Mentee: Dr. Lisa Stovel-Rolle, Bahamas
Dr. Lisa Stovel-Rolle is the Managing Director of Trinity Flames Archery [club] in Nassau, The Bahamas. She has served in both leadership roles, and as an athlete in various sporting disciplines at the national and international levels. Currently she is a crucial member of the Bahamas Archery Federation and has been responsible for significant growth and increased performance among athletes and coaches. In 2023, she made history by becoming the first female archer in The Bahamas to medal in an international competition, and to win multiple medals at the same event in the sport of Archery. Since 2022, she has lead Team Bahamas as an archery Coach, and Team Manager for tournaments in The Dominican Republic, Columbia, Chile, Puerto Rico, USA, Great Britain, Brazil, France, El Salvador and Argentina.
Dr. Rolle is a woman of multiple gifts and talents, and she has a track record of being an agent of positive change. She is a self-starter with a keen analytical mind capable of processing complex information and ideas quickly and efficiently. She is also skilled at bringing people together and providing the leadership necessary to accomplish mutually beneficial tasks for all.
Mentor: Danielle Lopez, Canada
Danielle has been a benefactor of mentorship, specifically from women in sport. She is always seeking opportunities to give back in the same way that those before her gave to her. Her professional experience in sport began in youth sport as a coach. From there she moved into collegiate sport in the United States (Division 1 and Division 3 NCAA coaching and sport administration), professional sport in the United States (Major League Baseball), professional sport athlete representation in the United States (Major League Baseball Players Association), Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States (US Olympic and Paralympic Committee), various international major sport event operational deliveries, and now in business development for an event technology providing platforms and services to the world’s largest sporting events (Olympic Games, FIFA World Cups, and many more).
Danielle has served in various Boards & Committees: 2022/2023 UMass Alumni Mentorship Programme – Mentor, Business Development Committee Women in Sports and Events, USOPC Women’s Group Communication Chair USOC, International Games Committee MLBPA, Athletes; CAN Executive Board – Secretary, Softball Canada Athlete Representative Professional Major Event Experience among others. As an athlete she has represented the Canadian National Softball team in various international events and is a 2011 Pan American Games Silver Medallist.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Marsha Boyce, Barbados
Marsha Boyce is a Barbados-based media and communications professional, with a passion for sports and sports development. She currently serves as the current Chair of Gender Equality Commission of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA)/Barbados Commonwealth Games Association (CGA); and also collaborates with the National Olympic Academy on projects focusing on youth, education, leadership and athlete development. Her love for communication and sport finds Marsha delivering seminars and workshops on Communication, Public Relations, and Media Relations/Media Interaction, particularly with junior athletes, for various sporting organisations. Professionally, she is the Communications & Projects Manager at the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) where she coordinates the media and communications strategy for the organisation. In her role, she also works closely with the eighteen regional Member Countries on various aspects of anti-doping programming, primarily related to ‘Clean Sport’ Education and Operations. Marsha is a former sports reporter/producer who has worked with local and regional mainstream outlets including the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation and Flow Sports; and has been co-host and producer/editor of various podcasts in the region such as #thisJUSTin and The Drive Phase Podcast. Marsha believes communication is a valuable tool which can help shape the perception of women’s sport while simultaneously empowering women in sport. She anticipates that this programme will allow her to capitalise on her existing strengths while developing further skills and competencies to realise her goal of making an impactful contribution to the development of sport in Barbados and the Caribbean.
