The Lifecycle of the Female Athlete
This year’s program centres on a comprehensive exploration of the female athlete’s lifecycle. From the formative stages of adolescence—including puberty and physical development—through the peak of elite performance, the journey continues into key life phases such as pregnancy, postpartum recovery, parenting, and fertility. The theme culminates with retirement and the transition to life beyond competitive sport. Through expert-led sessions and evidence-based insights, WISC 2026 will illuminate the unique challenges, milestones, and opportunities that shape the female athletic experience across every stage of life.
Please note: The interactive program is currently being updated to reflect the final schedule. Workshops are being finalised and will be added shortly. For the main program, please view the PDF below.
Sunday 8 March 2026
International Women's Day
| Time | Item | Speaker / Details |
|---|---|---|
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 | ||
| 16:30-17:25 | Registration | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Pick up your congress lanyard, and if you are attending the Gala Dinner secure a seat on a table. |
| 17:25 | Session Commencement Bell | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Please make your way to the Sun Deck, Level 4 |
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WISC 2026 Welcome Function Sponsored by  W Brisbane Hotel | Sun Deck, Level 4 |
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| 17:30-18:00 | Welcome to Country | Tribal Experiences |
| Welcome Address | Matti Clements | AIS Director, Australian Sports Commission Dr Rachel Harris & Professor Clare Minahan | Co-Chairs, WISC2026 | |
| 18:00-18:30 | Cultural Dance Performance |
Sand & Sea Dance Troupe
Far North Footprints
Sand & Sea is a contemporary dance group that celebrates First Nations culture, drawing inspiration from the stunning land and waters of our Tropical North Queensland and the dancers' own families. The troupe is led by Indigenous dancers of all ages who collaborate and perform as one under the guidance of their dance teacher, Caitlin Sands. |
| 18:30-19:30 | Connect & Refuel |
Networking
Complementary food and refreshments provided |
Monday 9 March 2026
| Time | Session | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane River – TBA | ||
| 06:00-07:00 | ‘Burke & Hills’ Run/Walk | Professor Louise Burke | Australian Catholic University Come fasted or fed for a 5-km walk, jog, run, or skip along the Brisbane River led by Australian Marathon record holder and world-leading Sports Dietitian Professor Louise Burke. |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 | ||
| 07:00-08:15 | Registration | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Pick up your congress lanyard, and if you are attending the Gala Dinner secure a seat on a table. |
| 08:15 | Session Commencement Bell | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Please make your way to the Great Room | Level 3 |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 | ||
| 08:20-08:30 | Opening Remarks | Dr Rachel Harris & Professor Clare Minahan | Co-Chairs, WISC2026 |
| Showcase Series: Chair – Miranda Menaspa, Head of Performance Services, Cricket Australia W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 |
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| 08:30-09:15 | Evidence Gap Map |
Professor Sophia Nimphius | PVC Sport, Edith Cowan University
Introducing the Evidence Gap Map in women’s sport research
Dr Anjana Rajendra | Edith Cowan University Mapping and appraising evidence in women’s sport research: Strength & power training Dr Nicole Hallett | University of Technology Sydney Mapping and appraising evidence in women’s sport research: Psychological & mental health |
| 09:15-10:00 | Leaders Panel |
Ms Ali France MP | Member for Dickson, Parliament of Australia
CEOs in the hot seat. You can’t ask that!
