Minerva Network has announced a new partnership with the South Australian Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR) to establish and expand its South Australian Chapter. This expansion enhances Minerva’s capability as Australia’s leading not-for-profit dedicated to supporting more than 1000 top sportswomen from all sports across the nation.
The two-year funding commitment will enable Minerva to grow its support network for high performance female athletes in South Australia from30 to 100 participants by 2027.
The partnership fills a gap in structured support systems that foster peer connection, mentorship, career development, and leadership preparation for high performance female athletes across South Australia.
Minerva’s South Australian Chapter officially launched with a special event in Adelaide to announce the partnership and bring together current and prospective Minerva athletes, mentors, sporting leaders, government and community stakeholders.
At the event hosted by Thomson Geer Lawyers, Minerva Network Chair and Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin AM introduced the inaugural South Australian State Lead, Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds, an accomplished Director, Chair and Chief Executive who has a passion for sport. Nicolle is the first female president of the Grange Golf Club and first female chair of Northern Territory Thoroughbred Racing as well as a director on the boards of Golf Australia, Thoroughbred Racing Australia and the SA Jockey Club.
Minerva Chair and Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin said, “We are thrilled to deepen our presence in South Australia and provide local athletes with enhanced access to the peer support, mentorship, and development opportunities that are core to Minerva's mission across Australia.
“We’re confident that Nicolle’s genuine passion for sport and empowering future women leaders will ensure the Minerva Network’s profound impact in South Australia.”
Ms McLoughlin applauded the investment of the South Australian Government, acknowledging Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Emily Bourke MLC and Minister for Women Katrine Hildyard, and Office for Recreation,Sport and Racing Chief Executive Kylie Taylor for their support, together with Member for Waite Catherine Hutchesson who attended and spoke at the launch event.
“This partnership is a significant first step towards enabling Minerva to create lasting impact by empowering female athletes as visible leaders who inspire others to participate and lead the way, not just in sport but in life,” Ms McLoughlin said.
“We are incredibly grateful to the South Australian Government for partnering with us to kick start our programs for sportswomen in the state. This establishes the platform for South Australian businesses to come on board and get behind our initiatives supporting women athletes so that we can turbocharge the impact for women’s sport in this state.
"South Australia has an incredible depth of female sporting talent, and this initiative allows us to provide these athletes with the comprehensive support they deserve. We are excited to grow our network and continue empowering women to excel both in sport and beyond.
“We are very fortunate to have Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds leading Minerva’s South Australia Chapter in this pro bono role and she will be a fantastic ambassador for our Network in the state. I am genuinely excited about the growth opportunities this brings for our South Australian members and the broader Minerva Network community.”
Minerva’s new SA Chapter Lead said she is eager to get started and build momentum in her home state.
"I am incredibly honoured to lead the Minerva Network’s growth and impact in South Australia and can’t wait to get started,” Ms Rantanen Reynolds said.
“My focus will be on strengthening the pathways that connect our state’s high performing women athletes from all sports with mentors, networks and opportunities that will set them up for success in and beyondtheir sporting careers.
“South Australian sportswomen have a proud history on the national and international stage, and I am committed to ensuring our athletes are supported not only to achieve at the highest level in sport, but to thriveas leaders, innovators and role models in the community."
Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing the Hon Emily Bourke MLC said, "This partnership demonstrates our Government's commitment to supporting female athletes at the highest level while creating pathways forthe next generation.
“We are investing in the future of women’s sport in South Australia and connecting local talent with a strong network of mentors to grow participation across the state.”
Current Minerva South Australia athletes include AFLW player Janelle Cuthbertson, Adelaide United's Isobel Hodgson, weightlifter and Minerva Athlete Leadership Group Representative Kiana Elliott OLY, and netball starRomelda Aiken. The network is supported by accomplished mentors including Paula Ward from Adelaide University and Lilly Shen from Aurecon.
Research by Women’s Sports Foundation shows that by age 14, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys. The visibility of successful female athletes offers a powerful solution to this problem, with demonstrable effects on participation rates. According to a Sport England survey, 66% of girls directly attribute their interest in sports to positive female athlete role models. Australia provides a compelling example of this phenomenon through the ‘Barty Factor’ – following Ash Barty's success between 2019 and 2022 female junior tennis participation increased by 29 percent nationally.
Minerva athletes are already leading community initiatives that amplify this impact, including KaMana Community (body confidence and menstrual health education), Future Fierce Football Academy (rugby league clinics for young girls), and The Female Athlete Project (growing women's sport visibility in media).
Minister for Women the Hon Katrine Hildyard said, “We are determined that women are supported and empowered to know that whether they want to play sport at the highest level, commentate, coach, run a national sporting body, manage a team or step into other leadership roles beyond sport that they can.
“This partnership with Minerva is another important step in our Government’s expansive commitment to help ensure women can equally and actively participate at every stage of their sporting career and thrive in all that lies beyond their particular playing field.
“At a local, national and global level, women can harness the power of sport and their achievements to drive change on all that our community confronts. This investment in Minerva will amplify their voices, skills and strengths as they do so and empower them to make a lasting difference for the next generation.”
The 24-month project in partnership with the SA Government will be delivered through creating a dedicated part-time program manager based in South Australia, providing:
Key milestones include:
Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing Chief Executive Kylie Taylor said, "The Minerva model has proven success in supporting elite female athletes through mentorship and professional development and connection. This partnership aligns with our strategic priorities and will create lasting impact for South Australian sport.
"By supporting our high performance female athletes with mentorship and professional development opportunities, we are not only enhancing their performance and wellbeing but creating powerful role models who inspire broader community participation in sport."
Minerva Network is a national network of over 400 leading businesswomen supporting more than 1000 high performance female athletes from over 80 sports across Australia through mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities. The organisation creates platforms where athletes can learn from each other, connect across sports and regions, find career opportunities, amplify their voice and prepare for life during and beyond competition. Minerva strives to make an impact by supporting top performing female athletes to stay and succeed in sport, growing their public voice and visibility to create more balanced representation in sport, media, business, leadership and culture. Ultimately, Minerva’s initiatives accelerate systemic gender equity in Australian life.
The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing is the lead South Australian Government agency for sport, active recreation and racing. ORSR provides leadership and support through the development and delivery of funding, policy, programs, infrastructure planning and management, and high-performance pathways. Each of ORSR’s strategic objectives is connected, collectively shaping a thriving sport, active recreation and racing system. An inclusive and sustainable sector, sporting excellence, activated places and spaces, and legacy all support and strengthen each other.
