MANAGING SPORT
AN NSC26 STREAM

Managing Sport – Future-Proofing Sport: Next Generation Leadership and Strategic Direction

As Australia moves through a golden decade of sport towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the next generation of sport leaders face a pivotal opportunity – and responsibility – to redefine sport’s role in delivering societal, community, and health outcomes.

The Managing Sport stream at NSC 2026 will explore how sporting organisations, government agencies, commercial partners, and grassroots clubs can work together to unlock sport’s full transformative potential. With a focus on the next generation of governance models, cross-sector partnerships, and evidence-based innovation, this stream will examine strategies to grow participation, champion inclusion, and create sustainable, long-term community impact.

NSC26 will build on the sessions from the 2025 program.

Global Keynote Sessions

The Social Impact of Sport: Redefining Success Through Collaboration
Explore sport’s growing responsibility to deliver meaningful change across communities. Featuring:

Building Healthier Communities Through Sport and Movement
Discover how integrated models of sport, recreation, and physical activity are transforming cities.

Participation Strategy: How Global Sport Uses Data and Insight to Drive Inclusion

Core Sport Management Sessions

Alternative Funding Models in Sport

With rising operational demands and evolving community needs, diversifying funding is essential. This session explores philanthropic investment, impact funding, and new commercial partnerships:

The Future of Sponsorship: ROI Beyond Branding

Today’s partners expect more than logo placement. This session investigates how to create shared-value partnerships that drive commercial outcomes and community engagement:

PitchFEST: Innovative Strategies to Grow Participation

How do we activate non-traditional audiences and broaden community engagement in sport? This fast-paced session presents four bold solutions to this pressing challenge:

Stu Williams – The power of social media done right
Gamification – New ways to engage through interactive sport formats
Tam Harding – Tennis Australia's multi-dimensional engagement strategy
Defence x Sport – Connecting military and sporting communities

Whole-of-Sport Systems Thinking Workshop

Learn from leading international sport agencies how to create collaborative ecosystems that drive national participation, diversity, and integrity in sport:

Brisbane 2032 – Are We Ready to Maximise the Legacy?

In this final keynote, a powerhouse panel will examine Australia’s readiness to deliver Olympic legacy outcomes across sport, infrastructure, social inclusion, and youth development:

This stream is essential for sport administrators, policymakers, national and state sporting organisations, community leaders, and partners looking to shape the future of sport in Australia – one that is inclusive, strategic, and deeply impactful.