A panel discussion will examine how inclusive environments are developed in practice and will seek to answer: How do we reshape PEPAS systems and practices to be truly inclusive?  Panelists will explore tensions and opportunities surrounding intersectionality and groups who traditionally face marginalization. It will examine global developments from multiple stakeholders, exploring practical strategies for practitioners, while also interrogating systemic factors and policy-level interventions. 

Following last year’s powerful introduction to gender based violence (GBV) in sport, this session will delve deeper into institutional responsibility, trauma-informed responses, and prevention mechanisms while addressing the gaps in research. Speakers will share emerging global initiatives, data and research developments in prevalence and monitoring, and practical tools to better strengthen support for survivors. Some topics include disclosure experiences, media reporting, and the emotional labor of staff who are unprepared for such roles. The session calls for system-wide transformation in how sport understands and addresses GBV. 

This panel aims to critically interrogate how we measure gender equality progress in PEPAS. While representation targets and quotas, and participation data are important, they don’t always capture the depth of individual experiences, societal factors or structural change. This session will bring together experts working on inclusive data collection, impact evaluation frameworks, and sustainable evidence-based strategies to provide insights on how to progress gender equality and evaluate outcomes. It will consider how both qualitative and quantitative approaches can be leveraged to understand “impact”, ensure accountability and guide the implementation of meaningful gender equality initiatives. 

The future of sport will be increasingly shaped by digital technologies, yet these are rarely neutral. This session dives into how digital technology, AI, and big data are transforming the sport ecosystem. This session explores how AI and digital tools are influencing everything from safeguarding and data privacy to investment, talent identification and coaching. Speakers will address both the risks—such as gender bias in algorithms and AI- — such as using tech to expose inequality or scale programs. Attendees will learn how organizations are setting model policies and what needs to happen to ensure tech contributes to, rather than compromises, gender equality goals. 

This non-panel session features informal, honest conversations with athletes who are also advocates. It brings lived experience to the forefront—sharing how elite and grassroots athletes are advancing gender equality through their platforms and personal journeys. From law to activism to education, their work spans sectors and continents, reflecting the power of individual leadership rooted in community action.

In a rotating, collaborative forum, participants work together to tackle some of the most complex challenges in the PEPAS landscape. Ideas and solutions will be recorded and built upon through each round. Facilitated by experts, each station will challenge participants to grapple with complex questions such as: 

• What does meaningful male allyship look like? 

• How do we fund and design gender-transformative programs? 

• How can sport systems support survivors of GBV while preventing future harm? 

• How do we ensure inclusive coaching and pedagogical approaches in PEPAS? 

• What does a data justice framework for sport look like? 

Participants will collaborate to produce actionable insights, build on each other’s ideas, and leave with new tools and alliances.