Minerva’s latest networking events in Adelaide and Brisbane set the tone for powerful connections and creating opportunity in a fun environment thanks to acollaboration with Golf Australia.
Minerva athletes from AFLW to Ultra running, mentors and supporters converged on X-Golf Australia’s high-tech simulators to take a swing at a sport that was new to some and unfamiliar to many.
Across two vibrant events – Adelaide’s Drive, Connect & Thrive and Brisbane’s Swing & Social – our Minerva community embraced the opportunity to have fun and learn some new skills on X-Golf’s cutting-edge simulators.
With Golf Australia supplying experienced (and patient) PGA professionals to provide valuable tips and guidance for the uninitiated, it was a safe space for everyone to step outside their usual routine and comfort zone, with a touch of friendly competition at the end to make things interesting!
WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn – a former elite professional golfer herself – stepped up to the tee with Paralympic rowing gold medallist Nikki Ayers PLY at the Adelaide event for a lively conversation with Minerva’s SA Program Manager, and recently retired AFLW athlete, Janelle Cuthbertson.
These three incredible sportswomen at different stages of their careers were pure inspiration. Karen’s powerful insights of her journey beyond elite sport showcased the importance of adaptability and building a career that evolves over time. Nikki’s raw reflections on how overcoming challenges and developing resilience ultimately led her to succeed at the highest level in her sport were remarkable. And at the same time, Nikki is continuing to develop her nursing career outside of sport. The conversation was full of practical insights all athletes (and mentors) could apply to their own careers.
Continuing that momentum into Brisbane, Olympic champion Cate Campbell OAM OLY invited rising Australian golfer Hannah Reeves to the stage for another impactful discussion on navigating high-performance environments.
Their ‘fireside chat’ unpacked the realities of elite sport, from managing expectations and maintaining wellbeing, to building strong networks both within and beyond sport. Cate’s thoughtful and relatable approach opened the door for Hannah to talk about her journey as a newly professional athlete, including the sacrifices she made in moving away from home at a young age to pursue her goals.
Even as an athlete in an individual sport, Hannah’s insight that she operates as the ‘CEO’ of her own support team – coach, physio, S&C, psychologist, etc – perfectly shone a light on the value and skills that athletes intrinsically bring to their careers, both in and beyond sport.
Cate nailed what sets high performance and elite athletes apart:
“When you see a champion, you realise why they are a champion.”
Bringing a competitive element to the program, the Callaway Challenge let everyone put their new putting skills to the test.
Port Adelaide AFLW athlete Amelie Borg and Queensland mentor Helen Lucas claimed victory in the challenges, each taking home a shiny set of Callaway golf clubs. Queensland mentor Victoria Carthew also delivered a standout moment with her hole-in-one putt in the semi-finals to the absolute delight of the Brisbane crowd.
Cheers, laughs and a bit of friendly rivalry all round hit just the right note!
This active-style event scored a hit with athletes and mentors alike, with everyone having a ball while making new connections and forging cross-sport and cross-industry connections.
Favourite event comment:
“I would like to express how grateful I am feeling to be an athlete of the Minerva Network. Last night I attended my first Minerva event and the level of "they just get it and get me" I felt was delirious.
“We spoke about things like how much we sweat, how often we change deodorants and using men's deodorants, hahaha I don't talk like that with my non-sport friends.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and loved connecting with the mentors that were there – they are full to the brim with possibility and support. The event was well organised, paced and flowed beautifully.
Thank you and keep up the wonderful work.”
At both events, the Minerva community also applauded the progress of Golf Australia’s Women & Girls Strategy.
Head of Women & Girls Engagement Tamara Mason highlighted Golf Australia’s commitment to making golf a place where women and girls feel like they belong.
Positioning golf as the ‘second sport’ for female athletes is just one of the inspired elements of the strategy that opens new opportunities for women to connect, participate in golf day events, build confidence and enjoy being active beyond their sport.
Golf Australia’s R&A Women in Golf Charter Manager Virginia Irwin summed it up.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside an amazing team, all united by a shared purpose ensuring golf is a sport where women and girls not only participate, but feel like they truly belong.
“It’s about continuing to drive change, create pathways, and open doors so the next generation of women and girls have every opportunity to thrive in the game.”
Partnership and collaboration are at the core of Minerva’s DNA. Working with the Golf Australia dream team and their partners in X-Golf Australia and Callaway Golf, we were thrilled to bring these networking events to life.
Through Golf Australia’s Karen Lunn, Tamara Mason, Virginia Irwin, and the brilliant LPGA golf pros who lent their expertise to the events, the partnership created an opportunity for which Minerva is deeply grateful.
Huge thanks to our guest speakers for generously sharing your stories to enrich us all. And kudos to our incredible athletes, mentors and supporters for having a swing and making these events so memorable.
Stay tuned for more impactful Minerva events in 2026!
Want to find out how to get into golf in your area? Email contact@minervanetwork.com.au and we can connect you with the Golf Australia experts in your area. Or look up your local club and discover more at golf.com.au
