GIS industry masterclass inspires growth in women’s sport

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Image Credit: Soccerscene

The Global Institute of Sport hosted an industry masterclass on Wednesday, 13 August, at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, focusing on “Growth and Opportunities in Women’s Sport.”

The evening began with an introduction to GIS and its programs designed to develop the next generation of sports industry leaders. The panel featured Dr Alana Thomson from the University of Newcastle, Chantella Perera, General Manager of KOJO Sport and advisory board member, and Yael Reed, a sport commercial and marketing leader.

Image Credit: Soccerscene

All three guests were incredibly insightful, sharing their personal experiences in women’s sport and offering their perspectives on how the sector will continue to grow in the future, whilst also answering questions about certain vital topics involving women’s sport.

The event concluded with an open networking session, giving attendees the chance to connect with industry professionals, alumni, and students.

Image Credit: Soccerscene

Ray Boggiano, Regional Director, Asia-Pacific for the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) spoke on the success of the women’s sport masterclass event and how important it is for the students.

“We had fantastic guest speakers, first of all Chantella Perera who is one of our industry advisory board members and has done a few guest speaking sessions with us so far, and we had Yael Reed who came on board through a call-to-arms looking for people to share their story and she reached out and was keen to get involved,” he said in an interview with Soccerscene.

“We have a strong network of people within sport and we’re always looking to expand that because people within sport are often looking to give back to the next generation of sports leaders and impart their knowledge, and I thought the whole event was a great success.”

Image Credit: Soccerscene

Boggiano also spoke on the growth of female students within GIS and how they plan to keep moving in the right direction.

“We have a stated strategy to increase the number of women studying our programs first of all but then secondary to that is getting more women into sports careers,” he said.

“We do that through a number of different avenues, one is events and engagement opportunities like this event, another is mentoring so our industry advisory board mentor many of our students.

“Then we also have scholarships available for women in sports across all of our programs, we just launched one for our Sydney campus so lots of different initiatives but it’s definitely the aim of ours to get more women into sport.”

To find out more about future GIS events, click HERE

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GIS Sydney connects students with Australia’s sporting industry

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is giving students new opportunities to build careers in Australia’s growing sports industry. Combining academic study with direct access to sporting organisations, venues and industry professionals. Based at Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground, GIS Sydney places students at the heart of Australia’s sporting landscape. The campus gives students the chance to study while surrounded by major sporting organisations and events, creating a direct connection between education and the industry they hope to join.

Students also benefit from regular access to experienced sports professionals. More than 50 guest speakers have shared their expertise with GIS students, including representatives from FIFA, Red Bull, Cricket Australia and the AFL. These sessions give students a valuable insight into the different roles and career pathways available across the sports sector. GIS Sydney delivers programs including Sports Analytics and International Sports Business in partnership with the University of Newcastle. The courses combine academic learning with opportunities for students to develop practical skills that they can take into the workplace.

Industry experience forms another important part of the student journey. GIS provides students with 140 hours of relevant work experience, allowing them to apply their knowledge in professional settings. Students have secured placements with organisations including the Professional Football Scouts Association, Football Coaches Australia and Basketball NSW.

GIS also works with Yakka Sport to create paid employment opportunities for students while they study. This allows students to gain workplace experience while developing professional networks within the sporting community. The opportunities extend internationally, with GIS Global Sports Summits giving students access to sporting organisations and venues in destinations including London and Miami.

For students pursuing careers in sport, GIS Sydney is creating a pathway that combines education, practical experience and industry connections. By bringing students closer to the people and organisations shaping the sector, GIS is helping the next generation turn their interest in sport into professional opportunities.

Sydney FC bolsters business strategy with third-year ABCC partnership

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Image Credit: Sydney FC

Sydney FC is extending its partnership with the Australian British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) for a third year, strengthening the connection between the club’s corporate network and the wider business community.

The partnership will give ABCC members access to Sydney FC’s Business Club, it’s new The Collective networking platform and a range of events throughout the 2026/27 season.

ABCC members had already been attending Sydney FC matches and networking through hospitality, and last season the organisations built on that connection by collaborating on a pre‑World Cup business event featuring former players and football industry figures.

ABCC Chief Commercial Officer Paul Wright said the partnership had provided members with opportunities to engage with the club and its business community.

“We are delighted to continue the strong partnership between the Australian British Chamber of Commerce and Sydney FC for the third consecutive year,” Wright said.

Sydney FC Commercial and Marketing General Manager Matt Pound said the relationship was creating opportunities beyond traditional matchday hospitality.

“There’s a large appetite for collaboration between the Sydney FC business club and those within the ABCC, with numerous partnership opportunities being developed through this collaboration,” Pound said.

The continued partnership will also see Sydney FC benefit from member introductions through the ABCC, while the club will contribute speakers to selected Chamber events and feature in its quarterly magazine.

For Sydney FC, the partnership provides another established business network through which to develop its broader commercial strategy, following the recent launch of The Collective.

The club is increasingly positioning its corporate relationships around networking and business development, using football and its existing commercial community as a platform for connections beyond sponsorship and matchday hospitality.

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