Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, Managing Director of the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA), participated in a panel discussion at the RAISE global sports conference in London, held from September 18-19. The event, hosted at Google’s central offices, was dedicated to advancing opportunities for women in sports and sports leadership and brought together senior-level global executives and decision-makers committed to driving change in the industry.
Shaima was part of the panel discussion entitled ‘Women in Sport Leadership: It’s Good for Business’ on September 19, which explored the critical issue of women’s underrepresentation in sports leadership positions and the persistent misogynistic attitudes that hindered progress. Moderated by Helen Soulsby, Managing Director of Elevate Talent, the panel also included Julie-Ann Hall, Head of Brand at Royal London, and Charlotte Samuelson, COO of World Rugby.
This was an opportunity to share the progress made in women’s sports in Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom now hosting more than 6,000 female athletes, 25 federations offering national women’s teams, and 30 federations including female board members. Shaima also revealed the many SFA initiatives supporting women in sport, such as the establishment of the Women’s Football League (WFL) in 2020, and the hosting of the all-female football tournament, the Global Goals World Cup, in Riyadh for three consecutive years.
Shaima’s presence at RAISE further highlighted the SFA’s commitment to promoting women’s sports and leadership, providing valuable perspectives on how to cultivate the next generation of female sports leaders. Her insights contributed to the ongoing dialogue on creating equitable opportunities in sports, both in Saudi Arabia and globally
