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The NACAC Gender Leadership event took place in Turks & Caicos on October 30th and 31st. The conference theme was “Leveling the Playing Field: Women in Athletics”. Participation included 37 representatives from 13 MFs, along with representatives from the LOC, with overall attendance estimated at approximately 75 – 100 including the Gala.
The two-day conference concluded with a gala. The event was held at The Beaches Resort & Villas, which provided a suitable setting for both the workshops and the gala.
Day 1:
The day commenced with opening remarks from the Director of Gender Affairs, the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Minister of Public Safety, Gender and Religious Affairs and Social Welfare, and the Governor of Turks & Caicos. Each expressed support for the conference and enthusiasm for its theme. A cultural dance performance welcomed participants.
The programme then proceeded to the thematic sessions. Each session was followed by a productive question-and-answer discussion, during which participants actively engaged with the subject matter and raised several questions.
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⦁ Panel Discussion: The Journey — Female Presidents of NACAC Athletics reflected on their progression into leadership roles. The panel comprised Jarita Vickers (Bermuda), Geen Clarke (Costa Rica), Dora Henry (St Lucia), Shawnor Charles-Joseph (Antigua & Barbuda), and Edith Skippings (Turks & Caicos). The session was facilitated by Donna Raynor.
⦁ Mental Health, Well-being and Resilience in Sport – Michelle Carter, a former Olympic medalist (USA), and Sharieffa Barksdale, a former Olympic medalist and current coach (USA), shared their experiences of mental health, well-being and resilience during their athletic careers, including how they overcame adversity.
⦁ Safeguarding, Gender-Responsive Sporting Environments and Violence Against Women in Sport – Sharon Gardiner (Bahamas) presented on the importance of safeguarding in sport.
⦁ Gender Equity and Safety in Athletics – Monique Long (Deputy Director, Department of Gender Affairs) presented on addressing violence against women in sport.
⦁ Mentorship and Leadership Pathways
⦁ Governance Roles across MFs – Stephanie Hightower (USA), Chairperson of the World Athletics Gender Leadership Task Force, presented the session.
⦁ Coaching – Judith Robinson
⦁ Panel Discussion: Engaging Men and Boys as Allies and Partners in Sport – The discussion recognised the importance of engaging men as allies in supporting women’s advancement in sport and achieving gender equity.
⦁ Panellists: Steve Augustine (President, BVI), Drumeco Archer (President, Bahamas), and Mike Sands (President, NACAC).
⦁ The session was facilitated by Donna Raynor.
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Day 2:
The day commenced at 5am with a 3km or 5km walk and run in support of Domestic Violence Awareness. The majority of conference participants took part in the event, which attracted strong attendance and provided an opportunity to support the cause. We were joined by the Governor and the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.
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Following the conclusion of the run/walk, breakfast was served, after which participants returned to their hotels to prepare for the next session.
Several young athletes from Turks & Caicos, including girls and boys, participated in Day 2 of the conference.
⦁ Better Practices for Girls: The Empower Her Program. Self-care and Personal Presentation – Presented by Cuettla Talbot (Turks & Caicos), this session was designed for young athletes, who demonstrated a high level of engagement throughout.
⦁ Shaunie subsequently addressed the athletes, sharing insights into her athletics career. Her remarks were well received by the young athletes.
⦁ Women in Sport Leadership and Governance – This session was led by Edith Skippings (President, Turks & Caicos) and Donna Raynor (World Athletics Council Member and Chair of the NACAC GL Committee). They outlined their respective journeys from athletes to their current leadership positions. Donna also discussed opportunities within NACAC, MF and WA, and how women can prepare to undertake these roles.
⦁ Ana Quirot (Cuba) delivered a presentation reflecting on her athletics career, including its achievements and challenges. Her presentation was very well received and concluded with a standing ovation.
⦁ Regional Commitments and Next Steps – Presented by Donna Raynor and Mike Sands, this session addressed the next steps for Gender Leadership and NACAC. The discussion reaffirmed commitments to advancing gender equity through the following priorities:
⦁ Promoting mentorship within the NACAC region
⦁ Encouraging greater participation by female coaches
⦁ Strengthening collaboration across all NACAC MFs
⦁ Candida Ysidora Ascencio de los Santos delivered a presentation highlighting positive developments in Gender Leadership in the DR.
⦁ The conference was attended by three female Olympic medallists: Shaunie Miller-Uibo (Bahamas), Ana Quirot (Cuba) and Michelle Carter (USA).
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Gala
Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, delivered the opening remarks, commending NACAC for hosting the Gender Leadership event in Turks & Caicos. She also expressed her anticipation of the guest speaker’s address.
Mrs. Mabelene Miller formally introduced her daughter, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, as the guest speaker.
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Shaunie, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and World Champion, delivered an impactful and inspirational address aligned with the theme “Leveling the Playing Field: Women in athletics” and gender equity. She reflected on her Olympic victories, defeats and challenges, as well as the changes in her life as a mother and wife. She opened her address by thanking her parents for their assistance and support in helping her achieve her goals and aspirations, acknowledging in particular her father’s continued role as her coach from the outset of her career. She discussed women’s efforts to overcome barriers and recognised the foundations established by those who preceded her. In closing, she emphasised the responsibility of women to create opportunities for the next generation and to ensure that appropriate support is in place to enable them to achieve their aspirations.
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