On 9 September 2026, Minerva Network marked a landmark day in Canberra: a Champions and Mentors morning tea hosted by our Patron at Government House, followed by the fourth Parliamentary Friends of Women in Sport reception at Parliament House.
Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Patron of Minerva Network, welcomed champions, mentors and partners to Government House, where athletes shared what the network has meant to them. Chair and Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin AM thanked Her Excellency for her patronage and set out why Minerva exists: to unite women business leaders with women high performance athletes, and to build a pathway beyond the field. Minerva now supports more than 1,100 athletes across 86 sports, with more than 480 mentors volunteering their time.
“When women athletes are heard, everything shifts - more women in decision-making roles, more visibility in media, and more representation shaping the future of sport. It ripples outward.” - Christine McLoughlin AM
The day continued at Parliament House, where the Hon Milton Dick MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, opened the Speaker’s Courtyard to the Parliamentary Friends of Women in Sport and the Minerva Network for the fourth year. Her Excellency spoke as Patron, tracing Minerva’s growth from a kitchen-table conversation in 2017 to a community operating across six states and territories.
“Minerva recognises that a successful sporting career is only one part of a bigger successful life. Minerva gives women the opportunity to think about what comes next, to build relationships and networks outside of sport, and to develop skills and confidence that they can take to the next stage of their lives.” - Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC
Co-Convenors Joanne Ryan MP, Zali Steggall OAM MP and Senator the Honourable Bridget McKenzie welcomed guests, and the Honourable Anika Wells MP, Minister for Sport and Minister for Communications, addressed the safety and integrity challenges facing women and girls in sport. Christine McLoughlin AM closed by looking ahead to Brisbane 2032, when many of today’s athletes will have retired or moved into the next phase of their lives - the very transition Minerva’s development programs are built for.
Athlete Leadership Group members Alison Bai and Shivani Mehta joined both events, alongside Olympians, Paralympians, high-performance sportswomen, and leaders from sport and business.
Our thanks to Her Excellency and the team at Government House, to the Honourable Milton Dick MP for hosting us in the Speaker’s Courtyard, to the Co-Convenors for their support since day one, and to Colliers for backing the Parliamentary reception once again. Minerva Network turns 10 in 2027, and the case for supporting Australia’s sportswomen beyond the final whistle has never been better understood.