Mentor: Ncamisile Khumalo, South Africa
Ncamisile is deeply passionate about both sports and the legal intricacies surrounding intellectual property. With over 15 years of experience in the sports industry she is well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to the programme. Over the years, she has held various roles that have allowed her to cultivate leadership skills and contribute to the development of sports programmes and events. As a Sport Promotions Officer with the Department of Sport & Recreation, she was responsible for organizing sport events and activities within the community, promoting participation, and coordinating talent identification programs. Furthermore, her leadership skills were further refined through roles such as Assistant Chef De Mission for the SALGA Games, where she led a team of 200 athletes and administrators, and as a Lifestyle Consultant at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where she managed gym operations and ensured member satisfaction. Combining her legal expertise with her extensive experience in the sports industry, she is committed to guiding and supporting aspiring women leaders in navigating the complex landscape of sports leadership. She is also eager to share her knowledge, insights, and experiences to empower mentees to achieve their full potential and make meaningful contributions to the Commonwealth sports community.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Tarani Kamoe, Fiji
Tarani is currently self-employed as a Tennis Coach. She coordinates her own tennis lessons which include junior and adult group programmes. She is the ITF certified coach for Beginner and Intermediate Players. She also volunteers as the Tennis Fiji Community Development Coordinator, assisting the Development Officer in documenting and promoting tennis to as many rural communities as possible in Fiji. Her sports career highlights include 2 bronze medals at the Pacific Games 2023, a gold medal at the Pacific Nations Cup 2024 and the Billie Jean King Cup Team. In the near future, Tarani plans to introduce more tennis programmes that are inclusive to all and create awareness on a healthy lifestyle.
Mentor: Amanda Jenkins, Australia
As the first female on FIBA's management team, Amanda wants to help get more women into executive roles in international sports. She has worked her way from an entry level administration role to lead the Oceania regional office of FIBA across her career. She has worked on the Commonwealth Games organizing committee for Gold Coast 2018, leading the sports team for one of the basketball venues. This gave her a unique perspective of the multi-sport world and enabled her to work with events staff from all over the world. She has also managed world youth events for FIBA during the covid bubble years - successfully conducting the first major event for FIBA during that time - this was a unique experience handling the challenges of the pandemic whilst conducting an elite event. This youth boys’ event was managed by an almost entirely female LOC, and this inspired me to continue to advocate and help provide opportunities for women across sport.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: LaiLai Ng Takfai, Kiribati
LaiLai is a hardworking, proactive, vibrant and enthusiastic person and is a dependable team player. She has held various positions in basketball, athletics and rugby in Kiribati. She was the Women’s Basketball Team captain for the Micronesian Games; Team Captain for 3x3 basketball team for the Pacific Games in Samoa; Team Captain at the Titans Club where she also focused on increasing the participation of young boys & girls and women. She was also a Vice President for Women at the Kiribati National Olympic Committee and the Chairlady for the Equity Commission Kiribati in 2017- 2019 and has been a President of the Kiribati Basketball Federation in 2017 – 2019. Recently she is a member of the Equity Commission Oceania (ECO), Lailai joined Kiribati Rugby in July 2023 as a Development Officer focusing on Women in Rugby and is a respected advocate for women in sport. She has also implemented a lot of programmes at community level including the promotion of basketball and rugby 7’s among young girls and women.
Mentor: Julie Hyunju Lee, New Zealand
With over 15 years of experience in human rights advocacy and Sport for Development, Julie has dedicated her career to harnessing the power of sport to drive positive change. She brings a unique cultural perspective to her work, enriched by her global experiences and a deep commitment to inclusivity and sustainability. One of the most impactful phases of her career was her time at the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP). She had the privilege of being deeply involved in shaping sport policy that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This work was pivotal in advancing global understanding of how sport can be a powerful tool for development and peace. She led the UNOSDP Youth Leadership Camps, which empowered young leaders from underprivileged backgrounds to drive change in their communities through sport. She played a crucial role in securing the 2026 World University Games for Chungcheong, South Korea. This achievement highlighted the region on a global stage and demonstrated how sport can be a catalyst for unity and development. Throughout her career, she’s focused on bringing people together through sport—whether by promoting gender equality, advancing sustainability, or creating opportunities for communities to thrive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Cecilia Mtukule Malawi, Malawi
Cecilia is a committed and adaptable professional with over two decades of extensive experience in leadership and management. She specializes in project management, financial oversight, human resources, and conflict resolution. Currently, she serves in the capacity of Officer In-charge at the Malawi Police Service, where she is tasked with responsibilities including planning, budgeting, payroll management, and team supervision, all aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and adherence to government regulations. Her international experience as a Gender and Child Protection Officer with the United Nations in Sudan has afforded her the opportunity to develop and lead initiatives focused on child rights, gender equality, and stakeholder coordination. In addition to her professional commitments, she is actively engaged in the sports sector, particularly in the realm of netball. She holds the position of Treasurer for the Netball Association of Malawi. She is also the Secretary for the Malawi Police Service Sports Board, where she coordinates sports activities and facilitate communication among key stakeholders. As the Chief Administration Officer for the Blue Eagles Netball Club and Former Assistant Coach for the Under-21 Malawi National Netball Team, she provides leadership and mentorship to emerging athletes, thereby advancing sports development and advocating for girl child education.
