September 11, 2026
Registration is now open for the 2026 Women in Sport Leadership Forum! Here’s everything you need to know about the event.
About the Event
This event is an opportunity for athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, and leaders who identify as women to come together for a full day of learning and networking.
This year’s theme, From progress to impact: What’s next for women in sport?, reflects the current landscape of women’s sport. With the recent growth of women’s and girls’ teams, programs, and leagues at all levels, it’s time to consider how we can turn this progress into meaningful action in our communities.
Through sessions and workshops grounded in this theme, the Forum will equip women leaders with the skills, strategies, and networks to lead within their organizations and communities.
Date and Location
The event will take place on October 17, 2026, at the Wu Centre at UNB Fredericton.
Who is this event for?
Any and all self-identified women involved in sport, recreation, and physical activity! Whether you’re an athlete, coach, official, administrator, student, teacher, or volunteer, this event is for you!
Please note that this event is intended for ages 16+.
Cost and Registration
Regular registration: $40.00
Young leader registrations (ages 16-25): $25.00
Subsidized registration options are also available.
What’s included?
Registration includes access to all parts of the event, lunch, and refreshments! Participants who provide their NCCP number will also receive 3 NCCP PD points.
Schedule
9:00-9:30 AM – Registration
9:30 AM – Welcome
9:45 AM – Resilience by Design: Cultivating Sustainable Leadership in Sport with Ashley Duguay
10:45 AM – Bio Break
11:00 AM – Keynote: Dianne Norman – Defining Success: Navigating the Complexity of Progress in Women’s Sport
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Breakout Workshop Sessions:
- Lead Forward: Building Confidence, Influence and Impact through Mentorship with Marta Belsh
- Second session TBD
2:30 PM – Bio Break
2:45 PM – Women in Sport Panel
3:45 PM – Closing Remarks
5:00-6:30 PM – Women Try Wrestling event in partnership with Wrestling NB at the Lady Beaverbrook Gym*
*optional
Session and Speaker Details
Keynote: Dianne Norman
Title: Defining Success: Navigating the Complexity of Progress in Women’s Sport
About Dianne
Dianne Norman of Fredericton is considered one of New Brunswick’s greatest basketball players. During her illustrious career, she represented Canada at two Olympic Games (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000), the Pan-American Games, National Championships, World University Games and twice at the Francophone Games. She spent an incredible 17 years with the national team program.
She was inducted into the Fredericton Sports Wall of Fame; is a two-time member of the Laurentian University Hall of Fame; a former New Brunswick athlete of the year; was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in June of 2010 and the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
After her playing days, she has forged an equally impressive career in leadership in the Post-Secondary Education sector, spending time in senior positions at Dalhousie University and Toronto Metropolitan University before recently returning to New Brunswick as Associate Vice Provost of Strategic Enrolment at UNB. Dianne will be representing New Brunswick again soon as the Chef de Mission for the 2027 Canada Winter Games.
Morning Session
Presented by: Ashley Duguay
Title: Resilience by Design: Cultivating Sustainable Leadership in Sport
Session Description
Women in sport have consistently demonstrated extraordinary resilience, navigating inequities, challenging exclusionary systems, and forging new possibilities for future generations of athletes, coaches, support staff, administrators, officials, and volunteers. As visibility and opportunities for women in sport continue to grow, so too does the importance of understanding what supports women in sustaining and growing in their roles across sport.
In this session, we will explore resilience through a women-in-sport leadership lens, recognizing that sustainable leadership depends not only on individual efforts and capacities but also on the environments and cultures in which leaders operate. We will examine practical strategies to support well-being and performance while also exploring common experiences such as burnout and impostorism, creating space for reflection on lived experience, leadership, and what it means to stay engaged in sport over time.
About Ashley
Ashley Duguay is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) and trained Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) instructor. She is a professional member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA) and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and the owner of Team First Consulting. Ashley also works as a Mental Performance Consultant with the Canadian Sport Institute – Atlantic and is an award-winning adjunct instructor, having taught courses in sport psychology, team dynamics in sport, and positive leadership.
Breakout Session 1
Presented by: Marta Belsh
Title: Building Confidence, Influence and Impact through Mentorship
About Marta
Marta Belsh is the Head Coach of the University of New Brunswick REDS varsity swimming program, where she leads both the women’s and men’s teams. With more than 25 years of coaching experience, Marta has supported athletes and coaches in reaching their potential while building high-performance environments grounded in connection, accountability, and personal growth. She is a Chartered Professional Coach, Senior Coach with the National Coaching Certification Program, Advanced Coaching Diploma holder, and Master Coach Developer. Marta is also completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, bringing a strong focus on athlete wellbeing, leadership, and the development of the whole person. She is actively involved in advancing women in coaching through mentorship and leadership initiatives, including the Canadian Sport Coaches Association’s Women in Coaching committee. Marta is passionate about empowering women to find their voice, build confidence and influence, and create meaningful change in sport and their communities.
Breakout Session 2
Information coming soon!
Women in Sport Panel
Information coming soon!
Women Try Wrestling Event
Event Description
After the Forum, we are excited to offer a free event for women to come try wrestling in partnership with Lutte NB Wrestling and Black Bears Wrestling.
Discover the art of women’s Olympic freestyle wrestling in a supportive, zero-intimidation environment. Cap off your Saturday evening with a fun, low-pressure introduction to the sport!
Women’s freestyle wrestling is a safe, tactical discipline centered on balance, leverage, and core strength. In this 1-hour session, you will learn fundamental movements and technique through dynamic, strategy-based partner challenges. No experience is required, and there are absolutely no striking or high-intensity impact.
After we move, wrap up the night with refreshments and a social mixer. Whether you are wrapping up your day at the New Brunswick Women in Sport Forum or joining directly from the community, come for the empowerment and stay for the connection!
To participate, select the option when you fill out the Forum registration form!