Harvey Norman backs women’s sports network Minerva

Leading sports women’s network Minerva has announced a blockbuster new partnership with retail giant Harvey Norman.

From left: Kezie Apps (NRLW), Gabi Simpson (netball), MInerva founder Christine McLoughlin, Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page, Saskia Broudelet (rhythmic gymnastics) and Ali Brigginshaw (NRLW). Picture: Jacob Watson

Leading sports women’s network Minerva has announced a blockbuster new partnership with retail giant Harvey Norman.

Minerva was founded in 2016 by leading Australian business women to support professional women athletes “off the field” and is now Australia’s leading pro bono mentor organisation of women in professional sport.

Harvey Norman’s chief executive Katie Page said the company had a long history of investing in female athletes and their sports, noting their new partnership with Minerva was a natural progression.

“The Minerva Network and Harvey Norman in partnership make complete sense,” Page said.

“Harvey Norman has been pioneering in its commitment to the creation of competition pathways for Australian girls and women from the grassroots through to the elite level. For over 20 years our ethos has been that every Australian girl should be able to compete in her choice of sport at whatever level her ambition and talent will facilitate.

“Fulsome sporting careers for Australian women are now possible and thanks to the Minerva Network our fabulous athletes are mentored where their talents and interests will be best served once their competitive career has concluded.”

“Australia is vast, and our talent comes from every corner, so I am particularly passionate about the work the Minerva Network is doing in rural and regional areas. As our athletes change career path, we want their unique skills to benefit those within their community.”

Chair and co-founder of Minerva, Christine McLoughlin, welcomed the partnership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Harvey Norman as our newest partner in our journey to empower professional women in sport,” McLoughlin said. “Our two organisations each have an unwavering commitment to diversity and believe that together we can drive more meaningful change and create a more inclusive sporting landscape for generations to come.”

Queensland Maroons and Brisbane Broncos NRLW captain Ali Brigginshaw said the new deal was testament to the strong leadership of Page and McLoughlin.

“I have been involved in The Minerva Network mentorship program for a number of years and have seen first-hand the benefits for female athletes looking at networking, employment and commercial opportunities outside of their chosen sports,” she said. “Harvey Norman have also shown over a long period of time how passionate and dedicated they are to ensuring increased opportunities for female athletes in Australia, so their collaboration is a perfect fit.

“Christine McLoughlin and Katie Page are two powerhouses we all look up to … it is exciting for all of us to know that further change and progress is coming under their leadership.”

Harvey Norman has been a long-time supporter of Australian women’s teams and athletes including leading Minerva athletes like Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario and Olympic swim champion Cate Campbell.

The Minerva Network now has more than 750 professional women athletes representing 76 sports engaged in its programs which includes pathways after their sporting careers.