Mentor: Harriet Greenop, England
Harriet has worked in the Sport Industry for the last 12 years, and her first foray into the world of Major Sporting Events started with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. She is passionate about empowering women in the industry and workplace. As an involved member of women networking groups, and the current chair of the Women in Rugby Employee Resource Group, supporting the growth of leadership skills in women across the Commonwealth is close to her heart. She started her sports career on the participation side in school where she swam competitively from the age of 10-18. Loving all of the values that participating in a sport brings. She has had the opportunity to work on a variety of different sporting events from volunteering with local community events, through to being part of Organising Committees for Commonwealth Games, European Games and Rugby World Cups. She welcomes the opportunity to share her passion for the industry, offer support and her experience to the new generation of female leaders that this industry can capitalize on. She is looking forward to returning to her role of standing at the metaphorical pool side, being the ultimate cheerleader for the aspiring and inspiring women selected to be part of this programme.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Alex Spence, New Zealand
Alex is a loyal and passionate professional who thrives on pushing creative boundaries and using the power of culture and identity to weave compelling narratives online. She has just taken on the role of Acting Communications Director at the New Zealand Olympic Committee & Commonwealth Games Association after previously holding the role of Head of Digital for 10 years. She works directly with sporting organisations and manages a team that tell stories with an authentic and athlete-led lens for NZ Team channels. The stories create relatable content that has a positive impact on youth and communities and inspires the next generation of New Zealanders with the Commonwealth Sport movement. In her previous role as the Media & Communications Manager at Netball New Zealand she launched and implemented NNZ’s first social media channels. Alex is a mother of two girls (2 and 4) and married to an International Rugby Referee. An interesting fact - Alex was once a junior NZ National Spearfishing Champion!
Mentor: Sasha Martell, England/Switzerland
Sasha Martell is a seasoned Project Leader with 23 years of experience in the sports events industry, currently based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Her career encompasses roles within international and continental sports federations, non-profit organisations, and major commercial sports agencies. She has extensive expertise in event delivery, competition management, marketing, and multiple aspects of broadcasting. She has worked across a diverse range of sports, including Handball and Boxing at the federation level, where she was responsible for event strategy, execution, and stakeholder management. Additionally, she has contributed to broadcasting of major events such as the Olympic Games, Athletics, Tennis, and various Football competitions. In recent years, Sasha has pursued further training in governance and social sustainability issues, driven by her belief that all stakeholders in sports must be well-informed on these critical ethical issues. She is a certified IOC Safeguarding Officer in Sport, volunteers for Safe Sport International, and has completed the ITA Doping Control Officer training program. Sasha also played a key role in establishing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion working groups and has served as a mentor to aspiring females working in sports. Sasha is passionate about empowering future women leaders and inspiring them to confidently navigate their careers within the sports industry.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Sascha Rey, Northern Ireland
Sascha is a motivated, hardworking individual seeking the opportunity to develop further in her role as Operations Manager at Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland. The role has allowed her to develop further in empowerment, leadership, community impact, networking, and advocacy. She has supported Team NI at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. She has worked as a Student Marketeer for a famous brand at the Ulster University Coleraine supporting Clubs and Societies of the university and promoting the brand through creative product placement and social media marketing. She is keen to lead a program that identifies the barriers stopping women from developing their careers within high performance sport.
