WSA announce agenda for Sustainability in Sport Conference
The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) can confirm the agenda for the Sustainability in Sport Conference, hosted in conjunction with the Federation of Irish Sport.
Supported by the Welsh Government’s Agile Cymru initiative, the event will take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, selected for its impeccable location for public transport. Situated a stone’s throw from Cardiff Central Station and along various bus routes, the WSA urges attendees to travel to the event sustainably!
The Sustainability in Sport Conference will aim to unite sport and leisure to tackle a key issue and progress as a sustainable sector. Throughout the day, attendees will hear from members of the WSA and the Federation of Irish Sport, as well as the LTA and strategic partners Community Leisure UK, who will all share best practice around the issue.
The day will be kicked off by a panel consisting of Football Association of Wales CEO Noel Mooney, talking about Cymru, Wellbeing and the World, Swim Wales CEO Fergus Feeney, elaborating on sustainability within the aquatic sector and his organisation’s strategic objective ‘Aquazero’, and Cardiff Dragons CEO Vicki Sutton, who will chat about a sustainable future within Welsh netball.
We will then hear from Gary Stewart, CEO of Volleyball Ireland, and Patrick Haslett, Founder of Impact 3 Zero, on sustainability-driven partnerships, before the LTA’s Jack Baker talks about the organisation’s Environmental Sustainability Plan, David Gilroy chats about Project Long Game, and Míde Ní Shúilleabháin and Padraig Fallon discuss sustainability within Federation of Irish Sport member organisation the GAA.
Jennifer Huygen, Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Community Leisure UK, will then take to the stage to talk about the organisation’s Carbon Literacy Project, before we hear from all three nominees from the WSA Sports Industry Awards 2023 Best Sustainability Initiative award category.
CEO of Newport Live Steve Ward will provide the ‘Operator’s View’ in discussing his organisation’s outstanding infrastructure investment work, promoting sustainable energy across the organisation’s energy-intensive portfolio, to drive down running costs as well as fight climate change. Alistair Dickson, CEO of Canoe Wales will talk about the Big Paddle Clean of 2022-23 and his sport’s impact in keeping waterways clean. And Wales Golf will be represented by the organisation’s Sustainability Lead Dilwyn Griffiths, who will explore their Playing Our Part project which led them to winning Best Sustainability Initiative in June.
Among the fascinating panel discussions, we will have coffee breaks either side of a lunch break. Lauren Jenkins will be hosting the conference, with Ria Burrage-Male and WSA CEO Andrew Howard also moderating panel discussions.
Andrew commented:
“With the agenda set and all speakers announced, the WSA is thoroughly excited to be hosting the Sustainability in Sport Conference very soon.
“We are certain that the day will bring with it some incredibly valuable insights into the excellent work that our speakers’ organisations carry out regarding sustainability. The conference is a perfect platform for our members, and those of the Federation of Irish Sport, to promote and share best practice to allow the sector to develop and progress collaboratively.
“Welsh Government has ambitious plans to achieve net zero and a greener, stronger, fairer Wales and the sport and leisure sector has a significant role to play in achieving this. Sustainability is a key issue for our sector, and one that reaches far beyond the UK and Ireland. Immediate action is imperative, which is why the Sustainability in Sport Conference is such a crucial event.”
Agile Cymru aims to deliver cross-border and international economic co-operation across shared interests. It includes flexible grant schemes to support co-operation activity across themes and sectors and the WSA successfully applied for a small grant to deliver this conference for the sector.
Don’t forget to use #WSASiSC to shout about the event on socials!
