Paving the path for future leaders in sport

“As the child of Welsh immigrants to Canada, I had always sensed from my parents that these Games were special; that there was an opportunity for nations like Wales to compete under their own flag,” she recalls. “My parents loved to watch the Games, so I grew up watching them, competed in Manchester and then wanted to remain involved.”

Claire’s commitment to staying engaged with Commonwealth Sport extended beyond competition. “It was as much about social change through sport as it was about high-performance sport, and it was those two things that kept me hooked,” she says.

Driven by a passion for both aspects, she began pursuing leadership opportunities and credits strong female role models for easing her transition.

“I have been inspired by so many leaders in Canadian sports, starting in my own backyard. I have a very strong mother who always believed that women and men can aspire to be whatever they want. I also grew up in a sport that is led by strong women, female coaches, presidents, and here in Canada, we had the first-ever female President of a Commonwealth Games Association.”

Despite these strong female influences, Claire faced her share of challenges in her leadership journey. “There are many barriers that women face in leadership,” she acknowledges. “When I did show up at board tables, I was often one of only two women in the room. It was sometimes difficult to feel like you had the strength of voice, but building alliances with other board members and helping them see the value I brought to the discussion was really important.”

Claire is now committed to amplifying athlete voices. “As a leader, I want to promote the growth and strength of diverse voices around the table. That often means raising the volume of those who are underrepresented. When there are one or two other women in the room, I make it a point to ensure their voices are heard,” she explains.

Claire believes that leadership is shaped by experience and understanding. “Most leaders’ style evolves over time with maturity, experience, and knowledge. For me, the biggest thing is growth and confidence.” Claire also emphasises the importance of communication and valuing the expertise of others: “Effective and clear communication, is the number one skill required to be a good leader.  At the same time, surround yourself with people who have skills and knowledge in areas where you do not and listen to those people.”

For Claire, mentorship is essential in fostering new leaders. “I’m always looking for anyone - male or female - to mentor, in whatever area they’re interested in being mentored in,” she says.

She appreciates the role that the Commonwealth Sport Movement has played in advancing gender equality. “One of the ways Commonwealth Sport has been a leader is by ensuring there are equal numbers of sports and medal events for women and men at the Commonwealth Games, and that’s something I’d like to see continued into the future,” she says.

Looking ahead, Claire highlights the successful Commonwealth Women’s Leadership Programme as playing a crucial part in the development of future leaders. “It gives young women who aspire to be leaders the opportunity to meet, talk with, and learn from women who have walked in those leadership steps before them,” she explains. The programme's impact is already visible, with increased participation from women coaches. “Our hope is to see an increase in female representation not just in administrative roles, but at leadership tables on boards and committees. I’d like to see mandatory female representation on CGA boards explored and adopted more broadly. It’s worked in Canada, and I believe it can drive change worldwide.”

The Commonwealth Sport Movement is proud to have a trailblazer like Claire Carver-Dias leading the way. Her dedication to empowering future leaders and supporting athletes' voices ensures a stronger, more inclusive future for sport.