Mentor: Prof Esther Akinlabi, England
Professor Esther Akinlabi is an international mentor in the Commonwealth Sport Women Leadership programme since 2023. She is a distinguished figure in the field of mechanical engineering and currently serves as the Deputy Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at Northumbria University in the UK. Her research interests include advanced manufacturing processes such as Friction Stir Welding and Additive Manufacturing. Previously, she was the Director of the Pan African University for Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI) in Nigeria. She has also held significant roles at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa including Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Science and Vice Dean for Teaching and Learning.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Sangiawi Singut, Papua New Guinea
Sangiawi is the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General at the Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Games Association (PNGCGA). Previously she was the Marketing and Events Coordinator. She was the supervisor of the Marketing and Communication intern through the eqUIP Programme. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, she, and two colleagues had the unique opportunity to work alongside the East Sepik Provincial Government to deliver the Queen's Baton Relay during its three-day visit to Papua New Guinea. This marked a historic moment as it was the first time the Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Games Association (PNGCGA) team took full responsibility for organising the Queen's Baton Relay. A role typically managed by a visiting team from the Commonwealth Sports. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the team successfully coordinated and executed the event, ensuring that the spirit of the Commonwealth Games was celebrated across the region.
Mentor: Dr Catriona McBean, New Zealand
Catriona has over 30yrs working in sport. She was the youngest CEO in NZ sport when she started her first key leadership role and there were few women leaders and role models. Her experiences across a range of sports, including disability sport, has provided her with many opportunities, including reporting to a board, financial management, strategy and planning, marketing and communications, HR, and event management, including volunteering at Olympic and Paralympic Games. She holds a number of governance positions and also still work in community sport. These experiences provide her with a unique perspective on leadership in sport, which she is hoping to share with her mentee and other women.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Shona Campbell, Scotland
Shona is a focused and ambitious leader with a passion for driving sustainable change across sporting communities. She is currently the member of Team Scotland Commonwealth Games Athlete Advisory Board. She is also a contracted member of GB sevens squad for three seasons, competing on the HSBC SVNS Series. She has participated in 14 HSBC SVNS tournaments, including winning two bronze medals. She was a member of the team that won the European Games gold medal and secure
d Olympic Qualification. She was also the Captain for Rugby Europe for 2023 and 2024. Further, she gained 9 caps for Scotland across two Six Nations Campaigns and a Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. She was a member of the first ever Scotland Women’s 7s squad to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022. Other than rugby 7’s, Shona is an accomplished netball player having been in the U/17 and U/21 teams and Scotland A squad. She has received numerous awards including the 2024 RPA Vodaphone Business Gain Line Award to support current and former players of the game in their off-field business ventures and personal development; Team Scotland - PHM Athlete Award 2022; Friends of Scottish Rugby Lady Jean MacPherson Trophy 2022 among others.
Mentor: Dr Carol Ann Long, Jamaica
Dr Long is deeply passionate about empowering women to achieve leadership roles within the sports industry. Her journey in the sports industry began over 40 years ago and was solidified by a foundation in psychology, which has been instrumental in understanding and addressing the behavioural and attitudinal challenges athletes face. Over the past 15+ years, she has amassed extensive experience and knowledge that she is eager to share with aspiring female leaders. Her certification as a Technical Official and Lecturer in triathlon and track and field has equipped her with the skills to coach and mentor athletes across various disciplines. One of her proudest achievements is her work with para-athletes, such as Taekwondo para-athlete Shauna-Kay Hines. Her experience as a Lecturer in Physical Education has also enabled her to impart critical knowledge and skills to future sports professionals. Mentorship has always been at the core of her professional endeavours. She is committed to fostering a culture of empowerment and leadership among women in sports. By taking on this role, she aims to provide aspiring female leaders with the tools, confidence, and support they need to succeed and make a lasting impact in the sports industry.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Freda Matangi, Solomon Islands
Freda is a very committed and hardworking individual who takes up her responsibilities with pride and dedication to ensure that what she does benefits the organisations she represents and the targeted communities and stakeholders. She is currently the Operations Officer at the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) where oversees national teams logistics for national, international and provincials competitions. She is also responsible for Gender Equality tracking and reporting, Rise Rugby Reporting. Previously she held the position of Women Rugby Manager where she successfully orchestrated the running of the first ever National Women Rugby 7s and organised domestic competitions for women to increase the number of participating teams. Freda has also served as the Women Rugby Representative in the SIRUF Board and was the President of Solomon Islands Basketball Federation, among others. She believes in creating platforms for women and girls to showcase their sports skills and talents and has started the Avaiki Interward Netball Championship which has already made a significant impact in her community.
