The Female Coaching Network is delighted to announce that our Founder, Vicky Huyton, has been invited to speak at the inaugural Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Women's Coaching Network, taking place in Adelaide on 10–11 November 2026.
Bringing together some of Australia's leading women high-performance coaches, coach developers, system leaders and international experts, the event marks the launch of a national network designed to strengthen the connections, development opportunities and long-term career pathways for women coaching in high-performance sport.
For the Female Coaching Network, it is another opportunity to contribute to an international conversation that is increasingly moving beyond fixing women and instead focusing on creating coaching systems where women can thrive.
Australia continues to lead the way
Over the past decade, Australia has become one of the world's leading nations in recognising and investing in women coaches. Through the vision and leadership of Michelle De Highden and the AIS High Performance Coach Development team, the country has intentionally created programmes, networks and learning experiences that value women coaches and support them throughout their careers.
As Australia builds towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, there is a clear commitment to developing the next generation of women coaching leaders—not simply through recruitment, but through connection, capability and long-term support.
It is an exciting time to be part of that journey.
Speaking about systems, not individuals
Vicky will join an outstanding line-up of international speakers, including Professor Leanne Norman (Loughborough University) and Professor Ali Budjanovcanin (King's College London).
Her session will focus on one of the central themes that has underpinned the Female Coaching Network since its inception:
The challenge has never been a lack of capable women coaches—it has been the coaching systems they are expected to navigate.
Drawing on over a decade of work with coaches and organisations across the world, Vicky will explore how stronger professional networks, intentional development opportunities and better-designed coaching environments can help more women progress, remain and lead within high-performance sport.
The session will also showcase practical frameworks developed through the Female Coaching Network that organisations can use to strengthen the environments they create for coaches.
A gathering built on connection
The two-day Women's Coaching Network has been designed as more than a conference.
It is a national gathering where women high-performance coaches can build trusted relationships, share experiences across sports, learn from international experts and develop practical strategies that will support their coaching careers long after the event concludes.
By bringing together coaches, coach educators and performance leaders in one space, the AIS is creating an environment where learning extends beyond presentations and into meaningful conversations, collaboration and lasting professional networks.
Continuing FCN's global mission
Since launching in 2017, the Female Coaching Network has grown into one of the world's largest global communities dedicated to supporting women coaches.
From international research collaborations and organisational consultancy to coach education and the FCN Academy, our mission has remained consistent:
To create coaching systems where women can succeed—not despite the system, but because of it.
We are incredibly proud to be contributing to this landmark event and to continue working alongside organisations around the world that are committed to creating lasting change for women in coaching.
We look forward to seeing everyone in Adelaide this November.
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