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Active Partnerships National Organisation Champions Gender Equity in Sport Ahead of Global Summit
In the month before we bring Global Summit on Women and Sport to Birmingham, the Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO) has officially signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. By joining the global network of over 700 signatories, APNO is reinforcing its commitment to driving system change and advancing gender equity across the sport and physical activity sector. APNO plays a vital role as a catalyst for change, connecting, strengthening, and enabling a netw
1 day ago
Global Leaders in Sport join the IWG Global Summit 2026 Speaker Line-Up
The IWG Global Summit 2026 continues to build momentum with the announcement of another outstanding group of speakers joining the programme in Birmingham next month. This latest speaker announcement reflects the breadth of leadership needed to create lasting progress for women and girls through sport and physical activity. From international federation leadership and transformational investment in women’s sport, to participation, inclusion, commercial growth and organisationa
2 days ago
IWG Global Summit Confirms Major Speaker Line-Up and Global Partners
Stage Set As World Comes To Birmingham For Gender Equality In Sport The 9th IWG Global Summit has confirmed the speakers and partnerships that will shape the world’s foremost gathering on gender equality in and through sport when it opens at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham this July. Kirsty Coventry OLY, Dame Denise Lewis OLY, Lord Sebastian Coe OLY, Baroness Katherine Grainger DBE, Amanda Staveley and Kelly Beaver MBE are among the headline speakers, with P
3 days ago
Sport Birmingham Joins Global Movement for Gender Equity Ahead of IWG Summit
Sport Birmingham has become the latest organisation to sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. By becoming a signatory, Sport Birmingham joins a global network of over 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equity across movement, physical activity, and sport. The official signing took place on 11th June – one month before the world is due to come to Birmingham for the 2026 IWG Global Summit. The organisation’s ongoing commitments to gender equity span school
3 days ago
27 Finnish Sporting Organisations Unite to Champion Gender Equity, Sign Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration
In an historic demonstration of collective action, 27 leading sporting organisations from across Finland have joined forces to champion gender equity by signing IWG's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. Photo credit: Pinja Tuominen / Pinja's Photography This multi-signing event marks a powerful milestone in Finland’s ongoing commitment to leveling the playing field. The nation has long been a trailblazer in this space, having proudly hosted the 2014 IWG World Conference wher
May 22
Sport Resolutions joins global movement for gender equity in sport
Sport Resolutions has signed the IWG’s Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration, joining the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity in sport. The signing took place on the morning of Sport Resolutions’ Annual Conference, formalising the organisation’s commitment to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion across its operations, and encouraging the wider sporting community to do the same. As an independent dispute resolution body, Sport Resolutions plays an
May 18
IWG Global Summit 2026 Programme Announced: Connecting Every Level of Women's Sport
The full agenda is live - curated to give delegates direct access to the decision-makers, innovators and evidence shaping the future of women's sport We're excited to announce that the programme for the IWG Global Summit 2026 is now live. Taking place 9–11 July 2026 in Birmingham, UK, the Summit will bring together more than 1,200 leaders, practitioners, researchers and changemakers from across the world to explore what it takes to move Beyond the Breakthrough for women and g
May 13
North East Leaders Join Global Movement To Accelerate Gender Equity In Sport
The North East of England has joined a global movement for gender equity in sport. Eight of the region's most influential sporting, political, and educational institutions united on Sunday at Durham Cricket Ground in a historic multi-signing of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport’s Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. A Regional Blueprint for Change The signatories span professional sport, community foundations, world-class universities, and regional governm
May 13
Beyond the Breakthrough: Lisa O’Keefe on Why the IWG Global Summit 2026 Matters More Than Ever
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
Apr 13
World-Class Leaders Announced: New Speakers for the IWG Global Summit
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
Apr 13
Global Sporting Leaders Join the IWG Summit Line-Up
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
Mar 30
Handover Process Underway with Brazil
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
Mar 29
UK Gymnastics Leaders Join World Gymnastics in Historic Signing of IWG Declaration
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
Mar 27
Newcastle City Council Champions Gender Equity in Sport and Physical Activity with Signing of Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration
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
Mar 23
French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) Affirms Global Commitment to Gender Equity
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
Mar 10
New Speakers Announced: Driving Systemic Change at the IWG Global Summit
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
Mar 9
Parkwood Leisure Joins Global Movement for Gender Equity This International Women’s Day
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
Mar 7
Building Momentum: More Speakers Announced for the IWG Global Summit
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
Mar 2
IWG Year 3 Annual Report Published
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
Feb 11
Exciting Line-Up: First Speakers Revealed for the IWG Global Summit
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,
Feb 5
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