Program highlights for WADA’s 2022 Global Education Conference

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) is pleased to publish program highlights for its third Global Education Conference (2022 GEC) that will kick off on 20 September in Sydney, Australia. Together with our hosts, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), we have planned a varied and impactful three-day event for a record number of over 300 participants from around the globe, which includes over 40 speakers.

Below are just a few highlights of what awaits participants.

Australian Water Polo Olympian Bronwen Knox joins as Master of Ceremonies

We are pleased to confirm that four-time Olympian Bronwen Knox will be our master of ceremonies throughout the Conference. Bronwen has been a high-performance water polo athlete for 20 years. She is a dual Olympic bronze medalist and the highest capped female player with 394 caps for Australia. She has also won multiple medals at FINA World Cups and Championships.

In parallel to her sports career, Bronwen is a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland. She is passionate about athletes knowing their rights and understanding their worth. She also works as an education presenter in the areas of sport integrity and respectful behaviors. Bronwen holds positions on numerous boards, committees and advisory groups, including: the Queensland Olympic Council, SIA’s Athlete Advisory Group and the Water Polo Australia Athlete Commission (Chair). Read Bronwen’s bio for more information.

Exploring innovations and trends in anti-doping education

The Conference program is designed for organizations and their practitioners to further their approaches to clean sport education, connect with other participants, hear the latest social science research and discover the rich heritage of our host country. Plenary sessions and workshops will cover the following topics and more:

• athlete vulnerability
• clean sport behaviors
• designing learning
• educating along the athlete pathway
• digital education
• educating athlete support personnel
• event-based education
• assessing program impact
• social science research

Beyond interacting with WADA’s Education Committee, Leadership and Education teams, attendees will hear from speakers from around the world that bring their unique expertise and perspectives. They are joining the Conference from National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) of Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, India, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, the UK and the USA); International Federations; academia and other key areas of the anti-doping ecosystem.

On 19 September, Sport Integrity Australia is holding an Open Day and, on 22 September, it is  hosting an Innovation Day, which will showcase novel approaches to learning. During the Innovation Day, WADA will host ‘Regional Conversations’, providing an opportunity for the Agency to enhance its regional relationships, share best practices and help solve regional challenges.

Networking and social events honoring Australia’s rich traditional heritage

The Conference schedule also includes ample opportunity for participants to network, to visit Sydney and to discover the rich traditional heritage of Australia:

• The SIA Open Day and 2022 GEC Welcome Reception will take place at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
• The Conference, which is being held at the International Convention Centre, will open with a “Welcome to our country” ceremony performed by Indigenous Traditional Custodians.
• The Gala Dinner on the second day will be held on the Starship Sydney, which will cruise the landmark harbour.

Throughout the event, we encourage you to share your takeways, quotes, photos and feedback on social media. Please tag us and include the #WADAGEC hashtag!

For more information on the 2022 GEC, please visit the event website.