Paddle Australia hosted the Oceania Women’s Symposium, bringing together leaders, coaches, and athletes from around the world to inspire, connect, and empower women across paddle sport.
Held on the sidelines of the 2025 International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships in Sydney, Australia, the symposium added to the legacy of the inaugural event in Dublin in 2023, with participants sharing experiences that strengthened the pathways for women in paddle sport.
The second edition of the Women’s Symposium started with a welcome breakfast and video message from International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, followed by ICF Vice President Dr. Cecilia Faris and Paddle Australia Board Director Sue McConnell addressing the crowd in Penrith.
Paralympic champion Ellie Cole served as MC throughout the programme, with the opening panel, “Women on Water”, featuring trailblazers and ICF Board members Maree Burnett and Danielle Woodward, the first woman to be elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the Australian Olympic Committee, Helen Brownlee, and Olympian Jaime Roberts, who reflected on what leadership looks like in paddle sport.
Nim de Swardt delivered an energising keynote titled “Re-Author: Your Leadership Story for Influence and Impact”, followed by Michelle De Heighten, who presented findings from the Australian Institute of Sport’s Leaky Pipeline project.
The next session was led by Australian Paralympic team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin and Paddle Australia CEO Kim Crane, exploring how to cultivate belonging and unity within the Australian team, while also strengthening connections across the broader multi-disciplinary paddle sport community.
Panelists and participants took time to enjoy the 2025 ICF Slalom World Championships action in between, concluding with a networking session.
“Two years ago, the ICF and Canoeing Ireland organised the first ICF Women’s Symposium in Dublin. The tremendous success of that event inspired us to encourage our Continental Associations to host their own forums, each uniquely designed to address the specific needs and expectations of their communities,” Farias said.
“Paddle Australia hosted this symposium, generously opening its doors to Oceania and to the world. Lately, we have moved from seeking inspiration to taking decisive action. We understand that there is no certainty of success without collecting inclusive efforts.
“Our capabilities and strength multiply when we work together, and the voices of those who are not here can be amplified when we truly represent the hopes of all women. Yet even when we achieve decision-making positions, we often still struggle to be truly influential.
“This is precisely why forums and symposiums like this one are so invaluable. They help us to transcend our bonds, build a powerful international network, and identify where we must focus our energy next. Women have changed. We now effectively claim our rights, our energy is refueled by every challenge and every obstacle, transforming us into more skillful, resilient, and confident individuals.”
“In 2023, I had the good fortune of being a participant in the inaugural ICF Women’s Symposium, hosted by Canoeing Ireland, and it was a wonderful couple of days, building international relationships, strengthening connections, and all the shared passion we have for the paddle sport family,” Crane said.
“We were just inspired to be able to continue that legacy. We seized the opportunity during the World Championships, but we had to ensure that we connected as a group. In our Paddle Forward 32 plan, the aim is to foster a sense of belonging and support all paddlers regardless of discipline, regardless of where you come from, and the symposium was one example of us essentially living our purpose.”
Pictures by Paddle Australia.
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