The 5-week Women’s Leadership Programme was completed on Sunday 21st of May with a final in person workshop at the Sports Campus in Dublin with 12 club representatives in attendance.

Women from the following clubs who were successfully chosen via application process took part in the Women’s Leadership Programme which was worth almost 1,000 euro per participant. This was funded by the Women in Sport Fund, which has a strategic aim to empower and support women in leadership in rowing in Ireland.

The programme which was led by Sarah O’Shea and Lisa Clancy who are both leadership and governance experts in the sector, and they led participants through a series of modules outlined below as well as some incredible guest speaker sessions.

On Sunday at the final session, participants presented to the group and to Neville Maxwell, Rowing Ireland President and Michelle Carpenter, CEO. It was a pleasure to hear all the good learnings and goals from these leaders who are determined to grow and develop in their roles as dedicated volunteers in the sport. They are a credit to their clubs, who are listed below. Well done to all participants.

Tania LawlorTralee Rowing Club
Rebecca BurkeBelfast Boat Club and Strangford Coastal Rowing Club
Jo AungiersRowing Ireland
Lisa KellyPortmagee Rowing Club
Eimear McCormackDublin City Coastal Rowing Club
Ailish HackettSligo Rowing Club
Johanna WalshBelfast Boat Club
Kate HealyUniversity of Limerick Rowing Club
Kayleigh HusseyPortmagee Rowing Club
Lucy HanrahanRowing Ireland
Eva BrehenyUniversity College Dublin Boat Club
Lauren O BrienUniversity of Limerick Rowing Club
Alicia O NeillDublin University Ladies Boat Club

Are you interested in participating in a course like this? You can read the module outline below and also fill in an expression of interest form. This will allow us to know when there is suitable interest in rolling out the next course. Any queries can be sent to womeninsport@rowingireland.ie

The Women in Sport Leadership course, run by Lisa Clancy and Sarah O’Shea, has seen over 270 women take part since its commencement in 2020 and many of the course graduates have gone on to chair committees, get jobs in sport, be elected to board positions, be elected to European sport committees and a range of other local and national successes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for females working in leadership roles or those aspiring to be a leader within their Rowing Ireland club and regions e.g. committee members, umpires, coaches etc.

Course Content

The course modules include the following core topics:

·  Leadership and Values

·  Networking and Collaboration

·  Challenge and Resilience

·  Crisis Management 

·  Communications and Developing Your Personal Brand

·  Influencing and Change 

·  Governance

Participants will also receive a one-on-one coaching session and guidance in producing their own Personal Development Plan.

Modules will also include inputs from 4 guest speakers relating their own personal leadership experiences.