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As the IWG Global Summit returns for its ninth edition, Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe reflects on its global impact - and why this year’s theme marks a critical shift from progress to lasting change. As preparations continue for the IWG Global Summit 2026, IWG Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe has shared a new video reflecting on the history of the Summit - and why it remains such a vital moment for everyone working to advance women and girls through sport and physical activity

The IWG Global Summit 2026 continues to strengthen its line-up with the announcement of an outstanding new group of speakers, joining an already exceptional programme of global leaders shaping the future of sport. Together, they represent leadership at the very highest level. From Olympic governance and international federations to research, policy and system-wide change, these speakers reflect the breadth of perspective at the heart of the Summit. The newly announced speaker

IWG Global Summit 2026 reaches a defining moment with the announcement of an exceptional new group of speakers. These are leaders who have competed on the world stage, shaped global sport, driven major investment and influenced how sport is governed, delivered and experienced around the world. This latest announcement reflects the Summit’s ambition to go beyond celebrating isolated breakthroughs and instead focus on what comes next, embedding equity into the systems, structur

IWG Chair Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe MBE and Global Executive Board Member Dr Rosaura Mendez Gamboa this month visited Brazil following the announcement in January that the Brazil Olympic Committee (COB) has been selected as the next host of IWG Women & Sport 2026-2030. Coinciding with the COB Fórum Mulher no Esporte (Women in Sport Forum) the trip was an opportunity to begin the formal handover process between the UK and Brazil Secretariats, m

In a landmark moment for gender equity in sport, the British gymnastics community has joined forces with World Gymnastics to officially sign the IWG's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. The collective signing took place at the Artistic Gymnastics British Championships in Liverpool and brought together British Gymnastics, the English Gymnastics Association, Scottish Gymnastics, Welsh Gymnastics and Gymnastics Northern Ireland. Together with their international federation, the

Newcastle City Council has officially joined the global movement for systemic change in sport and physical activity by signing the IWG Women & Sport’s Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration. The formal signing, which took place on Sunday 22 March at St James’ Park, signals Newcastle City Council’s commitment to turning international principles into local action. By joining a network of over 600 global organisations – including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), National

The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) has signed the IWG Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining the world’s largest network dedicated to gender equity in sport. By formalising this commitment, the CNOSF reaffirms its long-standing responsibility to advance the role of women and girls across the sports movement and anchors its national efforts within a broad global framework of over 600 organisations. This significant step reflects years of dedicated ac

IWG Global Summit 2026 continues to build its global programme with the announcement of a new group of speakers - leaders working at the forefront of research, digital innovation, leadership development and international sport-for-development. Bringing together expertise from across academia, consultancy and global programmes, this latest wave reflects the Summit’s focus on embedding equity into the systems, structures and decisions that shape sport and physical activity worl

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Parkwood Leisure has officially become a signatory of the IWG Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. By signing the Declaration, the family-owned leisure operator – which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary – joins a global network of over 600 organisations committed to gender equity and the empowerment of women and girls in physical activity. For Parkwood Leisure, this commitment is deeply rooted in its core mission: improving the

IWG Global Summit 2026 continues to build momentum with the announcement of its next wave of influential speakers, bringing together global leaders who are embedding equity into the systems, structures and decisions that shape sport every day. We are proud to unveil the latest confirmed speakers joining us in Birmingham - each bringing deep expertise, lived experience and a proven track record of driving meaningful, systemic change across governance, innovation, investment, p

IWG has today published the Year Three Annual Report, which details the work of the IWG Secretariat during its third year in the UK. Key highlights from the report Connections We continued our focus on maintaining and building upon our relationships with key stakeholders within or new to the IWG network of networks, signing MOUs with UN Women, FISU (International University Sports Federation) and TAFISA (The Association for International Sport for All). And were deli

IWG Global Summit 2026 announces first wave of global leaders shaping the future of women’s sport . Today we are unveiling the first confirmed speakers for the IWG Global Summit 2026, bringing together senior global leaders from sport, business, research, governance and social impact for the world’s leading forum on gender equity in sport and physical activity. The first wave of speakers includes: Kelly Beaver MBE , Chief Executive, Ipsos Dave Clarke OBE , Chief Executive,

BIRMINGHAM, UK / RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport is delighted to announce that the Brazil Olympic Committee (COB) has been selected as the next host of the IWG Secretariat for the quadrennial period 2026-2030, marking a historic move to South America for the first time. Following a competitive international bid process, COB was chosen to lead the global network’s strategic operations for the four-year term. This prestigious t

Wednesday 3 December saw the IWG Secretariat and Global Executive meet at Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar, Senegal, for the Annual General Meeting 2025 and Strategic Planning Session. Generously hosted by La Conférence des Ministres de la Jeunesse et des Sports de la Francophonie (CONFEJES) and its Secretary General Louisetter-Renée Thobi OLY (IWG Global Executive Member), the meeting was an opportunity to not only review progress in 2024-2025 but also plans for the IW

International Olympic Committee Joins 9th IWG Global Summit to Accelerate Gender Equity in Sport. The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport is proud to announce the renewal of its long-standing collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) . The IOC has signed on as a Supporting Partner for the upcoming 9th IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport , taking place 9-11 July 2026 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, UK. This announ

The IWG Global Summit 2026 tickets are officially live! Be part of this unmissable event, bringing together leaders, changemakers and organisations from around the world committed to advancing gender equity in sport and physical activity. The IWG Global Summit promises to be the world’s foremost gathering of leaders in sport, providing a platform for sharing best practices and the latest insights affecting women and girls in sport and physical activity. Set against a mome

On Wednesday 12 November 2025, IWG Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe MBE represented the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport at the Sport and Recreation Alliance 90th Anniversary Celebration and Annual General Meeting, held at the historic St James’s Palace in London. Chaired by the Alliance’s President, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh , the event brought together leaders from across the UK’s sport and recreation sector to reflect on nine decades of progress since t

We are thrilled to announce that last week Active Cheshire joined ten key partners in officially signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration , reinforcing their shared commitment to creating greater equality for women and girls in sport and physical activity. Lisa O'Keefe MBE joined Active Cheshire and ten key partners in officially signing the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration Active Cheshire’s mission is to embed physical activity into everyday life by 2040, ensuring

We are delighted to welcome the Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya (UFEC) as a signatory to the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration. The 8th edition of the European Sport Platform took place from 23–25 October 2025 in Barcelona, Spain, marking a historic moment for gender equality in sport. Organised by ENGSO and hosted by UFEC , the three-day event brought together sports leaders, policymakers and experts from across Europe to explore the future of grassroots sport

The Kosovo Olympic Committee and 15 institutions sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to equality and inclusion in sport.