The Minerva Network has been announced as the Official Impact Partner of Strong is the New Pretty, a powerful new work by acclaimed playwright Suzie Miller set for a world premiere at the Brisbane Festival in September 2026.
The partnership brings together two forces championing women’s leadership, visibility and equity – on the stage and in sport – through a production inspired by the story of the first woman appointed to the AFL Commission, Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC who championed the creation of the AFLW.
A central figure in the play, Her Excellency is also one of the co-founders of the Minerva Network and now serves as Minerva’s Patron.
Produced by Brisbane Festival, Sydney Theatre Company and Trish Wadley Productions, Strong is the New Pretty will tour to Canberra and Geelong, before an extended Sydney season in November and December.
After the incredible international successes of her recent legal dramas Prima Facie and Inter Alia, Suzie has turned the spotlight to the sporting world to tell a compelling story of the women who helped transform a national sport from within.
Blending sport, social history and drama, the high-energy theatrical experience celebrates determination, teamwork, fairness and resilience, and the power of collective action to drive change.
For Minerva Chair and Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin AM, the alignment is both natural and deeply personal.
“Strong is the New Pretty captures the essence of what Minerva stands for – the power of women supporting women and coming together to challenge norms and create lasting positive change,” Christine said.
“This partnership reflects Minerva’s own origins and our ongoing mission to support women to thrive in sport, leadership and beyond.
“As Official Impact Partner, we’re creating more opportunities to elevate the stories of female athletes and connect with new audiences through the arts. The play’s themes of identity, resilience and leadership resonate strongly with the athletes we support everyday.
“Minerva is thrilled to join forces with two incredibly successful Australian women in Producer Trish Wadley and playwright Suzie Miller to share this powerful story which resonates across all sports, business and communities.”
The partnership also extends the play’s reach and relevance beyond traditional theatre audiences and aims to ensure women from every sport feel included in this conversation about Australia’s national identity.
“Partnering with Minerva allows us to engage with the sporting community and the women whose experiences reflect the heart of this story,” Suzie said.
“While Strong is the New Pretty centres on the creation of the AFLW, the themes are universal in every sport from grass roots to high performance and beyond. It’s about opportunity, visibility and the courage to lead change.
“Growing up in Melbourne, my childhood was filled with watching boys and men play sport. What I love about Australia today is the growing number of opportunities for women and girls to play, coach, umpire, report on, and lead a wide variety of sports.
“While we still have a long way to go, it’s important to me that young girls can see opportunities for themselves, no matter what they want to do. The way women solve problems and lead is different. Strong shines a light on that and celebrates the wins, big and small, along the way,” Suzie said.
Founded in 2017, the Minerva Network now supports more than 1,100 high performance female athletes from over 90 sports through mentoring, development, networking, opening doors and creating opportunities, empowered by more than 470 volunteer mentors who are Board and executive women leaders.
Through the partnership, Minerva and the creative team behind Strong is the New Pretty will collaborate on community connection and storytelling initiatives that amplify the role of women in shaping Australia’s sporting and cultural identity.
Minerva athletes and mentors will also have opportunities to enjoy the play together during its inaugural national season in Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong and Sydney.
o Brisbane: 1 - 19 September
o Canberra: 24 September - 3 October
o Geelong: 8 - 17 October
o Sydney: 22 October - 5 December
