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Event Time: 09:00am – 19:00pm

Location: IMD Campus, Lausanne

The Annual Conference of the Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport (GO) will convene government representatives, researchers, associations, UN Agencies, International Sports Federations, and civil society leaders to examine how measurement and evidence can strengthen governance for gender equality in sport+.

The conference will explore whether, which, and how evidence informs policy formulation, implementation, and impact, bringing together diverse stakeholders to advance evidence-informed approaches across sectors and governance levels.

The programme focuses on:

  • Evidence-informed governance and its role in strengthening gender equality in sport+

  • Improved measurement of girls’ participation, empowerment, and health outcomes

  • Gender budgeting and investment for organisational and policy support and reform

Through a range of plenary discussions, hands-on activities and dedicated time for networking and exchange, the conference will foster dialogue across sectors and governance levels, supporting collective efforts to ensure that measurement meaningfully contributes to sustainable gender equality outcomes. 

Poster Exhibition

Participants will have the chance to showcase initiatives, projects, research, policies, and innovations related to the participation of girls and women in sport. The posters will provide an opportunity to highlight practical experiences, emerging ideas, and evidence from different contexts. During the dedicated poster walk, participants will have structured time to engage directly with authors and discuss their work in more depth.

Meet the Speakers
Poster Exhibition
About the Programme
Register Now

Discover the Panels & Speakers

Panel 1

From Data to Policy to Impact: Evidence-Informed Governance for Gender Equality

In this panel we:

  • Examine how research and data are translated into to inform gender equality policies, strategies and programmes. 
  • Explore how organisations identify, interpret and apply evidence in decision-making.  
  • Consider how evidence influences priorities, resource allocation and organisational goals.  
  • Discuss how organisations commission and use research, and what supports or limits its impact and implementation. 
  • Address how monitoring and evaluation measure the impact of evidence-informed decisions for women and girls. 
Desiree Jason
Desiree Jason (she/her) is a Senior Manager for Monitoring and Evaluation at South Africa’s National Department of Social Development, where she supports evidence-based policy and programmes aimed at improving outcomes for vulnerable communities. Her work includes strengthening the use and sharing of social protection administrative data across government to improve service delivery to marginalised groups. She has also contributed to South Africa’s digital transformation strategy and leads a gender empowerment project focused on sanitary dignity for vulnerable schoolgirls. Desiree is a social justice activist, and passionate about fostering partnerships across sectors to ensure everyone has a fair chance to thrive.
Joel Atienza
Joel Atienza (he/him) is Senior Officer for Youth and Sports at the Education, Youth and Sports Division of the ASEAN Secretariat. He coordinates regional cooperation with ASEAN senior officials and partners across the youth and sports sectors and contributes to the development, implementation and monitoring of ASEAN Work Plans on Youth and Sports. His work includes programmes promoting youth empowerment and the contribution of sport to socio-economic development. Joel brings more than 15 years of experience in regional cooperation, research, policy and planning, programme management and strategic planning.
Dr Lyndsay Hayhurst
Lyndsay Hayhurst (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University in Toronto and a Tier 2 York Research Chair in Sport, Gender & Climate Mobility Justice through Digital Participatory Research. She is Director of the DREAMING (Digital participatory Research in Equity, Access, Mobility, Innovation and Gender) in Sport Collaboratory. As a feminist participatory action researcher, Lyndsay works collaboratively with diverse community partners in a range of global contexts to examine social justice and inequalities in and through sport and recreation. Her research spans sport for development, gender equity and participatory approaches to knowledge creation and mobilisation.
Dr Peter Gelius
Dr Peter Gelius (he/him) is an Assistant Professor of Physical Activity and the Life Course at the Institute of Sport Sciences at the University of Lausanne and a collaborator of the Global Observatory of Physical Activity (GOPA!). With doctorates in political science and sport science, his research covers physical activity policy, participatory approaches to health promotion and sustainable physical activity. He has served as an adviser to the World Health Organization and the European Commission. He is also affiliated with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Physical Activity and Public Health at FAU Erlangen Nuremberg.
Paulo Barone
Paulo Barone (he/him) is a sustainability and development leader with more than 25 years of international experience. After leading sustainability programmes for Nespresso across 20 countries, he supported the FIVB in establishing the Volleyball Foundation in 2023. He joined the FIVB in 2024 and contributes to the development of its strategies on sport development, climate action and gender equality. His work focuses on integrating gender equality and sustainability into the organisation’s strategies and activities.

