The journey from a handful of passionate advocates to supporting 1,000 professional Australian sportswomen represents more than just numbers – it's proof of the transformative power of women supporting women in sport.
On Monday 23 June, surrounded by the historic significance of Admiralty House and in the presence of our Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, we proudly welcomed Siokapesi Palu as Minerva Network's 1,000th athlete. This milestone arrives at a pivotal moment, not just for Minerva, but for the future of women's sport in Australia.
The Foundation: From Vision to Reality
When Minerva Network was first conceived in 2017, the vision was both simple and revolutionary: to ensure Australia's professional sportswomen had access to the same networks, mentorship, and commercial opportunities that had long been available to their male counterparts.
The early conversations were sparked by individual athletes reaching out for guidance – Rachael Haynes seeking leadership mentorship as she prepared to captain the Australian cricket team, Alicia Quirk navigating the commercial landscape following rugby sevens Olympic gold. These weren't isolated requests; they represented a systemic gap in support for women at the pinnacle of Australian sport.
"These athletes are celebrities in every sense," Minerva Chairman and Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin observed from the beginning. "They're sporting celebrities and that has a value. But they weren't getting support around how to navigate commercial sponsorships, build their brands, or think about their career paths beyond sport."
Minerva’s foundation was built on mentorship, pairing top-performing athletes with successful businesswomen who understood the unique pressures and opportunities of high-performance careers. Other prominent businesswomen and supporters joined quickly, lending their expertise to a pioneering athlete cohort that included Dominique du Toit, Jada Whyman, Ellie Carpenter, Alyssa Healy, Kezie Apps, and many members of the Australian Rugby Sevens team fresh from their 2016 Rio Olympics triumph.
The Growth: Building Something Extraordinary
What began as a mentorship program has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem of support, learning, opportunities, connection and empowerment. The network has expanded far beyond its Sydney origins, establishing vibrant chapters across New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, and South Australia.
The growth has been organic yet purposeful. As women's sport experienced unprecedented commercial growth, for example the AFLW's explosive popularity, the Matildas' World Cup heroics, the dominance of Australian women at successive Olympic Games, So too has Minerva evolved to meet the changing needs of its athletes.
Webinars became essential learning platforms, covering everything from financial literacy and personal branding to sponsorship negotiations and building resilience. When COVID-19 threatened to derail the Tokyo Olympics and created uncertainty across all sports, Minerva provided crucial support, helping athletes navigate unprecedented challenges while maintaining their focus on performance goals.
The network's influence extended beyond individual development. In 2022, Minerva launched its Sports Governance Program, recognising that representation in boardrooms was just as crucial as performance on the field. The initiative aims to increase the number of women serving as directors on sports boards, understanding that lasting change requires leadership at every level.
Corporate Australia took notice. Partners like Accenture, nib, Aurecon, Harvey Norman, and SEC Newgate joined the movement, alongside government supporters including NSW Government, Queensland Government and the Queensland Academy of Sport. Pro bono partnerships with organisations like Enigma, Bain & Company, Moggs, and Norton Rose Fulbright showed that the business community was ready to invest in women's sport beyond traditional sponsorship models.
The Network Effect: Amplifying Impact
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Minerva's growth has been the network effect itself. The organic connections, collaborations, and support systems that emerge when you bring together 1,500 exceptional women.
"In 2017, I thought we were just helping individual athletes," reflects McLoughlin. "Today, I see how our athletes are helping other athletes, how our mentors are spreading their wings into sports governance, and how we are creating a generation of role models inspiring young girls and boys across rural and urban Australia."
This ripple effect extends far beyond formal mentoring relationships. Minerva athletes support each other at competitions, share opportunities, and create pathways for the next generation. Mentors discover new passions for sports governance and advocacy. The network becomes a living, breathing ecosystem of mutual support and shared ambition.
The formation of the Athlete Leadership Group, led by the extraordinary Cate Campbell OAM, exemplifies this evolution. These athlete leaders are not just receiving support, they actively shape the network's direction and provide guidance to newer members.
