VAFA’s Lead Your Way 2026 concludes with a celebration of women in leadership 

The VAFA proudly celebrated the conclusion of the 2026 VAFA’s Lead Your Way program, bringing together an inspiring group of women leaders from across the competition to recognise their commitment to leadership, learning and community football. 

Created in response to the overwhelming interest from VAFA club leaders in the AFL Victoria Lead Your Way program, the VAFA developed its own initiative to provide more opportunities for women across our clubs to connect, grow and develop as leaders. The 2026 cohort saw 27 participants representing 18 clubs engage in a series of face-to-face and online sessions focused on leadership, wellbeing, networking and personal development. 

Throughout the program, participants heard from an outstanding group of presenters who generously shared their knowledge and lived experiences. A sincere thank you to Katrina Stopinski, Kerry Ashbrook, Tess Beagley, Molly McKenzie and Lyndal Scolyer for delivering engaging sessions that challenged participants to reflect on their own leadership journeys while providing practical tools they can take back to their clubs. 

The VAFA would also like to thank AFL Victoria for its continued support of women in leadership and for inspiring the development of this program. We also acknowledge the ongoing support of the VAFA Board, LYW VAFA alumni and guest speakers who have helped make this initiative possible. 

One of the highlights of the program has been the connections formed between women from different clubs and leadership backgrounds. From presidents, vice presidents and secretaries to wellbeing coordinators and committee members, the program has created a growing network of leaders committed to strengthening community football. 

While the 2026 program has ended, this is only the beginning. The VAFA looks forward to continuing to support and grow this network of women leaders, creating more opportunities to learn from one another and welcoming even more participants.