Panel 2

What About Girls? Measuring Participation, Empowerment and Health

In this panel we:

  • Examine what data reveals, and misses, about girls’ participation across diverse contexts. 

  • Explore approaches that capture girls’ experiences, empowerment, leadership and long-term engagement.  

  • Discuss how girls and young people can help shape research, policies and programmes.  

  • Reflect on how evidence informs programme design, coaching, evaluation and sustainability.  

  • Address the challenges of collecting and using data on marginalised girls whose experiences are often overlooked. 

Emily Cameron-Blake
Emily Cameron-Blake (she/her) is the founder and Director of Global Sports Policy Ltd, where she advises sport organisations, governments and governing bodies on policy issues including safeguarding, gender equality, governance and athlete welfare. A former Canadian national team rower and World Championship medallist, Emily brings her experience as an elite athlete to her work on sport policy. She is also a doctoral candidate and teaching fellow at the University of Edinburgh, where her research focuses on duty of care for elite and professional athletes. Emily serves on the board of WomenSport International, leading its policy and advocacy work on gender equality in sport and physical activity.
Allan Williams
Allan Williams (he/him) is CEO of the Sport for Social Change Network Africa, a continental network supporting organisations using sport for social impact across 23 African countries. He also contributes to the African Union Sports Council’s work on sport for development and safeguarding and is a member of the global Sport Funders Alliance. An Ashoka Fellow, Allan has extensive experience in civil society, youth development and sport for social change. He previously chaired the UNESCO CIGEPS Subcommittee in South Africa, supporting implementation of the Kazan Action Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals through sport.
Theren Bullock Jr
Theren Bullock Jr (he/him) is Head of the FIBA Foundation, where he leads its Basketball for Good Unit. Working through partnerships around the world, he supports initiatives that use basketball as a tool for social development and community impact. His work focuses on strengthening inclusion, education, health and gender equality through sport, with particular attention to creating opportunities for young people and underserved communities.
Khalida Popal
Khalida Popal (she/her) is the founder of Girl Power Organisation and a former cofounder of the Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team. She advocates for gender equality in sport and the inclusion of refugees, drawing on her experience as a player, team leader and activist. Through Girl Power Organisation, she uses football to support leadership, empowerment and social change among women and girls, including those from displaced and refugee communities.
Tiago Guilherme
Tiago Guilherme (he/him) is Managing Director of ENGSO Youth, an independent body of the European Non Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO). He develops and leads initiatives and advocacy aimed at increasing youth participation in sport governance. Tiago previously worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor Leste. In 2020, he joined the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union, where he followed youth and sport matters during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Talia Kaufman
Talia Kaufman (she/her) is Senior Programmes Manager at sportanddev, where she oversees project management and communications and contributes to fundraising, partnerships, strategy and governance. She has experience in sport for development, sexual and reproductive health and rights education, and youth participation. Talia has worked with the Olympic Refuge Foundation to advocate for the inclusion of displaced young people through sport. She has also developed training and play based life skills curricula with teams in several countries.
Sally Hassona
Sally Hassona is Head Coach of the Women’s Boxing National Project for Olympic Champions at Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sport and Founder of Impact Academy Egypt. An Egyptian Australian sports leader, boxing coach and educator, she is also a UNESCO country researcher, Member of the African Union Sports Council Women and Girls in Sport Working Group, and doctoral researcher at the University of Derby. Her work uses sport to advance gender equality, leadership and STEM opportunities for girls, with support from the International Olympic Committee, Women Win and other international partners.