Panelists Kim Crane | Chief Executive Officer, Paddle Australia Marne Fechner | Chief Executive Officer, AusCycling Sarah Cook | Chief Executive Officer, Rowing Australia |
|
Award Presentations | Chair – Professor Clare Minahan Sponsored by W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 |
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| 10:00-11:30 | Oral Presentations (7 min + 7 min interview) |
Garrett Gross | Griffith University An athlete-centered approach: empowering adolescent female athletes Dr Alannah McKay | Australian Catholic University Eighteen days of energy availability assessment during an altitude training camp in elite female rowers Dr Sean Hardy | Sydney Swans Power hitting in elite female cricketers: developing applied methods to improve performance Emily Sullivan | Griffith University Exploring iron variability in elite indigenous and non-indigenous female rugby league athletes Victoria Kahn | Australian Athletics Supporting elite Australian track and field athletes within the peri-natal space Natalia Galan-Lopez | United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sport science and medicine research in high-performing female athletes: An updated scoping review |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 | ||
| 11:30-11:50 | Connect & Refuel |
Morning Tea
Complementary food and refreshments provided |
| 11:50 | Session Commencement Bell | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Please make your way to the Great Room | Level 3 |
| Adolescence Theme | Chair – Associate Professor Emma Beckman, Para Sport High Performance Manager, Queensland Academy of Sport W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 |
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| 11:55-12:25 | Spotlight Speaker (20 min + 10 min Q&A) |
Dr Karlee Quinn | Talent Advisor, Queensland Academy of Sport Balancing dreams: Youth, pressure, and performance in women’s sport |
| 12:25-12:40 | Focused-Flash Oral (7 min) |
Professor Tiffany Stewart | Pennington Biomedical Research Center / LSU Institute for the Health & Performance of Champions Identifying modifiable factors of psychological resilience in high-performance populations… A/Prof Michelle Smith | The University of Queensland Adolescent girls’ perspectives and experiences on sport participation |
| 12:40-13:00 | Flash Oral (3 min, 1 slide) |
Andrea Roffler | Goethe-University Frankfurt Female hormonal cycle symptoms, strength, and micronutrient status in elite adolescent athletes Anna O’Loughlin | Rehab and PhysioFirst Physiotherapy Sport-related concussion in adolescent female athletes: case vignettes from a physiotherapy clinic… Dr Graham Turner | Australian Institute of Sport AIS elite youth athlete (EYA) guidelines Jackson Silvester-Lee | Rivs Athlete Performance Centre Confidence in motion: rebuilding the inner game for teenage girls in sport Dr Lauren Burt | University of Calgary Safe to use? Hormonal contraception and bone health in elite female Canadian athletes Dr Stella Veith | Football Australia The youth female football greenhouse: an example from the junior Matildas |
| 13:00-13:30 | Athlete Panel (Interview) |
Dr Alex Roberts | Head of Talent, Queensland Academy of Sport
The Early Edge: Young Athletes on Success, Pressure & Possibility Sponsored by  Panelists Grace Kuilamu | Athlete, Football Holly Warn | Para athlete, Para Swimming Ruby Pass | Athlete, Gymnastics |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 | ||
| 13:30-14:25 | Connect & Refuel |
Lunch
Complementary food and refreshments provided |
| 14:25 | Session Commencement Bell | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Please make your way to the Great Room | Level 3 |
|
Elite Theme | Chair – Professor Clare Minahan Sponsored by 
W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 |
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| 14:30-15:00 | Spotlight Speaker (20 min + 10 min Q&A) |
Professor David Martin | Research and Innovation | Performance Partnerships, Queensland Academy of Sport | University of Queensland Next-Level Performance: Women, Sport, & the Power of Innovation |
| 15:00-15:15 | Focused-Flash Oral (7 min) |
Professor Louise Burke | Australian Catholic University Novel dietary intake measurement in elite female rowers during altitude training… Dr Jolandi Jacobs | QLD Cricket Applied sports science and medicine for female cricket players: Systematic scoping review |
| 15:15-15:45 | Flash Oral (3 min, 1 slide) |
