The Oceania Impact Network (OIN) has opened its participation at the 2026 IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport with a powerful message: the Pacific is not only contributing to the global conversation on gender equality in sport - it is demonstrating what collaborative, community-led action can achieve.
Day One of the Summit brought together global leaders, athletes, researchers and advocates to explore the future of women's sport.
For the Oceania delegation, the answer was clear: continue investing in partnerships, shifting power, removing barriers and creating safe, inclusive sporting environments for women and girls across the Pacific.
Throughout the opening day, members of the Oceania Impact Network reflected on the opportunities and challenges facing women in sport, highlighting the Pacific's unique experience and the importance of collaboration across governments, sport, development agencies and communities.
Emma Waiwai, Vice President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) and also President of the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee, said one of the strongest messages from the Summit was the need to rethink how women's sport is funded.
"We need to move beyond sponsorships and build genuine partnerships. We have a uniquely Pacific story to tell, and by sharing that story authentically we can attract the people and organisations who want to invest in long-term change."
Emma also reflected that empathy remains one of the greatest strengths women bring to leadership and that the Summit challenged delegates to think boldly about the next chapter of the Oceania Impact Network.
Barbara Schweizer, representing Olympism365 and the Oceania Impact Network, said the Pacific had demonstrated that collective action was already delivering results.
"We already know what needs to be done. The challenge now is taking action. The Oceania Impact Network is proof that cross-sector collaboration under a shared vision can create sporting environments that are safe, inclusive and sustainable."
She said Oceania's strong presence throughout the Summit reflected years of partnership between sport, governments and development organisations working together to advance gender equality in and through sport
For UN Women's Jurgita Serekaite, the Summit reinforced the importance of investing in boys and young men as allies for gender equality.
"The data presented was both encouraging and confronting. While we've achieved significant milestones such as gender parity at the Olympic Games, harmful attitudes towards women continue to grow among younger generations. This reinforces the importance of engaging men and boys early and creating positive role models who champion equality."
She noted that the Oceania Impact Network has an important role in helping shape safer and more inclusive sporting cultures across the Pacific.
Roshika Deo from the Australian Government Sports for Development Programme Team Up reflected that conversations throughout the day reinforced the need to talk about increasing participation and also focusing on removing the systemic barriers that continue to limit opportunities for women and girls.
The Pacific delegation wraps up an inspiring Day 1 at the IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport in Birmingham, UK this week. Representing the Oceania Impact Network and our partners, we're proud to bring Pacific voices to the global conversation on building safe, inclusive, and equitable sport for all.
Olympian and Fiji rugby star Rusila Nagasau summed up the spirit of the day with a simple but powerful message.
"We need to value women's place in sport, inspire more women and girls to participate, and make a long-term commitment to investing in them. That investment builds stronger athletes, stronger leaders and a stronger future for sport."
Looking Ahead: The Oceania Impact Network SHIFT Session
Building on the momentum from Day One, the Oceania Impact Network will today present one of the Summit's featured SHIFT Sessions titled:
"The Oceania Impact Network: Proof That Another Way is Possible."
The interactive session will showcase how participatory grantmaking, feminist leadership and cross-sector collaboration are transforming sport across Oceania.
Through storytelling, lived experience, evidence and Pacific Talanoa, participants will explore how shifting decision-making power closer to communities can deliver more inclusive and sustainable outcomes for women, girls, people with disability and gender-diverse communities in sport.
The session will feature:
- A Pacific welcome from Emma Waiwai.
- The Oceania Impact Network case study presented by Ala-Cassandra Singh.
- Stories of lived impact from Team Up's Roshika Deo.
- A screening of the Play for Equity programme.
- An interactive Talanoa exploring who shapes funding decisions and how grantmaking can better reflect lived experience, featuring members of the Oceania Impact Network Governance Team, including ONOC Executive Director Inoke Bainimarama, UN Women's Jurgita Serekaite and the International Olympic Committee's Ollie Dudfield.
The SHIFT Session reflects the Oceania Impact Network's commitment to demonstrating that another way is possible - one built on trust, collaboration, community leadership and shared responsibility.
As conversations continue throughout the Summit, the Pacific delegation remains committed to ensuring Oceania's experiences, partnerships and innovations continue to influence the global movement for gender equality in and through sport.
