A new all-female event discuss women’s sports and tech

An exciting new networking event - featuring an all-female panel discussing women in sports and the leveraging of digital tech for industry growth - is to be held on September 19th at The Wardrobe in Leeds.

This unique and free event has been arranged by Leeds-based Digital Sport North - an organisation which aims to bring together and grow a thriving community of individuals and businesses within the sports and digital technology sectors - and is titled ‘Can Tech be the Catalyst for Growth in Women’s Sport?’.

It will feature an exceptional line-up of female industry leaders, who will be offering their thoughts and commentary on the current state of the sports industry for women, as well as how and why tech and digital can offer a means of growth and development for it. In addition, it will give those attending opportunities to meet, have a drink and connect with other like-minded people and professionals, all in a relaxed environment.

Celebrated BBC sports journalist and presenter, Tanya Arnold, who has been an advocate for sportswomen and sport in the North itself, will be the host of the discussion. Ms Arnold offered these comments on the event and why such speaking opportunities are important for women within these sectors:

“Women’s sport is on a high right now, pushed by the incredible success of the Lionesses. They have shown the interest is there, and that is finally being reflected across the board. There is still a long way to go and technology and research are going to be key. Much more needs to be done for our female athletes to excel and get the most out of themselves. I’m really excited to lead the discussion on some of these issues for Digital Sport North’s first all-female line-up.”

The panel itself will consist of several experts within the sports industry, including a number of individuals based in the local area. Specifically, those involved will be:

• Leanne Norman - Professor of Sport Management and Director of the Centre for Social Justice in Sport & Society, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University
• Charlotte Swift - BBC Stumped producer, assistant producer for Test Match Special and presenter of the Cricket Show on BBC York
• Caroline Julian - External Affairs Director at British Cycling

Digital Sport North says it wants the event to “leave attendees with a deeper understanding of how women can be further empowered within sport in the North and how positive change can be driven through technology”. Alongside this, the group believes that this will be an essential experience for anyone interested or working within sports and digital tech.

Admission for the event is free, it starts at 5PM on Tuesday 19 September and is expected to run until 8PM. Those interested in attending will need to reserve a place with an eTicket, which can be done via Digital Sport North’s online booking system