Global Thought Leader Session: From Movement to Medals, Building Pathways that Serve Everyone
| Thursday, July 2, 2026 |
| 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
| Goldfields Theatre |
Speaker
Rebecca Ahern
Executive Manager, Social Marketing & Communications
VicHealth
The Health Conversation for Participation
Biography
Stephanie Brantz
Event MC
Chair
Biography
Currently working in Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, Stephanie has over 25 years of experience as a major events presenter, sport producer, commentator and MC. She also has wide experience beyond the sporting domain, regularly facilitating conferences and moderating panels in the fields of education, technology advancement and corporate product rollouts.
Stephanie is immediate past Chair of DFAT’s Sports Diplomacy Advisory Council and Deputy Chair of the Football NSW board, while currently serving as a director on the Venues NSW, Volleyball NSW and Stadium Australia Club Boards. She is Deputy Chair of the Carbine Club of NSW and sits on the organising committee of the Primary Club of Australia and the Pacific Sports Diplomacy Network as well as the UNSW Sport Advisory Council.
Previously trained in Health Sciences, she owned a complementary medicine clinic for 8 years before beginning her media career at SBS followed by stints with Channel 9, Fox Sports and ABC TV. Stephanie is a contributor for ESPN, World Feed Host for Tennis Australia as well as a football producer for FIFA TV.
An Adjunct Fellow of the Griffith University Business School, she is also a Membership Ambassador for the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground, an Ambassador and student mentor for both the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and The Chappell Foundation.
Andy King
Chair
GM Active
Speaker
Biography
Andy King is Chair of GM Active and a member of the Greater Manchester Moving Partnership Board, roles he has held through the evolution of the GM Moving agenda. He also hosts the Conveners Podcast, exploring how physical activity can play a more central role in future public services through conversations with political leaders, NHS executives and sector experts.
A four-time CEO of public leisure trusts and former National Director at Serco Leisure, Andy brings deep operational insight shaped by senior leadership roles across the public, private and charitable sectors, including Virgin Active and Fitness First. He is a strong advocate for operational excellence as the foundation for effective health integration.
Andy has a proven track record in organisational turnaround and transformation, including leading change at Carlisle Leisure Limited and Your Trust, Rochdale, underpinned by workforce development and strong alignment with local authority priorities.
He is also a qualified Gallup Strengths Coach, working with senior leaders and emerging managers through coaching and mentoring.
Nathalie Nye
Director General
Sport Canada
Speaker
Biography
Nathalie Nye has served as the Director General (DG) of Sport Canada since October 2023.
As DG of Sport Canada, Nathalie provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Canadian federal government’s investments, programs and policies that support the Canadian sport system at the national level. In this role, she guides initiatives that promote participation and excellence in sport, ensure safe, inclusive, and accessible opportunities for all Canadians, and strengthen the country’s high performance sport development. Nathalie works closely with national level sport organizations, provincial and territorial partners, and key stakeholders to advance Canada’s sport policy objectives and foster a sport environment that reflects Canadian values of fairness, diversity, and integrity.
Nathalie brings her leadership experience from across the Government of Canada, with a career spanning senior roles in multiple departments. Before joining Sport Canada, Nathalie was DG of Major Projects at Transport Canada, where she oversaw complex rail infrastructure initiatives, including the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project. She also served as DG of Horizontal Integration at the Public Health Agency of Canada, contributing to the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout as part of the Vaccine Rollout Taskforce. Prior to that she was legal counsel with the Department of Justice for over a decade.
Cathy Wong
President
Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee
Speaker
Biography
Humanitarian scientist driven by volunteer values of social responsibility, professional care, excellence and integrity. Worked in the High Performance Sport of rugby. Founder Fiji Physiotherapy Association, FASANOC Medical Commission. 25 years as medical lead for Team Fiji & ONOC to Olympic, Commonwealth, Pacific Games and World Champs. 2016 Fiji CdM to win first Olympic gold medal. First Pacific Women on World Rugby Council, TAFISA Board. Over three decades of sports administration and sports governance work. Recipient of: Fiji Olympic Order, IOC Oceania Women in Sport, Officer of Fiji, ONOC President Merit Award.