FEMALE ATHLETE SUMMIT

The Female Athlete Summit is a day designed to educate, empower, and connect the next generation of female athletes and the parents, coaches, and mentors who support them.

Hosted at Foundry Athletic, this full-day experience brings together leaders in sport, nutrition, psychology, and performance to provide athletes with the tools to thrive both on and off the field.

Across interactive sessions and open discussions, attendees will gain real-world insight into training, mindset, recovery, and leadership all delivered in an environment built to help athletes perform at their best.

1️⃣ Athlete Summit (10:00am – 4:00pm)
A full-day immersive experience for young female athletes covering performance, nutrition, the menstrual cycle, leadership, and identity in sport. Includes hands on workshops, Q&As, and a live athlete panel discussion.

2️⃣ Parent / Coach Session (10:00am – 12:30pm)
Parents, guardians and coaches all are apart of the welcome and then will be in seperate discussions to athletes on the following topics as led by the following speakers and leaders:

• Fiona and Darcy on Body Image
• Ellie on Nutrition
• Hayley on Performance for Female Athlete
• Light refreshments provided throughout the morning

Format note: Presentations occur on rotation groups. Parents and coaches will be presented slightly different language on the above mentioned topics.

Athletes Session (10:00am – 4:00pm)
The day begins with a joint welcome led by Coach Hayley and Fiona, bringing both athletes and adults together for an Acknowledgement of Country, an introduction to the day’s intentions, and key logistics.

From there, athletes move into a full day of education, empowerment, and connection:

• Performance for the Female Athlete (10:10 – 11:00am)
  Coach Hayley leads an in-depth discussion on performance and the realities of REDs, with guided workbook reflections.
• Leadership with Holly (11:00 – 11:45am)
  CEO and Founder of Play Like A Girl, Holly shares insights into leadership and what it means to lead both on and off the field.

A short athlete only break follows before diving into the midday sessions:

• Nutrition with Ellie (12:00 – 1:00pm)
  A highly interactive presentation exploring fuelling for performance, followed by Q&A and anonymous questions to spark open conversation.

After a lunch break (1:00 – 1:30pm), the early afternoon continues with:

• Understanding the Cycle with Hannah (1:30 – 2:30pm)
  A practical and open session about training with your cycle, including a 45-minute presentation and a 15 minute Q&A.

After a short break, the afternoon focuses on mindset and identity:

• Identity, Body Image and Pressure (2:45 – 3:15pm)
  Fiona and Darcy lead a powerful conversation around body image and pressure, supported by insights from a psychologist and open discussion.
• Panel Discussion (3:15 – 4:00pm)
  Hosted by Kylie, this live panel features inspiring voices from elite sport:Jordy Allan, Collingwood AFLW Vice Captain, Jenni Screen, Hawthorn AFL Head of Development and Leadership, 2x Olympian (Basketball and Sacha McDonald, International Netballer (London Pulse, Mavericks)

The day concludes with Fiona’s closing remarks (4:00 – 4:15pm), participant feedback, and a group photo to celebrate the day.

Parents / Guardians / Coaches / Mentors / Support Staff Session (10:00am – 12:30pm)
Parents and coaches begin the morning alongside the athletes for a joint welcome and overview of the day before transitioning to their dedicated learning stream.

• Body Image and Language (10:15 – 10:45am)
  Fiona and Darcy, together with a psychologist, explore the power of language and its influence on athlete wellbeing and self-image.
• Nutrition with Ellie (10:45 – 11:30am)
  A practical session unpacking the nutritional needs of young female athletes, followed by interactive discussion and Q&A.

After a brief break, the morning concludes with:

• Performance for the Female Athlete (11:40am – 12:30pm)
  Coach Hayley delivers a session focused on performance, REDs and how to support athletes through their training and recovery demands.v

Throughout the day, light refreshments and snacks will be provided for all attendees.
Lunch is included for athletes attending the full-day session, ensuring they stay fuelled and focused for every workshop and activity.

• Coach Hayley Campbell – Strength & Conditioning Coach, Female Performance Specialist
• Fiona Sanford – Semi-elite gymnast for 18 years, speaker, Facilitator & 2 x Youth Organisation CEO
• Holly Bailey– CEO & Founder of Play Like A Girl
• Ellie O'Connell– Accredited Sports Nutritionist
• Hannah Moore – Sport Scientist & Female Performance Specialist
• Darcy Levin – Psychologist
• Kylie Lynch– Founder & Host of 4TG
• Jordy Allan – Collingwood AFLW Vice Captain & 2024 B&F
• Jenni Screen – Hawthorn AFL Head of Development & Leadership, 2× Olympian
• Sacha McDonald – Professional Netballer

• Learn from Australia’s leading female performance professionals
• Understand how to train, recover, and compete with confidence
• Gain insights into leadership, nutrition, and mindset
• Connect with other athletes and mentors
• Be part of a movement shaping the future of women in sport

The Female Athlete Summit is about equipping every athlete and those who support them with the knowledge, community and confidence to thrive.
Whether your goal is to make your debut, return from injury, or lead others in sport, this summit is your opportunity to learn from the best and prepare for whatever your game day looks like.

Foundry Athletic is Melbourne’s premier training facility for young athletes, offering state-of-the-art performance training and expert coaching tailored to the needs of young athletes in sport. We specialise in strength, conditioning, injury prevention, and athletic development, helping athletes of all ages and abilities maximise their potential both physically and mentally.

Our mission is to be a trusted resource and a leader in female athletic performance, creating safe spaces where athletes can learn, grow, and thrive in every aspect of their sport. We are committed to empowering female athletes to achieve their goals and set new standards of excellence.

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Host or Publisher Foundry Athletic