CMSport Forum 2026: Speaker Profiles
We’re excited to share the full program and speaker lineup for the 2026 CMSport Forum: Racism Doesn’t Belong in Our Game.
We’ll be joined by an inspiring group of leaders and practitioners from across Victoria’s sport and recreation sector to explore how we can collectively create safe, more inclusive sporting environments.
Date: Thursday 27 August 2026
Location: The Home of the Matildas, Football Victoria, 3 Sports Drive, Bundoora
Time: 10am – 3pm AEST
View the Visitor Information Sheet for The Home of the Matildas.
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
| 9.30-10.00am | Registrations Open Tea or coffee on arrival | |
| 10.00-10.07am | Introduction | TAMM Kingi-Falakoa (MC) |
| 10.07-10.15am | Welcome To Country | Aunty Annette Xiberras |
| 10.15-10.20am | Anti-Racism in Sport Pledge and Racism Doesn’t Belong in Our Game Campaign | |
| 10.20-10.30am | Collaborating for Change | Aunty Linda Bamblett |
| 10.30-10.40am | Stronger Together: Pledge Project Progress | Carmel Guerra OAM |
| 10.40-11.00am | In Conversation: Carmel Guerra OAM and Patrick Johnson OLY National to local: Tackling racism across cultures, communities and as individuals in sport | Carmel Guerra OAM and Patrick Johnson OLY |
| 11.00-11.35am | Panel One: Collective Leadership for Change How collaboration is accelerating Anti-Racism across Victorian sport. | Carmel Guerra OAM (MC) Dan Birrell Rob Hyatt Sharin Milner |
| 11.35-11.40am | Reflective learning and Turn & Talk | Brigitte Walker |
| 11.40-11.55am | MORNING TEA | |
| 12.00-12.35am | Breakout Session One (NB. Forum attendees are split into two groups, with each group to attend both Breakout Sessions) Workshop: Bringing Anti-Racism to your role in sport (Main Room) AND Innovation Showcase: New tools for tackling racism (Theaterette) 1. Know The Real Score, No 2nd Place 2. Hardball on Hate, Swinburne University 3. Guideline for Community Sport, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission | Brigitte Walker Junior Melo TAMM Kingi-Falakoa (MC) Ben Hartman Carleigh Yeomans Lauren Matthews |
| 12.35-12.40pm | Groups change sessions | |
| 12.40-1.20pm | Breakout Session Two | |
| 1.20-1.50pm | Lunch | |
| 2.00-2.35pm | Panel Two: Everyone has a role Creating culturally responsive sporting environments throughout the sector | TAMM Kingi-Falakoa (MC) Professor Ruth Jeanes Shaun McEachin Sophie Byrnes Andrea Pearman |
| 2.35-2.45pm | Facilitated reflections | Brigitte Walker |
| 2.45-3.00pm | Conclusions and thanks | TAMM Kingi-Falakoa |
Speakers
Master of Ceremonies by TAMM Kingi Falakoa (Team Leader, Centre for Multicultural Youth)
Carmel Guerra OAM (CEO, Centre for Multicultural Youth)
Patrick Johnson OLY (Culture and Safety Advisor, Sport Integrity Australia)
Dan Birrell (CEO, Football Victoria)
Aunty Linda Bamblett (CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd)
Rob Hyatt (Cultural Experiences Manager, Koorie Heritage Trust)
Professor Ruth Jeanes (Deputy Dean, Monash University)
Shaun McEachin (General Manager, Collingwood Basketball Association)
Ben Hartman (Managing Director, No 2nd Place)
Dr Carleigh Yeomans (Senior Lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology)
Lauren Matthews (Special Counsel, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission)
Andrea Pearman (CEO, Netball Victoria)
Sophie Byrne (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Football Victoria)
Sharin Milner (Founder, Split The Profit & Phoenix Basketball Club)
Brigitte Walker (Senior Project Officer, Centre for Multicultural Sport)
