ABC's Angela Pippos was MC and was joined by a host of women employed in football-related roles such as Emma Sherry (Deakin University, Lecturer), Eloise Southby-Halbish (AFL SportsReady), Michelle Cort (AIS High Performance), Nicole Graves (Football Victoria), Debbie Lee (WFL President), Kelly Ryan (Western Bulldogs Marketing Manager), Jane Ballantyne (AFL Brand Manager), and Jane Hollman (AFL Manager People and Culture).
The forums, held in the week leading up to the AFL Women's Round, are designed to provide guests with an informative evening filled with discussion about the roles in football available to women as well as providing insight on how to get into the industry.
Pippos provided some interesting statistics regarding the increase of women taking on formerly male-dominated roles within the sport.
"In the past 15 years, there has been has a steady increase in the number of women taking the traditional male roles in footy such as presidents, secretaries, treasurers and team managers, especially in junior football," she said.
"35 per cent of the volunteers out each weekend at AFL Auskick Centres are women. Women make up five per cent of accredited umpires and only one is umpiring at AFL level.
"Of the 16 AFL clubs, 36 per cent of all members are women, about 40 per cent of the television viewing audience around Australia are women, and 50 per cent of the audience of Channel Nine's The Footy Show are women."
Guests attending the forum were invited to speak with panel members following the formal discussion and there were information booths on site for interested attendees to gain additional information.
Further forums will be held later in the week in Adelaide and Perth.
ADELAIDE
Venue: AAMI Stadium
Date: Wednesday 10 May
Tickets: $15 each
Time: 7.30pm start
Registrations: 200 max. – Via internet or AFL Call Centre 03 9643 1900
Format: Panel of guests include (to date) – Liz Jackson, Rebecca Avery (AFL SportsReady), Di Bean (PA of CEO – Adelaide FC), Hitaf Rasheed (Media & Public Relations Manager, Port Adelaide FC), Jenny Williams (Youth Programs Manager, Port Adelaide FC), Nicole Cornes (Football commentator, The Sunday mail), Sharon Stephens (SANFL), Sarah Reed (Adelaide Advertiser Photographer), Sarah Johnson (SANFL Women’s League President).
PERTH
Venue: Subiaco Oval – Bill Walker Room
Date: Thursday 11 May
Tickets: $15 each
Time: 7.30pm start
Registrations: 200 max. – Via internet or AFL Call Centre 03 9643 1900
Format: Panel of guests include – MC – Dixie Marshall (Channel 9 Newsreader), Debbie Hindley (Murdoch University Football Historian), Lisa Cunningham (AFL SportsReady), Lou McKenry (Club Trainer), Gabby Den Boer (Fremantle FC Membership Manager), Prof. Helen Parker (First Female Commissioner), Terreen Stenvers (Dietician West Coast Eagles).
