Watch the first Changing the Conversation event of 2024 with Changing the Game: Sport, Women, and Culture, facilitated by Benjamin Law and featuring Mariel Hecher, Azmeena Hussain OAM, and Dr Sarah Kelly OAM.

The world of sport has the power to shape culture by teaching us about the rules of fair play, respect for opponents and resilience in the face of challenges. Sport is also influenced by cultural norms, and we often see issues of structural inequality for women and girls, and incidents of racism, discrimination, and systemic bias both on and off the sporting field.

Watch this challenging conversation and see what happens when the world of sport, the world of women and the world of multiculturalism collide, opening up a space to explore the power of sport as a catalyst for inclusion, empowerment and breaking barriers. 

This conversation includes a curated performance by Women of the World (WOW) Australia, a proud supporter of the event.

About the Speakers:

Benjamin Law (Facilitator)
Benjamin Law writes books, TV screenplays, columns, essays and feature journalism. Every week, Benjamin co-hosts ABC RN’s weekly national pop culture show Stop Everything. He also co-hosts online startup and tech TV show That Startup Show, and you can catch him on TV shows like Q&A (ABC), The Drum (ABC), The Project (Ten) and Filthy Rich and Homeless (SBS).

Mariel Hecher
Brazilian-born football player Mariel Hecher is Vice Captain of the Brisbane Roar A-League Women’s team. A passionate sportswoman and team player, Mariel holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Brazil’s Universidade do Valo do Paraiba, and a Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies) and Master of Osteopathic Medicine from Southern Cross University. 

Azmeena Hussain OAM
Melbourne-born lawyer Azmeena Hussain OAM is a Principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Non-Executive Director at the Victorian Institute of Sport, Chairperson of the Islamic Museum of Australia and member of the SBS Statutory Community Advisory Committee. She was appointed an Ambassador for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

Dr Sarah Kelly OAM
Professor and Head of the QUT Graduate School of Business, Dr Sarah Kelly is an experienced commercial lawyer and non-executive director across the sport, technology and professional services sector.  

She is a member of the Brisbane 2032 Games Organising Committee board, and Deputy Chair of the Brisbane Lions AFL Football Club. 

Presented by Multicultural Australia and QPAC.
Recorded at QPAC’s Concert Hall for Digital Stage.