IWG Secretariat

The 1st IWG World Conference, Brighton 1994, took place in the UK and provided the foundation for the Movement.

Since then, the global IWG Secretariat – the administrative function – has shifted every four years.

Since 1994, IWG Conference cities and Secretariat host nations have included:

  • Brighton, UK (Conference 1994; Secretariat 1994-1998) + Windhoek, Namibia (Conference 1998)
  • Montreal, Canada (Secretariat 1998 – 2002; Conference 2002)
  • Kumamoto, Japan (Secretariat  2002 – 2006; Conference 2006)
  • Sydney, Australia (Secretariat 2006 – 2010; Conference 2010)
  • Helsinki, Finland (Secretariat 2010 – 2014; Conference 2014)
  • Gabarone, Botswana (Secretariat 2014 – 2018; Conference 2018)
  • Auckland, New Zealand (Secretariat 2018 – 2022; Conference 2022)
  • Current – London & Birmingham, United Kingdom (Secretariat 2022 – 2026; Conference 2026)

Current Host, IWG Secretariat & Conference 2022 – 2026: United Kingdom

London is the current Host Secretariat, with the 9th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport taking place in Birmingham in mid-2026. See more here.


Previous Host, IWG Secretariat & Conference 2018 – 2022: Aotearoa New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand is the previous Host Secretariat, with the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport in Auckland in November 2022. See more here.


Roles & Responsibilities of the IWG Secretariat

Hosting the IWG Secretariat is a four-year commitment and carries significant responsibility, including:

  • Development, management and implementation of the quadrennial IWG Strategic Plan, the foundation document for all IWG work internationally
  • Promoting and monitoring the IWG Brighton plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration and adding value to the work of the global Signatories – currently nearly 600
  • Design and delivery of the IWG World Conference every four years – the largest gathering of experts on gender equity in sport and physical activity
  • Development and implementation of IWG Global Programmes, including the Insight HubAdvocacy Campaigns, and the IWG Global Network
  • Relationship management with global governmental/non-governmental agencies and organisations (Ie. UN Women, UNESCO, WHO)
  • Responsibility for management of all IWG external and internal affairs, globally
  • Day-to-day support for the IWG Global Executive

The IWG is governed by the volunteer IWG Global Executive.

The IWG Secretariat & World Conference 2022 – 2026 quadrennial is currently hosted by the United Kingdom. 

8th IWG WORLD CONFERENCE

Find out about the last event in November 2022

BRIGHTON DECLARATION

Find out how to endorse and use this global treaty

INSIGHT HUB: RESEARCH & CASE STUDIES

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IWG GLOBAL PROGRAMMES

Read about the work the IWG carries out globally