Join the online livestream (starts at 10:00 am, Wed 5 March)

Leading the charge for equality on and off the field

Join us in celebrating International Women’s Day with Lydia Williams, the first Aboriginal goalkeeper for the Matildas football team and 2x Olympian.

The Matildas are more than just a soccer team - they are pioneers who have elevated women’s sport to never-before-seen heights in Australia. As the first women’s national football team to realise equal pay with their male counterparts, they have achieved successes on and off the field that have driven female participation in sports, increased funding and recognition of women’s sports, and ignited cultural change in our sporting nation.

Lydia will share her trailblazing journey from growing up in Kalgoorlie, the historic Matilda’s strike for improved pay, and her leadership in advocating for women in sport.

The event will also feature a panel discussion with Professor Karen O’Connell, Dr Leila Khanjaninejad, Jane Fernandez and Amy Persson (moderator), who will discuss dismantling barriers in sports and the impact that sports can have in uniting people and progressing equality.

UTS International Women's Day will also be live-streamed, so you have the option to attend in-person or tune in online!

Keynote speaker

Lydia Williams is the first Aboriginal goalkeeper for Australia’s Matildas and a 2x Olympian. With 138 caps for Australia, she is a renowned Australian athlete. She has played international football at the highest level for the Western New York Flash, PSG, Arsenal, and Brighton & Hove Albion Women. She is currently playing for Melbourne Victory for the A-League Women's team. Twice named PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year, she has also been inducted into the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame.

Speakers

Dr Leila Khanjaninejad is a Lecturer in Creative Intelligence and Innovation in the UTS Transdisciplinary School. Her research focuses on gender equity and inclusion in male-dominated sectors, with a particular emphasis on the implications of organisational policies. Leila’s expertise lies in development studies and social sustainability. Over the past decade, she has conducted various research projects including the development of gender-responsive programs and studies on women in leadership and sports.

Professor Karen O’Connell, UTS Law, has over twenty years’ experience working on gender equality and sex discrimination issues in human rights practice and academia. Her research and law reform work focus on changing the way we think about, and regulate, sexual harassment and discrimination. She advises public and private organisations on workplace equality, and has won numerous awards, including the NSW Women Lawyers Association’s ‘Legal Academic of the Year’ in 2021.

Jane Fernandez is one of Australia’s leading Sports Administrators and is currently the Executive General Manager, Operations, Rugby World Cup Australia. Jane recently led the successful Bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 as Chief Operating Officer (Australia) and was instrumental in its success as the most transformative edition of the tournament ever. Jane is passionate about the power of major sports events to drive social change and is determined promote gender equality in women's sports and elevate Australia's presence on the global sporting stage.

Amy Persson (MC and moderator) is the interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice and Inclusion) at UTS. Amy is a public policy specialist who has worked across the private, public and not for profit sectors and was Head of Government Affairs and External Engagement at UTS. Previously, she held Senior Executive roles in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and also ran the Behavioural Insights Unit and Office of Social Impact.

Contact the host of UTS International Women's Day 2025