Memorable Moments: Celebrating the Journey
The path to 1,000 athletes has been marked by countless memorable moments that capture the spirit of what Minerva represents.
There was the powerful image of Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC presenting Madison de Rozario OAM with her Paralympic bronze medal at Paris2024 – a moment that embodied the network's foundational belief in women supporting women at the highest levels.
The launch of the Victorian chapter in 2020, spearheaded by the dynamic partnership of Kate Palmer AM and Peggy O'Neil AO, highlighted how Minerva's model could adapt and thrive across different markets and sporting cultures.
The establishment of Parliamentary Friends of Women in Sport in November 2022 showcased the network's growing political influence, creating a forum for policy makers to engage directly with the challenges and opportunities in women's sport.
From packed NRLW Grand Finals to Olympic and Paralympic celebrations, from Commonwealth Games to World Championships, Minerva members have been there– not just competing, but supporting each other with a solidarity thattranscends individual sports and states.
Our 1,000th Athlete: Siokapesi Palu and the Road to Rugby World Cup Glory
Siokapesi Palu's journey to becoming Minerva's 1,000th athlete perfectly embodies the network's mission and values. Known as Pesi to teammates and fans, her rapid ascension in rugby union demonstrates the exceptional talent and leadership that defines Australian sportswomen.
Born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, and raised in Sydney before settling in Canberra, Palu represents the multicultural fabric of modern Australian sport. Her Tongan and Samoan heritage brings cultural depth to her leadership role, while her work as an educator at Erindale College displays her commitment to developing young people both on and off the field.
What makes Palu's story remarkable is not just her rugby achievements – though becoming the 19th Wallaroos captain, earning Super Rugby Women's Player of the Year honours, and leading Australia to WXV 2 title glory are extraordinary accomplishments. It's the speed of her rise and the leadership qualities she's displayed that make her such an exemplary milestone athlete.
Starting rugby relatively late in 2020, Palu debuted for the Wallaroos against New Zealand just two years later. Her trajectory from newcomer to national captain epitomises the accelerated pathways available to women in sport today – opportunities that Minerva works to maximise through strategic mentorship and network connections.
"It's an honour to be Minerva's 1,000th athlete, especially in a World Cup year," Palu says. "This milestone represents something bigger than just numbers – it's about the growing strength of women's sport and the power of community. I'm proud to represent the Wallaroos on and off the field as we continue pushing boundaries together."
"As a captain, I'm constantly seeking ways to develop my leadership and help shape the next generation of players," Palu explains. "Joining Minerva means becoming part of a community of strong, successful women who truly understand the unique journey of being a female athlete. I'm excited to learn from others who have walked this path and to contribute what I can to the network."
Cate Campbell – Olympian and Minerva Athlete Leadership Group Member
"Pesi joining the Minerva Network in a World Cup year feels like a perfect full-circle moment. Minerva started with just a handful of athletes after Rio, and now is welcoming 1,000th sportswoman. Each athlete brings something unique and valuable to this community."
"I'm looking forward to getting to know Pesi better, along with all our newest members. Every day I'm inspired by the women in Minerva – their strength, ambition and generosity serve as constant reminders of what's possible when we unite with shared purpose. While our sporting journeys may differ, we share the same drive to lead, give back and lift each other up."
What Makes Minerva Special: Beyond Mentorship
While mentorship remains at Minerva's core, the network's true strength lies in its holistic approach to athlete development and its understanding that supporting women in sport requires addressing systemic challenges.
The one-on-one mentoring relationships between athletes and business and professional leaders create personalised development pathways that recognise each athlete's unique circumstances, goals, and challenges. But Minerva goes further, providing platforms for learning, networking opportunities that extend beyond sport, and advocacy that addresses structural barriers.
The network supports athletes through both triumphs and setbacks, a sign of its maturity and depth. When team sports like Rugby Sevens, the Matildas, Hockeyroos, and rowing eights fell short of their goals at major competitions, Minerva's support systems were already in place to help athletes process disappointment and maintain perspective on their broader journeys.
