25 June 2026
Fahan School welcomed leaders from across Tasmania's sporting landscape this morning for the inaugural Fahan Business and Community Breakfast Series, bringing together members of the School Community, business leaders and supporters for a thought-provoking discussion on ‘The Future of Women's Sport in Tasmania’.
Moderated by Katelyn Davies, General Manager – Communications & Brand at the Tasmania JackJumpers, the panel featured James Avery, Chief Executive Officer of Stadiums Tasmania; Lauren Jauncey, General Manager – Strategy, People and Culture at Tasmania Football Club; Kayla Steindl, Assistant General Manager of the Tasmania Jewels; and Fahan Year 12 student and Australian representative sailor Sarah Reynolds.
Opening the event, Principal Meg Lawson said the breakfast marked the beginning of a new series designed to bring people together to explore ideas, leadership and the issues shaping Tasmania's future.
"At Fahan, we are deeply committed to preparing young women who are confident, capable and ready to contribute meaningfully to the world. Conversations like today's are an important part of that journey."
Throughout the discussion, panellists reflected on the remarkable momentum currently building around women's sport in Tasmania, while acknowledging there is still work to be done to ensure girls continue to see clear pathways from grassroots participation through to elite competition.
Lauren Jauncey spoke about the transformative impact of visible role models.
"It's hard to be what you can't see. Now our girls have the opportunity to see role models everywhere, and that's so powerful."
She also highlighted the growing participation of girls in football, noting that participation has increased significantly following the announcement of Tasmania's AFL and AFLW teams, demonstrating the influence that professional pathways can have on the next generation.
Kayla Steindl described Tasmania as being at an exciting point in its sporting journey.
"Women's sport in Tasmania is definitely rolling. There's good momentum at the moment... the visibility is there, and if we do it right, we'll keep moving in the right direction."
From an infrastructure perspective, James Avery explained that growing participation is creating welcome challenges, with increasing demand for facilities across both community and elite sport.
"We're seeing more and more women's sport come to our venues," he said, noting that one of Tasmania's biggest challenges is now ensuring there are enough facilities to support the rapid growth in participation.
Representing the next generation, Sarah Reynolds shared her perspective as a young athlete, encouraging girls to embrace new opportunities with confidence.
"Don't be scared to try new sports. Everyone you look up to had to start somewhere, so don't be scared to start there too."
A recurring theme throughout the morning was the importance of visibility, investment and community support in creating lasting change. Panellists spoke about the growing appetite from businesses to invest in women's sport, the importance of professional role models, and the responsibility shared by sporting organisations, schools and the broader community to continue building opportunities for girls.
The discussion concluded on an optimistic note, with panellists agreeing that while challenges remain, the future of women's sport in Tasmania is bright.
The Fahan Business and Community Breakfast Series will continue to bring together experts, industry leaders and members of the broader community to explore the ideas and conversations shaping the future for today's students.
