9 March 2025
Energy for women’s sport in Australia is reaching a fever pitch, with larger crowds, increased sponsorship, and even higher pay in some cases. But has it gone far enough? Join our expert panellists to examine the real state of play for women with skin in the game.
Co-curated by Narelda Jacobs
| Date | Time |
| Sunday 9 March 2025 | 3:30pm |
| Ticket | Price |
| Standard | $35 |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale
9am, Tuesday 14 January 2025
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9am, Wednesday 15 January 2025
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Thursday 16 January 2025
Wheelchair accessible:
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Run time
This talk runs for approximately 60 minutes.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Recommended for ages 15+.
Sarah Styles, Director of Women in Sport and RecreationThere’s never been a better time to be a girl in sport.
Useful information:
these players have a score to settle
From the Matilda’s Effect to the AFL commitment to close the gender pay gap, cross-code support for female athletes is at an all-time high. With record attendance, huge broadcast viewership and glass ceilings shattering, elite players are finally being taken seriously. None of this happened overnight. How far off is something that looks like parity?
Conversations surrounding professionalism, gender and racial equity continue, with key areas including sponsorship, professional development, and career longevity out of step with how male players are treated. Join our panellists from on and off the pitch to hear first-hand experiences of the peaks and pitfalls that have come with the growing emphasis on women’s sport, and learn about the role intersectionality needs to play.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Ann Odong (she/her)
Ann Odong is a globally respected storyteller, communicator and advocate for women’s sport.
Passionate about gender equality in sport for women and girls of all backgrounds, for 20 years Ann has worked to elevate and amplify women’s voices. In 2008 she founded The Women’s Game, Australia’s first dedicated digital platform for women’s football, which she managed for a decade.
Ann joined Football Australia in 2018 as part of the successful bid to co-host the historic FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. She transitioned to the CommBank Matildas becoming their media and PR lead working to increase the visibility of the team and women’s football.
In 2023 she was named one of the eleven most influential people in women’s football for the year by Relevent Sports. In 2024 she was named in NewsCorp’s Power 100 Most Influential Women in Sport and the winner of Impactful Storytellers in The Female Athlete Project Awards.
Lydia Williams (she/her)
Lydia Williams is an Australian professional soccer player renowned for her exceptional skills as a goalkeeper. Born in the Australian outback, she has carved out a remarkable career both domestically and internationally.
Her journey in professional soccer began with the Australian W-League were she quickly established herself as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the league, earning accolades and recognition for her consistent performances between the posts.
Internationally, Lydia Williams has been a stalwart for the Australian national team, representing the Matildas. She debuted for the Matildas nearly 20 years ago and was first selected for a Women’s World Cup in 2007, an ever-present as women’s football grew and grew during her time at the top.
She has represented Australia in numerous FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments and Olympic Games, showcasing her talents against the best teams in the world.
In May 2024, she announced her retirement from International Football where she will represent the Matilda’s one final time before the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Lydia has returned to our home shores, playing for Melbourne Victory in the W-League and is a key member of the PFA.
Beyond her on-field achievements, she is an accomplished children’s book author, and is recognised for her leadership qualities and dedication to promoting women's soccer, inspiring the next generation of players in Australia and beyond.
Tracey Holmes
moderator
In a career spanning four decades, journalist and broadcaster Tracey Holmes has focused her career on the intersection of sport, politics and society. She is recognised at home and abroad for her in-depth analysis of current issues and major events including coverage of 14 Olympic Games.
She has twice won the prestigious International Sports Press Association (AIPS) gold award, is a recipient of the IOC Women and Sport Award - presented to women, men or organisations who have made remarkable contributions to the development, encouragement and reinforcement of women and girls' participation in sport and is a recipient of Sport Australia’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tracey is frequently called upon to speak nationally and internationally on sports governance and has been the confidante and advisor to leading sports figures and organisations around the world.
Tracey is a Council member for Indigenous Football Australia, a board member for the Oceania Australia Foundation, a mentor for the International Olympic Committee’s Young Reporters program, an Ambassador for the Australian Museum and the Chappell Foundation for Homeless Youth.
She is producer of the Sports Ambassador podcast, is currently writing her second book, and is a member of the Sports Diplomacy Program at the Hungarian University of Sports Science.
Plan your visit
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
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