Panel 3

 

Investment and Budgeting in Sport

In this panel we:

  • Draw attention to where funding for women and girls in sport flows, and where gaps remain.
  • Shed light on how public, private and development funding can support inclusive, sustainable sport.
  • Discuss gender-responsive approaches to measuring impact and informing future investment.
  • Highlight how research and evidence drive products and ventures for women and girls in sport.
Claudia Glass
Claudia Glass (she/her) is the founder and CEO of Swijin, a Zurich-based sportswear company focused on developing performance solutions specifically for women. Drawing on research in female biomechanics, Claudia partnered with Empa, Switzerland’s materials science and technology research institute, to develop a patented integrated breast stability system tested with athletes across several sports. Her work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, women’s sport, science and innovation, with a focus on addressing gaps in products and investment designed around female athletes. Swijin has received support from Innosuisse and recognition through the Entrepreneurship World Championship.
Luke Southall
Luke Southall (he/him) is Co-Founder of Remedy, an organisation working to strengthen access to resources and funding across the global sport-for-good sector. With more than 16 years of experience in sport for development, he specialises in resource mobilisation, strategy and organisational capacity building and has supported organisations across the sporting ecosystem to secure more than €60 million in funding. Previously Managing Director of Oaks Consultancy, Luke has worked with organisations including UEFA, World Rugby, Special Olympics and Laureus Sport for Good. He is also a trustee of The Change Foundation and co-founded the Sport Fundraising Summit.
Dr Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu
Dr Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu (she/her) is an Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Sports Equity Lab at Stanford University. The athlete led research and innovation platform examines performance through the lens of empathy and translates athletes’ experiences into research and technology supporting sustainable performance across sport and society. A former professional track athlete who represented Ghana, Dr Tuakli-Wosornu is also a practising sports medicine physician. She brings athletic experience, clinical practice and research expertise to her work.
Alessandro Mancini
Alessandro Mancini (he/him) is the focal point for the Finance in Common Coalition for Sustainable Development Through Sport. He supports partnerships and investment initiatives that position sport as a contributor to inclusive and sustainable development. His work brings together public development banks, international organisations, sport institutions and private partners to develop governance frameworks, mobilise financing and translate institutional commitments into projects and investment opportunities.
Kitty Macklin
Kitty Macklin (she/her) is Learn Manager at Women Win, a global women’s fund, where she leads monitoring, evaluation, learning and impact across a diverse portfolio. Her work includes programmes and funds that seek to advance gender justice in and through sport. Drawing on her background in gender studies and more than eight years at Women Win, she promotes participatory and feminist approaches to understanding and measuring programme impact.

Breakout Sessions

Expert-led workshops fostering dialogue, reflection and collaborative problem-solving.

Session 1: Practical Tools to Prevent and Respond to Hate Speech in Sport (led by Sportieq)

Session 2: From Lived Experience to Better Safeguarding: Inclusive Evidence and Meaningful Participation (led by Sport & Rights Alliance)
Emma Thomas
Emma Thomas is a safeguarding and lived-experience consultant, trustee of Safe Sport International and member of the Advisory Council of the Sport & Rights Alliance’s Athletes Network for Safer Sports, which facilitates collaboration among athletes and allies impacted by abuse in sport. As the founder of Under the Ropes, she works to advance safeguarding and LGBTQ+ inclusion in combat sports. Her work focuses on survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches, rooted in her lived experience as a survivor of sexual violence in sport and 10+ years of survivor advocacy.
Laura May
Laura May (she/her) works on gender and diversity in sport at Sportieq in Belgium. Since joining the organisation in 2020, she has helped develop the Genderscan and guidance on the inclusion of sex and gender diverse people in sport. She advises sport organisations on inclusive policy and delivers workshops on gender equality, diversity and hate speech. Laura also contributes to the LGBTIQ+ Sport Observatory project led by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation.

Poster Exhibition

Showcasing initiatives, projects, research, policies, and innovations related to the participation of girls and women in sport. These posters provide an opportunity to highlight practical experiences, emerging ideas, and evidence from different contexts. 

Have a look at the line-up before-hand as we have structured time to engage directly with authors and discuss their work in more depth.

