The program is a new initiative aimed at providing support, development and networking opportunities for women within the Adelaide Football Club, and to better connect them with other business people in Adelaide.
Chair of Women of Adelaide, AFC Director Deborah Miller, said: “It's a very exciting time to be involved with the creation of Women of Adelaide. The AFL provides a strong, professional focus on diversity and we aim to be able to take this charter and develop it further for SA women.
“Our charter is to encourage and promote women at the Club - both internally through professional development, networking and mentoring, and externally, to all stakeholders - members, coterie groups and sponsors.
“Our group will provide advice to the Club regarding the best means of engaging and retaining women involved with the Adelaide Football Club.
“With nearly half of our membership being female, it also makes sense to create a supportive leadership group, as statistics indicate a growing trend linking more women to management and senior levels to increased company performance.”
The leadership group will comprise a number of influential and successful women, and our inaugural patron will be the Club’s No.1 female ticket holder, the Hon Kate Ellis MP.
Deborah has been a Board Director at AFC for two years and is the first female to hold this position.
She believes we should recognise the AFL’s Women’s Round due to the amount of women who contribute to the sport.
“We are still seen as a minority - we often get the smaller tasks yet females hold around 42% of memberships.
“Women are involved in so many aspects from footy operations, medicine, administration, wives, partners, families, volunteers and sponsors - all stakeholders. (For more information please visit the AFL’s website here).
Adelaide Football Club Chief Executive, Steven Trigg said: “In a week where we celebrate the role of women across the competition, it’s the perfect time for us to launch what is a very exciting and meaningful program.
“With the full backing of everyone at the Club, I have no doubt Women of Adelaide will become a great success in making a difference!”
Deborah encourages other women to get involved in the football industry saying: “Be confident - the AFL are committed to strong diversity and are very professional in their approach. My experience is to always be honest, upfront and not afraid to speak out when needed.
“Football is exciting and a huge business.”
Several female AFC staff members are attending the AFL’s Leadership Forum with Deborah on Friday, and Stephen Sanders (Staff Development Manager) will attend the AFL’s Diversity & Inclusion Workshop.
Before Saturday’s game against the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, there will be three main coterie events: Premiership Suite, Chairman’s Function and Vice Presidents Function, as well as Westpac Centre match day events.
The Chairman’s function will host AFC board member Deb Miller, the Hon. Kate Ellis and AFC Ambassador Katrina Webb. Also in attendance will be co-chair of the Premiers Council for Women Kate Gould and Manager of the Office for Women, representing the Minister for the Status of Women, Fiona Mort. The function will be hosted by Channel Nine’s Kate Collins with some of the players’ mothers attending and women in all three functions will be receiving flowers thanks to Flower My Day.
Deborah and Kathy Brennan (wife of Michael Brennan - 1992 West Coast premiership Vice-Captain) will accompany the coin toss on Saturday while our women’s coterie group ‘Birds of a Feather’ will help form the guard of honour.
.jpg)
