The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) today challenged global sport leaders to rethink how partnerships are built, demonstrating that trust-based, Pacific-led collaboration can provide a practical blueprint for advancing gender equality and safeguarding in sport.
Opening the Continental Association Session, "A Blue Pacific Talanoa: Building an Inclusive Safe Sport Ecosystem," at the IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport ONOC Vice President Emma Waiwai welcomed delegates from around the world to experience a distinctly Pacific approach to creating systems change one grounded in relationships, shared leadership and collective responsibility.
Speaking on behalf of ONOC, the ONOC Equity Commission, the Oceania Impact Network (OIN) and its partners, Waiwai said the session was not simply an opportunity to showcase Pacific initiatives, but to contribute to a growing global conversation about how partnerships can dismantle the structural barriers preventing women and girls from participating safely and equally in sport.
"Our story is not simply about programmes or projects. It is about a different way of working - one built on trust, shared leadership, mutual accountability and genuine relationships. When organisations choose to lead together rather than alongside one another, they create change that none could achieve alone."
The Continental Session built directly on the momentum of the previous day's highly acclaimed SHIFT Session, "The Oceania Impact Network: Proof That Another Way is Possible," where delegates explored participatory grantmaking, feminist leadership and collaborative approaches to systems change.
Reflecting on discussions from the SHIFT Session, Waiwai highlighted one question that resonated strongly with participants: How do we measure success?
She noted that while each organisation measures success according to its own mandate, genuine partnership requires a shared understanding of the collective impact partners seek to create.
"The real questions are: What are we trying to achieve together? What changes do we want to see? And how will we know that we are making a difference?" she said.
Waiwai explained that these questions underpin the Oceania Impact Network's Theory of Change, providing a shared roadmap that aligns vision, partnerships, actions and long-term impact rather than focusing solely on outputs and activities.
She also reminded delegates that conversations about safe sport in Oceania are grounded in lived realities.
Across the Pacific, violence against women and girls remains one of the region's greatest human rights challenges, with fear of violence continuing to prevent many women and girls from participating safely in sport.
"Safe sport is not an abstract concept for our region," Waiwai said.
"It is a response to the lived experiences of our communities. That is why the Oceania Impact Network exists, and why ONOC has placed gender equality, safeguarding and inclusion at the heart of our Strategic Plan and organisational Reset."
The session invited delegates into a Pacific Talanoa an inclusive way of sharing stories, listening deeply and building mutual understanding rather than a traditional conference presentation.
Throughout the discussion, speakers demonstrated how Pacific values including trust, respect, equity, accountability, friendship, mutual benefit and excellence shape not only the work of the Oceania Impact Network, but the way its partners collaborate every day.
The objective of the Continental Session was to immerse delegates in the Oceania Impact Network's story of trust-based, Pacific-led collaboration as a replicable model for dismantling barriers to gender equality in sport.
By the end of the session, participants were encouraged to leave with a relational blueprint and at least one practical action they could apply to strengthen or reimagine partnerships within their own organisations, countries or regions.
Concluding her remarks, Waiwai challenged delegates to see the Pacific experience not as unique, but as transferable.
"If yesterday demonstrated that another way is possible, today is about exploring how each of us can make that possibility a reality in our own communities."
As the IWG Global Summit continues, the Oceania Impact Network remains committed to demonstrating that sustainable change is achieved not only through investment and programmes, but through partnerships built on trust, shared leadership and a collective commitment to creating safe, inclusive and equitable sporting systems for all.
