Keynote 8: The Next Generation of Participation

Tracks
Participation in Sport
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Details

Creating safe, welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable sporting environments to encourage participation through playing and non-playing roles.


Speaker

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Stephanie Brantz
Event MC

Chair

Biography

Currently Director, Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, Office of Olympic and Paralympic Games, 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, and is currently 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 commentator and 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.
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Cameron French
General Manager, Participation
Australian Sports Commision

PlayWell 2026 - Changing Outcomes to Encourage a More Active Australia

Biography

Cameron is the General Manager, Participation at the Australian Sports Commission, where he leads the strategic direction and investment approach to grow and strengthen participation in sport across Australia. With more than 20 years of experience spanning local, state and national levels of the sport system, Cameron has held a range of senior executive roles. His expertise includes organisational governance and reform, participation strategy and program delivery, commercial partnerships, facility planning and development, and workforce capability. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Cameron volunteers as a coach with local sporting clubs in the ACT, reflecting his belief that community sport is where impact truly begins. He is driven by a clear ambition - to build a sport system where every Australian feels welcome, valued and able to play their part.
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Andy King
Chair
GM Active

Think Different - Open up New Doors and Attract New Participants

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.
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