The SIGA Summit on Female Leadership in Sport is making its debut in Dubai on April 8, 2025, in partnership with SIGA Founding Member Mastercard.
At a time when the sports industry must move beyond rhetoric, SIGA is mobilizing the global sports community to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels. With a hybrid format allowing worldwide participation, this high-level event will ignite critical discussions and inspire concrete actions. SIGA remains committed to closing the gender gap in sports leadership through its SIGAWomen Global Mentorship Program, structured training, and advocacy.
The Summit on Female Leadership in Sport – Dubai Edition will provide premium networking, with coffee breaks, lunch and sunset lounge provided and access to decision makers
Places are limited. Registration is free, but subject to approval, and registration with donation is available
Please note that submitting an application for registration does not guarantee attendance, as availability is limited. If your application is successful, you will receive a confirmation email.
SIGA invites you to make a donation towards our SIGAWomen Global Mentorship Program. No donation is too small to support SIGA’s effort on integrity and equity.
Preliminary Agenda
10:00 – Welcome & Networking
10:30 – Opening Session
10:45 – Keynote & Fireside Chat Sport UAE: Shaping the Future
11:00 – Panel – Women at the Helm: Gender Equity, Governance & Cultural Change
Good Governance in Sport is a fundamental pillar of SIGA’s reform agenda in the field of Sport Integrity. It is widely known that good governance equals better business, leading to a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous industry. Diversity of thought leads to better decision-making and innovation, yet the Sport industry is way behind corporate international standards in this regard. This panel shines a light of women at the helm of the sports industry and the inspirational work they are leading to effect gender equity, governance and cultural change.
11:45 – Panel – The Value Proposition: Unlocking the Commercial Power of Women’s Sports
Commercializing the Women’s Game, from a brand, sport rights holders, broadcaster or sport marketing perspective is vital to continue the financial trajectory of women’s sport. Increased media attention for female athletes and the rise of women’s sport should translate to sponsorship and more support for female athletes. Is this the case? This panel addresses the value proposition of women’s sport, opportunities as well as overcoming the challenges faced. Tune in as we explore how to close the gender gap when it comes to commercializing the entire sport industry, in terms of accessibility, economics, airtime, media coverage, sponsorship and fans. Do not miss this session!
12:30 – Panel – Mentorship Matters: Spotlight on SIGAWomen
In 2018, SIGA set in motion a worldwide, action-orientated global mentorship programme, designed to encourage and promote future female leaders in Sport and foster greater diversity within the Sporting industry, as enshrined by the SIGA Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport. Empowering women, forging career pathways, enabling personalised knowledge exchange, and facilitating strategies to help develop the next generation of leaders, the #SIGAWomen Global Mentorship Programme is going from strength to strength in its 7th cycle, mobilising 300 women globally. This panel showcases the #SIGAWomen programme and is a call to action for others to join and play a leading role in shaping the next generation of female leaders.
13:10 – Networking Lunch
14:00 – Panel – Sport & Sustainability: Creating Legacies
Sustainability is increasingly part of corporate social responsibility for all industries and is part of good governance. Sport too can lead the way in changing the rules of the game to ensure a more sustainable earth. From developing infrastructures including smart cities and stadiums running on 100% renewable energy to making medals from recycled materials to even revolutionising motorsports to electric vehicles, it is possible to instigate a cultural shift to counter the threat of climate change. This panel showcases the brands, sports rights holders and property developers that are innovating a greener future. What are the most pressing challenges ahead? How can we break down old mentalities and change habits? This is leadership in action!
14:40 – Keynote & Fireside Chat Athletes with a Purpose
The power of athletes to move the needle on pressing social issues to create a positive change, both on and off the field, is a force that is unrivalled. Athletes, embodying the values of sport such as fair play, teamwork, respect, and honesty, can fight social injustices, dismantle stereotypes, and create a more level playing field, in all aspects of life.
This special session celebrates the careers of international and regional athletes and how they are using their platforms to raise the profile of women’s sport globally. Get ready to be inspired!
14:50 – Panel – Allies: Agents of Change
To improve gender balance in the board room, it is not only up to women to push for leadership. Men also have a major role to play in changing the needle and creating more opportunities for female leadership in sport.
What can and should they do? How do we bring more champions on board? What wider societal shifts need to happen? How do we make the conversation more mainstream and avoid talking to ourselves? Keeping the conversation continues outside of safe spaces, this panel will celebrate the progressive male leaders that are making intentional choices to move from words to tangible actions to instigate diversity and inclusion in Sport.
15:30 – Closing Session
15:45 – SIGAWomen Sunset Lounge (rooftop)
