Celebrating the NBL's female game-changers

Today, and every day, we celebrate the power of women within the NBL family that are changing the game.

As part of International Women’s Day, NBL Media spoke to four women within the League who are significantly contributing to the uprise and awareness of the game, while also helping to create a pathway for a gender equal future.

See what they said about their journey in sport as a woman, their future ambitions and more below.

Tasmania JackJumpers CEO, Christine Finnegan

What was your journey that led you to the JackJumpers, and being one of two women in a CEO role in clubland at the NBL?“It’s been a really great journey, and part of that is the people of Tasmania. The way that they’ve embraced the JackJumpers, and me personally, and helped me establish a home,” Finnegan said.

In the JackJumpers’ third year of operating, it’s no secret the club has built a rich, community-focused fan base. Finnegan has been a key part of the club’s successful beginnings since she was appointed the General Manager of Commercial and Marketing in August 2020, before becoming the sole CEO in September 2023, following a period with an interim Co-CEO structure. Before her appointment with the JackJumpers, Finnegan had more than 25 years’ experience in the Australian sports Industry, having held senior positions at Tennis Australia, Melbourne Rebels, the AFLPA, Melbourne Storm and St Kilda Football Club.

“We’re still not seeing enough women in CEO roles and executive roles in sport. One woman at a time, we have to change that,” she said.

How important is it as a CEO for Tasmania to make a difference in changing the game for women in sport?  “I’ve certainly done a very big apprenticeship and waited longer than most for the opportunity. So now I’m here, I want to make sure that every post is a winner, in terms of promoting women and diversity. I think it’s really important at the executive level to have diversity of thought, diversity of gender, and at the JackJumpers, that’s been delivered,” Finnegan said.

“We have three women and two men on our executive team, and there’s some great balance of opinion, and the success story of the JackJumpers can’t be solely contributed to that but that plays a part to it.

“My passion for sport, my passion on making a difference, my passion for what it means to people, and that sense of belonging was what has kept me there [within the industry].”

New Zealand Breakers CEO, Lisa Edser

How proud are you to land in a CEO role within the NBL, and be recognised for your skills and abilities? “I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come and the role I have now. That is where it is fairly unique where there is both Christine (Finnegan, JackJumpers CEO) and I at the moment in the League. That’s pretty unique to have two female CEO’s in a sporting League like ours,” Edser said.

Edser has commendable experience within the industry, having held roles at Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association, and Emirates Team New Zealand.

Edser spoke on the importance of her role and the recognition of being a woman that is accepted in the industry, by also stating the significance of being offered the position for her expertise, rather than being seen as a female CEO.

What has your experience been like as a female within the industry? “I have had a long time in sport where you forget that your gender doesn’t come into it with what you’re doing. I know I’m fortunate to be in places where it’s accepted and for others it’s not accepted,” she said.

“It’s not something I think about a lot because I have been in a male-dominated industry for most of my adult life. I don’t often stop and think I am a woman, I’m just Lisa the CEO of the Breakers.

“I don’t think of it being a woman versus a man. However, I’m well aware for some people out there, I hope I am inspiration to follow your dreams if you feel that getting to this position, not being a normal role for a female, if I can be inspiring for people that want to do this then that’s great.

“I don’t look at it like I am here because I am a female or anything to be different for me because I’m female.

“That’s something that is really important, I didn’t get the job because I’m a woman. I don’t expect to be treated any different because I’m a woman. I have the job because I’m the right person for it. But if a biproduct of that can be inspiring others to go for it, then I am really proud of that.

“There’s always more to learn, there’s always more to do, and that’s really exciting. Particularly in our sport with how fast it’s growing, and the trajectory we’ve got, and how much more we can achieve as we grow the League.”

NBL Head of Competitions and Programs, Hayley Kirk

What made you choose sport as a career path, and how long have you been operating in the industry for?“I’ve been working in the sports industry for just over nine years. I got my first break as an admin assistant at Equestrian Australia, before moving to Melbourne to work on the Big Bash League at Cricket Australia and have been at the NBL for just over five years now,” Kirk said.

With over nine years in the industry, Kirk has built a network of connections, including her excellent relationship with successful females in each of her past and current roles. With a great understanding on females within the industry, Kirk explained the importance of awareness on women in sport.

What has your experience been like? Are we on the way to cracking the code? “All the immediate teams I’ve worked in have been good, if not more female representation than males, and maybe that’s because the nature of my previous roles and current one leans more toward women,” Kirk said.  

“I don’t think there is a barrier for women entering sports, I think it’s a lack of awareness on what the types of roles are and where the opportunities exist.”

What’s the best thing to come out of your career? Are you proud of how far you’ve come?“It’s a scary thing to do, putting yourself out there. But then you also need to remember everyone one else is just as scared! One of the best things to come from expanding my network was finding an amazing mentor who is dominating the AFL world in her own right, which is awesome to watch from afar,” Kirk said.

“If I think back to when I was answering phone and pushing papers to now having a voice that can influence the direction of the NBL competition, it’s crazy, but I’m definitely proud of my growth.”

NBL Government Relations Manager, Kristen Penny

How would you describe your role within the NBL?“I took a role at the NBL in the Government Relations team. The Government Relations team works on various projects across the business from event funding, reporting, tourism opportunities and various business submissions. I took on the portfolio of Pride in my first few months at the NBL. It’s something I was always passionate about, being an Ally for the community, but had never had a role that was in the Pride space,” Penny said.

Penny has contributed significantly at the League, helping the NBL become the first male league in Australia to undertake a Pride Round, which saw her nominated for the LGBTQ Ally of the Year in the 2024 Pride in Sport Awards.

Penny has also made memorable contributions at Tourism Victoria, Netball Victoria, and Cricket Australia to name a few.

How important is it to continue to crack the code?“We want to elevate the involvement in women across the NBL, NBL1 and our other entities and initiatives and I am tasked with identifying opportunities, whether new events, roles, partnerships, etc for women,” Penny said. 

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.