Celebrating the Commonwealth Women’s Leadership Programme 2024–25

As the 2024–25 Commonwealth Women’s Leadership Programme (CWLP) comes to a close, we are taking a moment to celebrate an extraordinary group of women who have led, learned, and lifted others across the Commonwealth.

Over the past twelve months, sixteen women leaders and sixteen mentors have journeyed together through this blended learning experience. As project directors, Barbara Daniels and Sarah McQuade—have been privileged to guide and witness their growth.

Each year of CWLP tells a new chapter in the story of women’s leadership in sport. This cohort’s chapter is defined by courage, collaboration, and compassion—and by an evolving idea that has become the programme’s heartbeat: leading with Head, Hands and Heart.

A shared journey of growth and impact

The 2024–25 cohort brought together women from nine regions of the Commonwealth—from the Caribbean to Oceania—representing diverse roles and perspectives: presidents, coaches, administrators, and communications specialists, each shaping sport in her own way.

Supported by an international mentor and a £5,000 professional development bursary, participants used their learning to activate projects that reached deep into their communities. The results have been remarkable.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, EmpowerHer 2025 is set to reach over 500 girls through school sport. In Saint Lucia, Level Up trained twenty-five women in officiating and leadership. In South Africa, Women in Wrestling created new pathways for female coaches and officials. In The Bahamas, Project Rimaya introduced inclusive community archery.

Across the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Barbados, Papua New Guinea, and beyond, participants designed and delivered initiatives that are changing how sport is led and who gets to lead it.

Leading with Head, Hands and Heart

The Head, Hands and Heart framework offered the cohort a simple yet powerful reference point for leadership growth.

• Head – thinking strategically and seeing the bigger picture.

• Hands – taking practical action and delivering impact.

• Heart – leading with empathy, authenticity, and purpose.

Through this lens, participants reflected on their decisions, balanced confidence with humility, and found ways to bring their values to life. One participant captured it beautifully:

“Leadership is no longer about position—it’s about creating opportunities for others to shine.”

Mentoring and connection

At the core of CWLP lies connection. The mentoring relationships became safe spaces for reflection, challenge, and encouragement—often developing into lasting professional friendships. Alongside these one-to-one relationships, the online learning platform and WhatsApp community fostered a global sisterhood of support: women sharing resources, ideas, and celebrations across time zones.

This sense of belonging has become one of CWLP’s defining legacies. Many participants are now mentoring others, taking on new leadership roles, or extending their projects, ensuring the programme’s impact continues to ripple outward.

Looking ahead

The 2024–25 cohort stands as powerful evidence that when women are given the space, support, and resources to lead, the results are transformative. Across nine nations, CWLP participants have advanced gender equity, strengthened governance, and inspired the next generation of girls to step forward with confidence.

We are immensely proud to have shared this journey with them. Their stories—captured in the new Commonwealth Sport video feature—speak to the heart of what CWLP represents: connection, courage, and the collective power of women leading change across the Commonwealth.

As this chapter closes, we look forward to what comes next: continuing to grow a global network of confident, connected, and compassionate women leaders who use their Head, Hands and Heart to shape a stronger, more equitable future for sport.