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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. 

BRIGHTON DECLARATION

Find out how to endorse and use this global treaty

INSIGHT HUB: RESEARCH & CASE STUDIES

Download useful materials to help support your work

IWG GLOBAL PROGRAMMES

Read about the work the IWG carries out globally

9th IWG WORLD CONFERENCE

Information coming soon