The 2023 BHP Women’s Coaching Academy commenced today, with eight women selected to participate in the 12-month program.

The 2023 BHP Women’s Coaching Academy participants are:

  • Kirby Bentley – Essendon AFLW Assistant Coach
  • Lexia Edwards – SANFLW Head Coach, Glenelg Football Club
  • Tanya Hetherington – AFL National Talent Development Coach
  • Leah Kasler – Adelaide Crows AFLW Development Coach
  • Liz Quinn – Program Director and Head Coach of ADF Women’s Football; Culture and Leadership Coach at Richmond AFLW
  • Shae Sloane – Melbourne AFLW Development Coach
  • Steph Walding – WAFLW Head Coach, East Fremantle Football Club
  • Lou Wotton – Hawthorn AFLW Assistant Coach

Now in its fifth year, the BHP Women’s Coaching Academy sees participants take part in a 12-month program to expedite their development as coaches.

All participants will complete the National AFL Level 3 Coaching Accreditation Course.

00:48

Bonnie T & Maddy P | Kirby's painting passion

Kirby Bentley talks through her passion after painting every player's boots for our Dreamtime clash this weekend. Listen to the Bonnie T & Maddy P podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Coaches attend mental fitness and leadership workshops which are delivered by psychologist, Anna Box.

They also attend leadership development sessions to better understand their leadership style and more effectively communicate.

AFL General Manager Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone congratulated the eight coaches on their appointment in the BHP Women’s Coaching Academy.

“Well done to all eight coaches on being selected in the BHP Women’s Coaching Academy – I look forward to seeing you develop as the future faces of coaches in women’s football,” Livingstone said.

“We are committed to the AFL’s Women’s Football Vision 2030 target of 50 percent of AFLW senior coaching positions held by women by 2030. Programs such as this, and the support of partners like BHP helps to progress our Vision.”

28 women coaches have undertaken the Women’s Coaching Academy since the program’s inception in 2018.

Senior coaches Lauren Arnell (Port Adelaide) and Natalie Wood (Essendon) are both graduates of the program.

Five graduates were among the nine recipients of the AFL’s Women’s Coach Acceleration Program (Alicia Eva, Chloe McMillan, Daisy Pearce, Chelsea Randall and Emma Zielke).

BHP WOMEN’S COACHING ACADEMY GRADUATES

  • Aasta O'Connor
  • Chloe McMillan
  • Dale Robinson
  • Emma Sampson
  • Jacara Egan
  • Krissie Steen
  • Lisa Roper
  • Natalie Wood
  • Pia Faletti
  • Shannon Millar
  • Alicia Eva
  • Courtney Cramey
  • Elise Coventry
  • Emma Zielke
  • Jane Lange
  • Lauren Arnell
  • Melissa Hickey
  • Natasha Hardy
  • Sam Virgo
  • Chelsea Randall
  • Daisy Pearce
  • Emma Grant
  • Heidi Thompson
  • Katherine Smith
  • Lauren Morecroft
  • Narelle Smith
  • Nikki Harwood
  • Shannon McFerran

The BHP Women’s Coaching Academy is one of several initiatives and key appointments designed to accelerate the careers of women across the AFL industry in governance, administration, coaching, and umpiring as part of the AFL’s Women’s Football Vision 2030.

These include:

  • The AFL’s Women in Football Talent Program is a six-month program designed to accelerate women’s progression into leadership roles within club football departments. Five women in across the AFL and clubs were provided opportunities to develop their capabilities in the areas such as recruiting, list management, TPP and soft cap management, governance and integrity, training and match day operations, and media.
  • The AFL’s Women’s Coaching Acceleration Program co-funds nine full-time positions for women coaches at AFL clubs, along with soft-cap exemptions. The program involves a formal mentorship with a senior men’s AFL coach and a Level 3 AFL Coaching Accreditation over a two-year period.
  • The She Can Coach Program presented by BHP was established to increase the number of women in coaching, improve the capacity of these coaches, increase the visibility of coaching role models for women, and develop a network of women in coaching across all levels of the game.
  • GenW Executive Leadership Program is a bespoke executive leadership program for eight senior women working in the AFL industry. Participants include trailblazers Trisha Squires, Elisa Koch, Debbie Lee, Laura Kane, Natalie Fagg, Kerrie Brewer, Kasey Passmore and Sarah Albon.
  • The AFL has committed $5 million in new investment to fund phase one of the Women and Girls Action Plan for the next three years, designed to drive participation and representation for women and girls across all aspects of community football nationally, from playing to coaching, umpiring and administering.
  • In 2022, the AFL appointed Lisa Lawry, GenW Alumni, as General Manager of Umpiring, to drive the progression of umpiring nationally and drive greater diversity across all levels.