigation and coach development challenges, with opportunities to practise and apply strategies in realistic coaching situations.
• Small-group conversations, table discussions and peer reflection to help participants translate key ideas into practical actions for their own coaching contexts, teams and organisations.
• Expert panels and Q&A sessions featuring experienced coaches, coach developers and system leaders sharing insights on leadership, coaching pathways, inclusive environments and the future of women in high performance coaching.
• Global connection points including opportunities to learn about the Female Coaching Network and Female Coach Academy, and to consider how international examples can inform local coaching pathways.
• Celebration and network launch through an evening cocktail event that formally marks the start of the Women’s Coaching Network, celebrates women coaches and creates a visible platform for ongoing connection.
• Optional learning immersion activities including SASI environment experiences, facilitated coaching observations and targeted small-group activities that provide applied exposure to contemporary high performance environments.

Event details

Dates | Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November 2026

Location: The Amora , 233 Victoria Square , Adelaide, South Australia 5000 Hosted by: AIS High Performance Coach Development Team | Women in High Performance Coaching Initiative In partnership with: South Australian Sports Institute Supported by: The Power of Her Cost: There is no cost for AIS HP Coach alumni to attend the Network launch, with invitations to be sent directly to alumni.

Registration

A formal invitation and final program will be shared with AIS HP Coach alumni. Direct invitations will also be sent to coach educators, system leaders and partners to attend Day 2. Places will be limited to ensure a focused, high-quality experience for alumni coaches and invited system leaders. For more information, please contact the AIS HP Coach Development team at HPCoachDevelopment@ausport.gov.au.

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