Mentor: Donna Furlong Stelling, Australia
Donna is a leading Australian sports executive with over 25 years of experience spanning more than 40 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Throughout her extensive career, she has gathered a wealth of knowledge and expertise within the sport industry, providing her with valuable insights and strategies. She also brings diverse skills across Sports Management, Athlete Management, Event Management, Management Consulting, International Partnerships, Sports Diplomacy and Sports for Social Change. She has held various leadership positions in sport including Director of Olympic Marketing, Director of Asian Games, Director of Sports Consulting, and Marketing Consultant for the Olympic Council of Asia. She has played integral roles in bids and campaigns for major events including the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games and FINA World Championships. She’s also had the privilege of managing high profile athletes including David Beckham. In her current role as Sports Marketing Advisor for a leading athlete management agency, she manages partnerships for over 100 professional athletes in Australia. In addition, she is a Board Advisor with the Women’s Sports Alliance, the world’s leading collective for elite female athletes where she champions projects and initiatives to advance women in sport. She is passionate about building a culture of sport that respects equality, diversity and inclusion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Jeanne-Marié Coetzer, South Africa
Jeanne-Marié is the Secretary General of the South African Wrestling Federation. Previously she was the organisation’s first female Vice President, overseeing all matters relating to transformation and development, and especially Women in Wrestling. In her current role, she is involved in the administration and development of wrestling in South Africa, managing all official correspondence between major stakeholders, and working to promote the sport and support the athletes at various levels of participation. She is a member of SASCOC’s Gender Equity Commission, a board member of the Gauteng Sports Council, and the Central Gauteng Wrestling provincial head coach and Coaches Council Chairperson. During her career as an athlete and coach, she has represented South Africa at various international tournaments and Games, and she has received numerous awards including Sports Woman of the Year (2015); Coach of the year (2020); Volunteer of the year (2018) and the Grassroots project of the year (2018) in her region.
Mentor: Emma Brunning, England
Emma has been involved in Coaching, Coach Development and learning design most of her life. She had the privilege of working internationally, which has really raised her awareness of the power, bravery and sensitivity needed when encouraging people, federations, or countries to develop, change or explore doing things differently. Emma has run her own coaching business for 14 years where she is contracted with several organisations which involves creating Mentoring or Coach development programmes and leadership roles within sport, with a strong focus on diversity. Her current roles are: ParalympicGB – Paralympic Inspiration Programme, her role is to support first time athletes, coaches and staff to be the BEST prepared to attend their first major games. Team Scotland – she mentored and supported the ACHIEVE programme over a 2-year period for Coaches and Athletes to prepare and attend their first major games. Premier League – (Programme lead and Mentor) she leads on the Future Coach Developer programme, she designs and leads the running of this 2-year programme, where they offer Coaches wishing to become leaders in their field opportunities to gain more knowledge, experiences and skills relevant to their environment. Her other past roles have been working for World Triathlon developing and supporting their Facilitator and mentor workforce from across the world; lecturing at a university in Personal and professional development, working as a learning and development training consultant with youth at risk and the corporate arena. She has a great motivation to enable others to develop and succeed, with her personal passion to work across cultures and nations to bring that difference and help encourage and support change (If needed).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Reshika Udugampola, Sri Lanka
Reshika Amali Udugampola is a distinguished former Sri Lankan national swimmer and accomplished sports administrator. Reshika's journey in swimming began at the age of eight, inspired by her sister's engagement in the sport. She quickly rose through the ranks, winning her first women’s national championship title in 2010 at the National Swimming Championships. Reshika represented Sri Lanka at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she competed in the women's 100m freestyle event. Her participation in the Olympics was a milestone for Sri Lankan swimming, showcasing her dedication and talent on the world stage. Additionally, she competed in many other major international events, including the 2010 South Asian Games, 2010 FINA World Aquatics Championships and the 2011 World Aquatics Championship. Transitioning from her athletic career, Reshika has made significant contributions to sports administration. She currently serves as the Secretary of the NOC Sri Lanka Athletes' Commission, member of the Gender equity committee and holds a member position in the IOC Revenues and Commercial Partnerships Commission. In her professional career, she is also a full-time marketer for a multinational IT organization.