Newly launched programs such as Career Connect (meaningful part time paid employment opportunities for athletes) and Minerva Amplify(athlete storytelling opportunities) support the real, off-field challenges of sustaining meaningful employment or building your own authentic brand to attract sponsorship. Minerva is constantly evolving and adapting to address the modern realities of being ahigh-profile female athlete. This isn't just about career development - it's about creating environments where women can perform at their best without fear.
The network's 400+ mentors, all volunteering their time and expertise, represent the depth of Australia's commitment to women's sport. These aren't just successful women lending their names to a cause – they are active participants in reshaping the landscape for professional female athletes.
Looking Forward: The Future of Women's Sport
Reaching 1,000 athletes is not a destination. It's a platform for even greater impact. As we look toward the future, several trends suggest that Minerva's most transformative years lie ahead. The commercial value of women's sport continues to accelerate, with broadcasting deals, sponsorship investments, and fan engagement metrics all pointing to a fundamental shift in how Australia values its female athletes. Minerva-supported athletes are not just beneficiaries of this change but drivers of change through their performances, advocacy, and commercial savvy. The pathway from amateur to professional sport for women is compressing rapidly. Where previous generations might have taken decades to achieve financial sustainability through sport, today's top-performing athletes can accelerate their commercial development through strategic mentorship and network connections.
International expansion presents exciting opportunities as other nations recognise the Australian model of supporting women in sport. Minerva's approach could become a template for global change, with the network's emphasis on business skills, governance preparation, and holistic development addressing universal challenges facing female athletes worldwide. Technology and digital platforms are creating new opportunities for athlete-fan engagement, brand building, and commercial partnerships that Minerva athletes, equipped with business acumen and supported by experienced mentors, are perfectly positioned to capitalise on. Perhaps most importantly, the next generation of female athletes is growing up in an environment where professional women's sport is normalised rather than exceptional. The young girls watching Pesi Palu captain the Wallaroos, or seeing Minerva athletes excel across 80 different sports, are developing ambitions that previous generations could never have imagined.
A Network Without Limits
As we celebrate this milestone, the most exciting realisation is that we're still at the beginning of what's possible when Australia's most successful professional and businesswomen unite to support the nation's most talented athletes.
The 1,000 athletes now part of Minerva Network represent not just individual excellence, but collective potential. They are entrepreneurs launching businesses, commentators shaping how sport is covered, board directors influencing governance, and role models inspiring millions of young Australians.
"Reaching 1,000 athletes demonstrates the strength of the community we've built and the growing recognition of women in sport as leaders in society," McLoughlin observes. "But it also represents our commitment to ensuring that every professional female athlete in Australia has access to the networks, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive."
The network effect that has driven Minerva's growth shows no signs of slowing. As each new athlete joins, she brings fresh perspectives, new challenges, and expanded possibilities. As mentors deepen their involvement in sport, they create additional pathways and opportunities.
The future belongs to the female athletes who understand that excellence in sport is just the beginning – that their platforms can drive social change, their networks can create opportunities for others, and their leadership can reshape Australian society.
As we welcome Siokapesi Palu as our 1,000th athlete, we are not just celebrating a milestone. We are affirming our commitment to a future where every girl who dreams of sporting greatness knows that she'll have a network of extraordinary women ready to support her journey, amplify her impact, and ensure her success extends far beyond the playing field.
The first 1,000 athletes have proven what's possible. The next 1,000 will redefine what we thought was achievable.
Welcome to Minerva Network, Pesi. Welcome to a community that believes in the power of women supporting women, the importance of excellence with purpose, and the certainty that Australia's female athletes are just getting started.
Minerva Network supports more than 1,000 Australian women athletes competing in over 80 sports, supported by over 400 women mentors on a pro bono basis.
Minerva invites all of Australia's professional female athletes to join the Network to support them in achieving their goals on and off the field.
