An initiative to support women to develop their leadership competencies in sports will be held next June by the British organisations Anita White Foundation (AWF) and Females Achieving Brilliance (FAB).

The ‘Women’s Sport Leadership Academy 2014’ (WSLA) aims to increase the confidence and competence of women working in sports and be a starting point for forming an international network of women sport leaders.

The week-long programme consists of a series of elements developed to maximise learning, including guest speakers, workshops, personal development plans, networking support groups and physical activities. The WSLA will be held between 23-27 June at the University of Chichester, England.

The facilitators of the initiative include the founder and former Chair of Women’s Sports Foundation, Dr Anite Whie OBE, the co-founders of FAB, Pauline Harrison and Lucy Faulkner, Lombe Mwambwa, Board Chair of the Sport for Social Change in Southern Africa, and the Chair of the AWF, Dr Elizabeth Pike.

The initiative seeks applications of women who: have recently been appointed to senior manager positions; have key areas of responsibility in their organisations; are identified as future leaders by their organisations; and demonstrate continuous professional development.

The closing date to apply for the programme is on 31 January (next Friday). Overall the event will bring together 20 women leaders from UK and 20 from other parts of the world.

The initiative follows the example of two European collectives of Sport et Citoyenneté and Scottish Women in Sport founded to raise the profile of women in sport.

To find out more about the registration process and its costs, please visit or download the information pack here.