Governor-General hosts Women in Sport & Business Leadership Celebration ahead of AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency Sam Mostyn, today hosted a Women in Sport & Business Leadership Celebration at Admiralty House marking one month to go until the kick-off of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ and recognising the tournament as a defining moment for women’s sport in Australia and across Asia.
The high-level gathering convened senior government leaders and C-suite women from across sport and business, uniting influential voices in a moment of shared leadership to celebrate the women shaping the future of sport and acknowledge the collective responsibility to continue driving progress, on and off the field.
Joining the Governor-General were Sarah Walsh, Chief Operating Officer of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Local Organising Committee, Heather Garriock, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia, alongside an impressive cohort of senior women leaders from across the sporting, corporate and public sectors.
The celebration also featured the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Trophy, appearing on the second leg of its Trophy Road Trip, arriving from Scarborough Beach in Western Australia, where the tour was launched. The trophy served as a powerful symbol of excellence, aspiration and achievement, reinforcing the tournament’s position as the pinnacle of women’s football in Asia. The trophy will travel to iconic locations across the country, heading north to Queensland, then back to New South Wales before returning to Western Australia ahead of the spectacular Opening Ceremony featuring Audrey Nuna, KPop Demon Hunters star, and blockbuster opening match between the Matildas and the Philippines on 1 March at Perth Stadium.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ will bring together Asia’s 12 best teams, with matches hosted in Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast from 1-21 March.
