Phil Kearns AM, former Australian Wallaby captain and father of Aussie Stingers Water Polo athlete Matilda Kearns OLY, has joined our Minerva Network to champion our growth ambition. Recognised nationally and internationally for his skill on the field, his leadership skills were recognised through his appointment as captain of the Wallabies on ten occasions throughout his career.
In this voluntary role, Phil will work with Chairman & Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin AM and Executive Director, Lesley Grant to grow the support of Australia’s elite women athletes to over 1,000 by 2025. This push comes as the profile and interest in women’s sport increases and Australia plays host to a range of upcoming major sporting events including the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, 2026 Commonwealth Games, and 2027 Rugby World Cup … all on the runway to Brisbane2032.
Some of Australia’s highest profile female athletes already benefit from being part of the Minerva Network and they are now calling on their peers and other female athletes to join and reap the same rewards they have enjoyed from Minerva. The Minerva Network provides something that no-one else does or can do: tapping into women leaders and connecting them with elite female athletes.
Minerva Network Chairman and Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin AM said, “Our female athletes are undervalued, both during and after their sporting careers. We exist to change this, helping them excel on an individual level and on a collective level. By 2025 our goal is to support 1,000 elite sportswomen and establish 500 mentor relationships. Recognising Phil Kearns as a Minerva Ambassador ensures we will continue to get better at what we do and have scale. Financial stability, brand recognition and hundreds of new, young athletes being well supported”.
Phil said, “Elite female athletes aren’t just winning competitions, they’re inspiring the next generation of young women in their ambitions both on and off the field. Minerva continues to lead the way in empowering our female athletes to thrive. The Minerva Network mentoring program is built on co-operation, commitment and trust. We have the enormous privilege of providing support to some of Australia’s leading athletes at a time when public scrutiny and performance expectations are at a tipping point. I am passionate about the role Minerva is playing to reset the agenda for what future leaders look like in Australia”.
The Minerva Network provides support to over 350 elite female athletes through mentoring, personal development and networking. Our mission is to support Minerva athletes to flourish as role models and open doors through the united powers of business and sport.