Dr Xanne Janse de Jonge | Griffith University Testosterone concentrations in endurance-trained and resistance-trained athletes… Maria Luz Poblete Baldrich | Women Performance - Chile Training quality across menstrual cycle phases in well-trained female triathletes… Dr Kylie Steel | Western Sydney University Exploring the influence of hormone fluctuations on perceptual-cognitive and motor skills Annabelle McLaren | Griffith University Profiling performance potential in female sprint kayakers: the role of inheritable traits Velvet Klass | Military University of Land Forces Balancing faith, culture, and performance: understanding the role of religion and cultural… Dr Maire-Theres Fleddermann | Goethe - University Frankfurt Genetic factors and menstrual cycle-related symptoms in elite athletes: results from the in:prove project Elisha Hurley | Griffith University Risk-taking in elite female combat athletes |
| 15:45-16:45 | Keynote |
WGCDR Sally Knox | Commanding Officer 6 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force
FLTLT Stephanie Geaney | Electronic Warfare Officers EA-18G Growler Royal Australian Air Force
PLTOFF Macey Zielke | Electronic Warfare Officers EA-18G Growler Royal Australian Air Force
Authority, awe, and leadership: Introducing Australia’s Female Fighter Pilots |
| Poster Presentations & Networking Sponsored by  W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 |
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| 16:45-17:00 | AFLW Presentation | Dr Laura Lallence | AFLW Medical Director Suzie Cosh | Mental Health & Wellbeing Research Lead, AFLW/AFL Building the System: Implementing Healthcare Practice & Policy in AFLW |
| 17:00-18:30 | Connect & Refuel |
Poster Exhibition
Complementary food and refreshments provided |
Tuesday 10 March 2026
| Time | Item | Speaker / Details |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Wandoo St Fortitude Valley QLD | ||
| 07:00-08:00 | Connect & Refuel | Bared Breakfast | Bared Footwear | 7 Wandoo St Fortitude Valley QLD Come and enjoy complimentary coffee and breakfast while you browse the latest new season styles of Bared’s Women’s & Men’s shoe range. |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 | ||
| 07:30-08:15 | Registration | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Pick up your congress lanyard, and if you are attending the Gala Dinner secure a seat on a table. |
| 08:15 | Session Commencement Bell | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Please make your way to the Great Room | Level 3 |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 | ||
| 08:20-08:30 | Opening Remarks | Dr Rachel Harris & Professor Clare Minahan | Co-Chairs, WISC2026 |
| Showcase Series | Chair – Dr Rachel Harris, Co-Chair WISC2026 W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 |
||
| 08:30-09:15 | FAIR Consensus and Scoping Review Symposium |
Professor Kay Crossley & Emily Heming | La Trobe University
Female, Woman, and/or Girl Athlete Injury prevention (FAIR) Practical Recommendations: IOC Consensus
Dr Brooke Patterson | La Trobe University Dissemination and implementation of injury prevention interventions. A scoping review for the FAIR… Melissa Haberfield | La Trobe University Gender/sex-specific considerations for sport-related injury: FAIR consensus Dr Siobhan Brodrick | North Melbourne FC Female athlete health - injury epidemiology spanning 41 sports: a scoping review of 288 studies |
| Showcase Series | Chair – Dr Kathryn Ackerman, Founder and Director, Women’s Health, Sports, & Performance Institute W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 |
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| 09:15-10:00 | REDs, LEA, and Body Image Symposium |
Nikki Jeacocke | Australian Institute of Sport
Recognising and taking action on negative body image and ED/DE*: education for female HP athletes
Dr Rachel Bradbury | NSW Institute of Sport Evaluation, treatment and oestradiol replacement in a female diver with delayed menarche and stress… Dr Melissa Lodge | University of Rhode Island Revisiting REDs screening: updated insights on the LEAF-Q and and EDE-Q in collegiate female athletes Nicole Wesley | Pennington Biomedical Research Center Preventing the slippery slope: development and deployment of an eating disorder taskforce in an NCAA division I athletic department Dr Delaney Thibodeau | University of Toronto Body image, injury likelihood, and sport performance among a gender diverse sample of elite athletes |