Dr Medina Srem-Sai, Ghana
Dr. Medina Srem-Sai is a Lecturer and Sport Psychologist at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana. She specializes in Physical Education, Health, and Wellbeing, with a strong focus on sport psychology. Her research interests include stress, appraisals, and coping among adolescents and youth, as well as mental health and physical activity. She is also involved in various initiatives, such as serving as the National Director of the World Sports Alliance-Inter-Governmental Organization (WSA-IGO) in Ghana and being an International Mentor for the Commonwealth Women’s Mentorship Programme in Sport since 2023. Additionally, she has contributed to developing guidelines and manuals for sports and physical education in Ghana. She has made significant contributions to sport development in Ghana and beyond. She has also published numerous peer reviewed articles and conference papers on papers related to her field of specialisation. She has also been mentoring athletes and coaches at various levels since 2013 and mentors student teachers who are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Physical Education and Sports Coaching, and is also an academic counsellor for students in her Department and an advocate for women in sports leadership.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Dora Henry, St Lucia
Dora Samantha Henry is an Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Vice Principal, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. In addition to her work obligations, Dora is actively involved in athletics and community service with an extensive history in volunteerism.
Dora, certified by World Athletics as a National Athletics Referee Level Technical Official in the sport of athletics was instrumental in the establishment of the Saint Lucia Technical Officials Union for Athletics in October 2017. She serves as the Director of Administration. She was awarded Technical Official of the Year in 2019 by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports at the National Sports Awards. She served as Team Manager for Saint Lucia’s CARIFTA Team in 2022 and 2023 where she led the team with distinction. In 2023, Dora was elected as the 1st Vice President of the St. Lucia Athletics Association and received the award for Administrator of the Year at the 2023 Athletics Association Awards. She has significantly influenced the trajectory of the St. Lucia Athletics Association, converting obstacles into prospects, and materializing aspirations. By nurturing a sense of unity within the athletics community and meticulously planning and executing events, this administrator has demonstrated excellence in every aspect of her position. Her unwavering commitment to optimizing procedures, bolstering athletes, and advocating for sportsmanlike principles has not only fortified the Association but also established a benchmark for administrators on island.
Mentor: Tracy Van Ginkel, South Africa
Tracy is currently the Head of Rugby Contracts & Operations at the Lions Rugby Company in South Africa. She joined the Lions Rugby as PR and in High Performance which created an opportunity for growth and development. She began her career as the manager of scholarships at the University of Johannesburg whilst completing her post-graduate studies in sports management. As a woman in a male driven industry, she aspires to develop women in sport in all fields from medical to management. She has the experience to be able to share tools to assist in growth and development of women, as well as outline strengths that will encourage the building blocks to success. She has always aimed to ensure her professionalism is of high priority to allow her gender not to be the default of all opinions. She also believes in making yourself indispensable by pushing limitations, challenging the theoretical need of the workplace and being the best version of yourself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Sylvestre Alassi, Togo
Sylvestre is the Director of General Services at the Togo Commonwealth Games Association. She has been the head of mission for the Togolese Teams since 2021. She is the youngest ever elected president of a Togolese federation (Archery), and the youngest Togolese local Councilor since 2019. In her municipality, as in the world of sport, she is the example that proves that being a young woman is not a limitation to progress. Previously she was a member of the Togolese Athletes Commission. She believes that rigor, solidarity, respect and humility are the values that set her apart.
