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The Minerva Network is proud to announce the launch of a new initiative, Minerva Alumni, to extend its support for elite sportswomen as they approach and undertake their transition from professional sport.
While many of the Minerva Network’s athletes already maintain strong relationships with their mentors and peers after they retire, this program will formalise the process and deliver a structured program of mentoring, connection and collaboration.
The Minerva Network is the only organisation of its kind in Australia, offering elite sportswomen access to mentoring from some of Australia’s most senior professional women, as well as an opportunity to regularly network with other athletes.
The Minerva Network currently supports over 300 elite sportswomen from more than 55 sports and its 215 Mentors are some of the most experienced businesspeople in Australia.
This new program will see Minerva Alumni continue to work with a Minerva Mentor for two years post retirement. Depending on their next stage ambition, Alumni may be partnered with a different Mentor to the one they have worked with previously to ensure they’re receiving the right support.
Minerva Network Chairman and Co-Founder, Christine McLoughlin, said the timing was right to launch Minerva Alumni as the cohort of Minerva Athletes who are at this point in their career grows.
“We are incredibly proud to launch this program as we see an increasing number of our successful athletes make the jump into life after professional sport,” she added.
“15 Minerva Athletes have already made the transition to Minerva Alumni, which marks a continuation of our journey to support elite sportswomen from the beginning of their professional sports career through to one day becoming business and community leaders.”
“We know it can be a challenging time for athletes when they retire from sport, but it’s also a time of huge opportunity – they have more time to focus on their career beyond sport and their athlete profile is still current.”
“With the right support, they can springboard into an impactful and meaningful career and that’s what the Minerva Alumni program is all about.”
Having recently announced her retirement from international cricket, the Minerva Network is delighted that Rachael Haynes will now transition to be an inaugural Minerva Alumni participant. Rachael was one of the first Minerva Athletes and has been mentored by Christine McLoughlin since 2019, when she was asked to take on the role of Captain for the Women’s Ashes Series while Captain Meg Lanning was recovering from surgery.
“Rachael embraced the opportunity to have a Minerva Network mentor as she transitioned from being a ‘team member to be the leader,’” Christine said.
“She was incredibly diligent in thinking through her leadership style and impact, particularly stepping into the shoes of a leader as highly revered and talented as Meg.”
“The ambition, resilience, adaptability, and sheer grit of professional athletes like Rachael are characteristics that we are always looking for in organisations and I am confident that Rachael will now go on to be successful in her business aspirations. I look forward to the opportunity to continue working with her as her mentor as she makes this transition.”
Whilst competing at the highest level, Rachael completed her MBA and is now starting to focus on her next career. After benefitting from her relationship with Christine in the latter part of her career, in addition to having a mentor Rachael recognises the advantages of getting exposure to leading businesswomen across a range of industries through her continuing involvement with the Minerva Network.
"There are parallels for me now moving into my next career with the transition I have been through with players in our cricket team as they develop and grow. I am confident the relationships I already have with business leaders through the Minerva Network will be invaluable as I now consider different pathways utilising my MBA," Rachael said.
Another of Minerva Alumni’s inaugural participants, Alicia Lucas, is also excited by the chance to continue leveraging the incredible opportunities the Minerva Network has provided throughout her rugby career.
“The Minerva Network has been a huge support to me,” added Alicia.
“The constant access to incredible business women who you could bounce ideas off, gather suggestions from and broaden your horizons has been invaluable.”
“There is nothing quite like having fans or supporters scream or cheer for you in the stands or on the sidelines. Why wouldn't you want people like that in your corner in other facets of your life?”
“As I transition into my career after rugby, this advice and support will be more valuable than ever. Minerva Alumni will be a game-changer for elite sportswomen as we embark on the next chapter.”
The Minerva Alumni program will feature mentoring, networking opportunities and workshops on topics such as Career Planning, Falling Forward, Transferable Skills and an upcoming workshop on Broadening Your Career Horizons: the realities shaping the future of work.
Inaugural Minerva Alumni members
Alicia Lucas (Quirk) - Rugby Union -mentored by Christine McLoughlin
Bronwen Knox - Water Polo - mentored by Nicole Green
Caitlin Bassett - Netball - mentored by Jess Halloran
Corinne Hall - Cricket - mentored by Marina Go
Ellie Cole - Swimming - mentored by Katherine McConnell
Erin Lorenzini - AFLW - mentored by Kate McLoughlin
Jenna O’Hea - Basketball - mentored by Louise Adams
Jo Bridgen-Jones - Sprint Kayak - mentored by Kerri Burgess
Kaylia Stanton - Netball - mentored by Jerrill Rechter
Kimberlee Green - Netball - mentored by Susan Horwitz
Meg Ward - Rugby League - mentored by Eugenie Buckley
Rachael Haynes - Cricket - mentored by Christine McLoughlin
Rachael Lynch - Hockey - mentored by Suzanne Ardagh
Rowie Webster - Water Polo - mentored by Lydia Dowse
Sam Poolman - Netball - mentored by Jane Waldburger
Sami Kennedy-Sim - Ski Cross - mentored by Louise Thurgood
