On 12 June 2026, the Richmond Gender in Sport Research Centre hosted the third annual Breaking Barriers conference, bringing together scholars, practitioners and students to explore pressing questions of gender, inclusion and equity in sport.
Now an established highlight of the Centreās activities, this yearās conference created a dynamic and inclusive space for critical dialogue and collaboration. Participants from across the UK and internationally presented a fascinating range of research, reflecting both the diversity and urgency of issues shaping contemporary sports.
Inspiring keynote from Prof. Hanya Pielichaty
A key highlight was the keynote address by Prof Hanya Pielichaty (University of Lincoln), a leading scholar in sport, gender and inclusive education. Drawing on her work across academia, industry and policy, she offered a compelling framework for understanding inequality across interconnected contexts including sport, business, society and higher education.
Hanyaās keynote emphasised that inequalities are embedded in systems rather than individual actions, highlighting challenges such as gender imbalance in leadership and structural barriers within the sports industry. She pointed to the āgreedy workplaceā, shaped by irregular hours and entrenched expectations that disproportionately affect womenās opportunities and progression. Together, her insights highlighted the urgent need to move beyond surface-level interventions and instead reimagine the structures that shape participation, leadership and opportunities in sport.
In Conversation: Miriam Payne with Dr Samantha Bracey
An engaging āIn Conversationā session featured Miriam Payne, facilitated by Dr Samantha Bracey, offering a powerful complement to the academic programme.
An accomplished ocean rower, and a world record holder, Miriam has crossed the Atlantic solo and was part of the first all-women team to row the Pacific non-stop and unsupported, spending five and a half months at sea and covering 8,000 miles from Peru to Australia. Reflecting on these experiences, she spoke candidly about the physical and psychological demands of life at sea, including isolation, technical challenges and extreme conditions, alongside moments of awe such as encounters with wildlife and vast ocean landscapes. Her adventures, struggles and achievements sparkled some insightful commentaries and questions from the room.
Participatory and creative engagement
The conference also featured a participatory workshop led by Dr Lucia Morawska, introducing SCPABooks (Social Community Publishing and Bookmaking) as a feminist method for documenting the history of womenās football in the UK. Addressing the marginalisation of womenās sport in mainstream archives, the session proposed collaborative publishing as a means of recovering overlooked histories through materials such as programmes, photographs and oral accounts.
Participants worked in groups to develop their own mini SCPABook outputs from archival-inspired resources, while reflecting on ethical questions including consent, shared authorship and representation.
A global and inclusive platform
A wide range of presentations from domestic and international scholars demonstrated the global relevance of the conference, covering topics from governance and leadership to media representation and participation barriers in sports.
This year also marked the introduction of a poster presentation session for early career researchers, expanding opportunities for emerging scholars and making the conference even more inclusive.
The event was further supported by Richmond student ambassador Anna Turner (RIASA), whose final-year project on ACL injuries amongst female football players closely aligns with the themes of Breaking Barriers.
Looking ahead
Breaking Barriers 2026 reinforced the importance of creating spaces for dialogue, collaboration and critical reflection. By bringing together experienced researchers, early career scholars and students, the Richmond Gender in Sport Research Centre continues to foster a vibrant academic community dedicated to advancing inclusion and challenging inequalities in sport.
Looking forward, preparations are already underway for Breaking Barriers 2027, which will take place on 29 July 2027. The event will be aligned with the Grand DĆ©part of the Tour de France Femmes, departing from Leeds, offering an exciting opportunity to connect academic discussion with a major international moment in womenās sport. Further details will follow, but for now, save the date.