Side-By-Side Nature Walks, co-designing and implementing a bushwalking program for women 55+ years
Dr Erica Randle
Senior Research Fellow | Australia
From Listening to Lasting Change: Athlete-Informed Solutions for Safer Sports Environments
Kathryn McClain, Annelise Ware, Madison Smith, & Michaela Callie
#WeRideTogether | USA
#WeRideTogether Presents Out of Bounds
Michaela Callie & Kathryn McClain
Program and Partnerships Director, #WeRideTogether | USA
Suspect Subjects: Virality, Eligibility, and Digital Surveillance as Technologies of Gendered-Racial Violence Against African Sportswomen
Rosebell Kagumire
PhD Candidate, University of Porto | Portugal
Measuring the Link Between School Sport and Women's Leadership: Evidence from an Australian Mixed-Methods Study
Lisa Brown, Associate Professor Jorge Knijnik, & Dr Kylie A. Steel
Meriden School, Sydney and Western Sydney University | Australia
Disrupting gendered systems: The Team Wales LeadHERship Programme
Kerry Harris and Sofia Santos
Senior LecturSenior Lecturer in Sport Coaching, The Sports Coaching Hub, Cardiff Metropolitan University | UK
When Leadership Fails: Gender, Power, and the Challenges of Athlete Safeguarding in Olympic Sport
Catalina Melendro Blanco
Research Associate, Loughborough University | UK
Co-designing a Context-Sensitive Safeguarding System for Athletes with High Support Needs in Boccia
Henry Velarde
Trustee, World Boccia | UK
Beyond Boxing: Sociotherapeutic Boxing for Violence Prevention and Emotional Wellbeing
Yessica Miloska Ramos Montenegro
Coordinator & Founder, MUNDI – Mujeres Unidas, Niñez y Juventud, Deporte e Inclusión; LUNAS Academia Femenina de Boxeo | Guatemala
Beyond Borders, Beneath the Surface: Female Coaches Navigating Universal and Intersecting Barriers in the Global South and North
Khatija Bahdur, Océane Albrecht, & Katelynn Slade
Research Associate, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University | UK
Play to Learn: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Evidence on the Educational Effects of Girls’ Participation in Sport
Léonie Delpeyrou and Yannick Malalanirina
Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice and Public Administration & Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP), UNIL | Switzerland
Women’s Experiences of Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Muay Thai
Emma Thomas
Founder, Under the Ropes | UK/Thailand
Different Rules – Same Sport?
Emilie Weible, Marjolaine Viret
University of Lausanne, Faculty of Law, Criminal Sciences and Public Administration | Switzerland

About the Programme

Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:00 am – 9:30 am

Keynote Presentation

9:30 am – 9:50 am

Panel 1: From Data to Policy to Impact- Evidence-Informed Governance for Gender Equality

9:50 am – 11:10 am

This session examines how evidence is used in governance and decision making related to gender equality in physical education, physical activity and sport. It focuses on how sport and public organisations select, interpret and apply evidence in policy and strategy formulation, planning, resource allocation and accountability processes. It considers the organisational structures, capacities and partnerships required to ensure that evidence informs decisions in a consistent and transparent way, including decisions affecting different groups of women and girls. It also addresses impact by examining whether and how evidence informed policies have benefited organisations and their target groups.

The session highlights the Global Observatory’s indicators and other knowledge products, with attention to how they can support policy design, institutional practice and oversight.

Coffee Break

11:10 am – 11:45 am

Panel 2: What About Girls? Measuring Participation, Empowerment and Health

11:45 am – 01:00 pm

This session addresses persistent gaps in girls’ participation in physcial education, physical activity and sport. It focuses on how participation, empowerment and health outcomes are measured, and how these measurements influence policy and programme decisions. The session presents approaches that move beyond participation rates to capture experience, voice and long-term engagement. It examines how evidence can be used to inform policies and programmes that support sustained participation for girls from different social and cultural contexts, and how youth perspectives can be incorporated into decision making.