Mentor: Fisiwe Vilane, Eswatini
Fisiwe comes from a small country in Southern Africa, where few platforms are available for women to sit at the decision-making tables and have their voices heard, hence her desire to change that picture into the future. She believes having more young leaders would help advocate, influence and promote gender inclusive policies in sports. She has worked in sports sponsorship and sports events management for a beverages company, then for a mobile network operator, since 2004. She is a passionate sports person who has played women's soccer and did social running since she was young. She started playing golf in 2014, as a means to cope with grief, and fell in love with the sport. She then infused her experience in marketing and communications to volunteer during golf events and help with event planning and PR.
In 2019 she was elected to serve in the management committee of the largest and busiest golf club in Eswatini, Mbabane. Her role was mainly focused on fundraising and maintaining a positive brand image of the club. In 2021 she took over as Club Captain and served in the position for two terms. She now remains on the committee as an ordinary member, supporting new and young leadership. She was also appointed by the office of the Ministry of Sports to chair the Women In Sports leadership in Eswatini. In this position she has been involved in hosting Women in Sports events and gender equity forums. She has also facilitated the Women Leadership Programme training for young girls in her country.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: DeAjah Smith, Turks and Caicos
"DeAjah Smith is a 23-year-old from Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. She proudly represented her country as the flag bearer at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games and was selected as a Queen’s Baton Bearer in 2018 due to her dedication and persistence in sports from a young age. DeAjah is a track athlete, coach, and program coordinator for TCI Women in Sports, a non-profit organization committed to empowering women and girls through sports and promoting healthy living while addressing the gender gap in sports. Currently, she is in her final year pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Exercise Science. Upon completion she aims to fully devote her time to the advancement of sports development in her country with her expertise and future career in Sports Performance Development."
Mentor: Claire Ewing, England
Claire has vast experience in sport having volunteered with Team Wales HQ Team at the Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with a career highlight in coordinating the Queen’s Baton Relay around Wales in 2014. She has worked in a variety of leadership roles across the sports industry, within public and private sectors over the last 20 years. She has collected a diverse range of experiences which she now uses in her role as a Senior Performance Lifestyle Coach working for UK Sports Institute with Aquatics GB (Olympic Swimming). In conjunction with this role, she is also the founder of Pause Play Perform, a personal development & performance lifestyle consultancy. She has also been leading a mentor training programme for the Football Association of Wales (FAW) for the last two years. Claire is passionate about enabling others to achieve their goals by unlocking their brilliance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mentee: Sarah Jones, Wales
Sarah Jones is a Wales and Great Britain hockey player. A double Olympian from the Paris and Tokyo Olympic Games and having been to three Commonwealth Games, she has an Olympic bronze medal and 188 combined caps for her country. Sarah is passionate about creating a positive impact in Welsh and British sport, which has seen her advise boards including Team Wales, Hockey Wales and Weightlifting Wales. Previously she was the Facilities Project Co-ordinator for the Lawn Tennis Association. She has exceptional drive, self-discipline and a winning mentality which have been developed in high pressure, high achieving environments.
Mentor: Dr Andrea Barrett, Jamaica
Dr. Andrea Barrett is a distinguished Associate Professor at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech). She specializes in innovation technology and development, with over 35 years of professional experience. Her expertise spans technology development and management, project management, and promoting international development through innovation within developing countries. She is an international mentor in the Commonwealth Sport Women Leadership programme since 2023. Her research interests include innovation management and public policy to promote e-governance within emerging and developing economies. She has published extensively and is a frequent speaker at international conferences on science, technology, and innovation. She is passionate about women empowerment and leadership.
