Pacific Women's Sport Leadership Program launches

The inaugural Pacific Women's Sports Leadership Program begins today in Port Moresby.

The Program is a joint initiative by Cricket Australia, Netball Australia and the International Cricket Council, funded through the Australian Government's Pacific Sports Partnerships Innovation Funding.

It brings together female leaders from across the sports sector from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga.

Twenty women representing 13 different sporting organisations will spend the week developing their leadership skills through sport, to directly impact on the lives of young women and girls in their communities.

The Program also aims to promote an increase in the number of women moving into leadership roles in sport and other sectors.

Netball Australia's International Development Manager, Olivia Philpott, said the program plays an integral part in providing positive female role models in the Pacific region.

"It's important for us to see more women moving into leadership roles, to improve diversity in decision-making, investment in targeted programs for women's sport, health and wellbeing, and to provide role models for young girls," she said.

"We wanted to expand the kind of development opportunities and networks that we can access in Australia to the women that we work with through our roles in sport for development in the Pacific."

The ICC's Jane Livesey hoped the program will continue in years to come.

"There is research that clearly demonstrates and highlights the important role that sport plays in shaping and developing female leaders around the world, so programs such as this are vital in regions such as the Pacific, where female leaders are hard to find across all sectors," said Livesey.

Program Participants:

Mherina Ahmed (Fiji)

Berth Bade (PNG)

Filoi Eneliko (Samoa)

Lepa Fa'aiuaso (Samoa)

Susan Komang (PNG)

Grace Wilson Michael (PNG)

Maryann Moss (Fiji)

Cathy Neap (PNG)

Rutha Meu Omenefa (PNG)

Brenda Ribauw (Nauru)

Lua Rikis (PNG)

Nynette Sass (Samoa)

Ruta Schwalger (Samoa)

Salote Sisifa (Tonga)

Siteri Tadrau (Fiji)

Shareena Tanabi (PNG)

Sulueti Tarasomo (PNG)

Peti Tupouniua (Tonga)

Sarai Vaofauna-Stephens (Vanuatu)

Lavenia Yalovi (Fiji)

Photo: Facebook / Pacific Women's Sports Leadership Program