Lunch

01:00 pm – 02:00 pm

Parallel Breakout Sessions

02:00 pm – 03:30 pm

One of two parallel breakout sessions are offered, providing participants with the opportunity to engage in expert led workshops designed to foster dialogue, reflection, and problem solving.

Breakout Session 1:  Practical Tools to Prevent and Respond to Hate Speech in Sport (led by Sportieq)
Breakout Session 2: From Lived Experience to Better Safeguarding: Inclusive Evidence and Meaningful Participation (led by Sport & Rights Alliance)

Coffee Break & Poster Walk

03:30 pm – 04:00 pm

Panel 3: Investment and Budgeting in Sport

04:00 pm – 05:00 pm

This session explores how funding and investment can advance opportunities and outcomes for women and girls across physical education, physical activity and sport. It considers how organisations translate gender equality commitments into budgets and sustained institutional support, while also examining different approaches to financing sport-for-development programmes, dedicated funds, partnerships and commercial ventures. The session will explore how financial data and measurement can help identify where resources flow, assess their impact, strengthen accountability and inform future investment decisions.

Closing Remarks

05:00 pm – 05:20 pm

Cocktail and Networking

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Get Your Tickets Today

IMD Campus | Lausanne, Switzerland | 29 September 2026

 

Regular Participant

Delegate pass
CHF390
  • Annual Conference pass on Tuesday 29 September
  • Lunch included
  • Invite to the cocktail & networking
  • Post event report
  • Access to the networking app
Register Now

Expert Contributor

Network
CHF250
  • Year-round access to the GO Global network of researchers and research institutions
  • Annual Conference pass on Tuesday 29 September
  • Lunch included
  • Invite to the cocktail & networking
  • Post event report
  • Access to the networking app
Register Now

Commissions

Exclusive Membership
CHF0
  • Exclusive access to all GO Commissions Meetings including on Wednesday 30 September
  • Annual Conference pass on Tuesday 29 September
  • Lunch included
  • Invite to the cocktail & networking
  • Post event report
  • Access to the networking app
Register Now

Advisory Council

Exclusive Membership
CHF0
  • Exclusive access to all Advisory Council & Academic Partner Meetings including on Monday 28 September
  • Annual Conference pass on Tuesday 29 September
  • Lunch included
  • Invite to the cocktail & networking
  • Post event report
  • Access to the networking app
Register Now

for media, please register here

*General Terms & Conditions

Venues

Carlton Hotel Lausanne

The four-star Carlton Lausanne Boutique Hôtel is the official hotel of the Gender Equality & Sport+ Conference 2026. Located in the Ouchy district of Lausanne, it is just a few minutes away from the conference venue, the train station and Lake Geneva.

The Carlton Lausanne Boutique Hôtel is the perfect destination for business or leisure travellers to discover the charm and hospitality of Lausanne.

How to get there

IMD Business School

IMD is a top-ranked business school which specialises in developing global leaders through high-impact executive education. IMD focuses on real-world executive development; it offers Swiss excellence with a global perspective; and has a flexible, customised and effective approach.

IMD is an independent academic institute with strong ties to business and a clear focus on creating impact.

The institute supports the transition to a new model that balances prosperity and growth with ecological sustainability and social inclusion. Sustainability, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, are core principles embedded within its framework.

How to get there

Logistical Information

Visa

It is the responsibility of the participants to obtain a visa if needed. Please check the visa requirements for your nationality. Overviews of ID and visa provisions vary according to nationality.

Schengen visas are valid for Switzerland and for all other Schengen member states (providing nothing to the contrary is noted on the visa).
If you have any questions, contact the Swiss Embassy responsible for the area in which you reside: Swiss representations.
If the visa is not granted on time, the cancellation policy will be applied.

Weather

September temperatures range from 10°C (50°F) at night (minimum night temperature) and around max 21°C in the daytime (max day temperature of 70°F). For the current weather forecast, please click here.

Electricity

Type C, E and F plugs which support 220 to 240 volts 

Time zone

Central European Time (CET) 

(GMT+2:00)