| Showcase Series | Chair – Dr Rachel Harris W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3 |
||
| 10:00-10:45 | Cultural Insights Panel (Interview, Q&A) |
Melody Cooper | Regional Development Manager, Commonwealth Games Federation | Pacific
Understanding culture. Enhancing cultural intelligence. Strengthening performance
Panelists Libby Cooke-Black | Founder, The Female Collection | Indigenous Australia Maria Luz Poblete Baldrick | CEO Founder, Women’s Performance | Latin America Dr Cherianne Taim | Sport Physiologist, High Performance Sport Institute | Singapore |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 | ||
| 10:45-11:10 | Connect & Refuel |
Morning Tea
Complementary food and refreshments provided |
| 11:10 | Session Commencement Bell | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Please make your way to the Great Room | Level 3 |
|
Pre-Conception, Pregnancy, Post-Partum Theme | Chair – Professor Ebonie Rio, La Trobe University Sponsored by 
W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3
|
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| 11:15-11:45 | Spotlight Speaker (20 min + 10 min Q&A) |
Professor Margie Davenport | Exercise Physiologist, Director of the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health | University of Alberta Guiding the Future: Creating Pregnancy and Postpartum Protocols for Women in Elite Sport |
| 11:45-12:00 | Focused-Flash Oral (7 min) |
Dr Jodie Dakic | Monash University / Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)
Pelvic health screening in female athletes: a scoping review
Samantha Walsh | Australian Catholic University The POSTFIT study: reliability and construct validation of a testing battery for postpartum exercise… |
| 12:00-12:20 | Flash Oral (3 min, 1 slide) |
Paris Jones | University of Alberta
Watt to expect when you’re expecting: a case study of an elite cyclist’s pregnancy
Mackenzie Farris | University of Alberta Exercise and egg retrieval: an online survey of recreational and elite athlete experiences Siobhan Shirlaw | Queensland Rugby League Integrating postpartum return to play guidelines in contact sport: a practice-based framework… Dr Aoife Lane | Technological University of the Shannon From the pitch to the sideline: women’s gendered experiences in Gaelic Games Esther Goldsmith | Sport Wales Beyond knowledge: evaluating the impact of menstrual cycle education in female team sports Jacinta Carroll | QSMC Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Health World Cup winner 100 days postpartum; how research helped and hindered an elite athlete |
| 12:20-12:50 | Pregnancy Panel (Interview, Q&A) |
Prof Ebonie Rio | La Trobe University
Reproductive Realities: Supporting Elite Athletes Through Every Stage of Parenthood
Panelists Dr Tiarna Ernst | Gynecologist and Fertility Specialist, City Fertility Dr Bonnie McRae | Sports and Exercise Physician, CMO Wheelchair Rugby A/Prof Melanie Hayman | Associate Professor, CQ University Kelsey Lee Barber | Olympic Medalist | Australian Athletics Mike Barber | HP Coach | Australian Athletics |
| W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room Foyer | Level 3 | ||
| 13:00-13:55 | Connect & Refuel |
Lunch
Complementary food and refreshments provided |
| 13:55 | Session Commencement Bell | WISC Staff | Australian Sports Commission Please make your way to the Great Room | Level 3 |
| 14:00-14:30 | Keynote |
Katherine Bennell Pegg | Director of Space Technology, Australian Space Agency
Elite Women, Extraordinary Environments: Parallels Between Astronaut and Athlete Preparation |
|
New Goal, New Game | Chair – Professor Shona Halson, SPRINT Research Centre, ACU Sponsored by 
W Brisbane Hotel | Great Room | Level 3
|
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| 14:30-15:00 | Spotlight Speaker | Chloe Hosking | Olympic Cyclist, Founder of Hosking Bikes Beyond the Podium: Mental, Emotional & Career Journeys After Sport |
| 15:00-15:30 | Industry Panel (7 min presentations, 9 min Q&A) |
Equity by Design: Creating Products and Spaces That Support Female Athletes Facilitator Professor Shona Halson | SPRINT Research Centre, ACU Panelists Taryn McQueen | Principal Architect, Populous Professor Sarah Kelly | Executive Director Office of the Provost Queensland University of Technology Dr Joanna Parsonage | Performance Service Lead, Nike Sports Research Lab |
| 15:30-16:00 | Myth Busting Fireside Chat (+ Audience Q&A) Sponsored by 
|
Professor Clare Minahan | FPHI Research Lead Griffith University
Proof not posts: What does the data say?
Panelists Professor Jacqueline Alderson | Director of Tech and Human Performance, UCLA Distinguished Professor Stuart Phillips | Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health, McMaster University Dr Tony Boutagy | Strength Coach and Exercise Physiologist, Boutagy Fitness Institute |
|
WISC 2026 Gala Dinner & Awards Night Sponsored by 
Howard Smith Wharves 5 Boundary Street Brisbane
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| 18:30-19:00 | Connect & Refuel | Drinks on Arrival – Rivershed Deck |
| 19:00-19:20 | Welcome | Dr Rachel Harris & Professor Clare Minahan | Co-Chairs, WISC2026 |
| Connect & Refuel | Entrée | |
| 19:40-20:00 | Suncorp Presentation | Dr Rachel Harris - Suncorp Rep TBA |
| Connect & Refuel | Dinner | |
| 20:30-21:00 | Award Presentations | Professor Clare Minahan |
| 21:00-21:15 | Closing Remarks | Dr Rachel Harris | Co-Chair, WISC2026 |
| Connect & Refuel | Dessert canapés & Networking | |
| 22:00 | Event Concludes | |
Wednesday 11 March 2026
| Time | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
|
WISC 2026 Workshops Sponsored by Queensland Academy of Sport 468 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Queensland Academy of Sport |
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| 9.00-10:30 |
Female Performance Health Coach Education (Invite only) QAS - Room TBD |
Nikki Jeacocke – AIS Disordered Eating Lead
Dr Rachel Harris – FPHI Project Lead
A/Prof Emma Beckman – Para Sport High Performance Manager QAS & PA
Dr. Tiffany Stewart – Director, Behavior Technology Laboratory: Health, Performance & Resilience
Topics to be discussed
|
| 9.00-10:30 |
Female Performance Health Athlete Education (invite only) QAS – Room TBD |
Prof Shona Halson – Deputy Director of the SPRINT Research Centre ACU
A/Prof Mel Hayman – Health Science | School of Health, Medical & Applied Sciences
Dr Margie Davenport – Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta | Director of the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health
Dr Tiarna Ernst – Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist
Dr Alannah McKay – Senior Lecturer – Mary MacKillop Institute of Health Research Exercise and Nutrition Research Program ACU Topics to be discussed
|
| 09:00-10:30 |
WISC 2026 – Female Performance Health-Research Fundamentals (Ticketed) Podcast Chat |
Research Translation Podcast Prof Clare Minahan – FPHI Research Lead A/Prof Helen Brown – IPAN, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University; Senior Research Fellow, Australian Sports Commission. Dr Louise Burke – Professorial Fellow – Centre for Human Performance & Metabolism ACU Prof Kirsty Elliot Sale – Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology – Manchester Metropolitan University Dr Richard Burden – Lead UKSI Female Health & Performance HPSNZ Podcast Chat basics and quirks of researching female athletes from the experts. |
| 10-30 – 11:00 | Refreshment Break | |
| 11:00 – 12:30 |
WISC 2026 – Female Performance Health – Practitioner Education (Ticketed) QAS – Room TBD |
Prof Ebonie Rio – Sport and Exercise Medicine Physiotherapist, Assistant Physiotherapy Manager, Co-Chair Research Council VIS
Dr Rachel Harris – Sports & Medical Physician – FPHI Project Lead
Dr Kate Ackerman – Director – Women’s Health, Sports & Performance Institute
Dr Alannah McKay – Senior Lecturer – Mary MacKillop Institute of Health Research Exercise and Nutrition Research Program ACU Dr Jodie Dakic – Senior Lecturer, Co-Director: Department of Physiotherapy Monash University Female Performance Health – Train the Trainer - upskilling practitioners working with female athletes in the daily performance environment to confidently understand and apply female, specific health and performance.
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| 12:30-1:30pm | Networking Lunch | QAS Common area |