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    INCLUSION THROUGH COLLABORATION.

    The ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum is a breakthrough national event for the disability sport sector taking place on March 20, 2026, in Sydney. This inaugural and exclusive industry forum brings together leaders, innovators, and changemakers to connect, collaborate and drive real impact across inclusive sport and active recreation.

    ASAPD is the peak body for Disability Sport in Australia, dedicated to championing inclusion and breaking down barriers so that people with disability have equitable opportunities in all aspects of sport. Through national collaboration, advocacy, and leadership, ASAPD drives systemic change.

    Be part of the movement! This forum provides an exclusive opportunity to connect with professionals from all sectors of sport and disability. Learn the latest insights and best practices to help everyone from grassroots clubs to elite programs become more inclusive.

    What to expect

    • 12 Engaging segments

    • Dynamic speakers and presenters

    • Authentic voices and lived experience-led discussions

    • Thought-provoking panels, keynotes and interactive sessions

    • Inclusive networking and sector showcases

    • An environment designed to inspire, educate, and connect

    Forum Highlights
    Forum MCs
    Two women pose in front of a modern graphic backdrop featuring large orange and navy arcs and bold text that says “ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum, Friday March 20th 2026.” Both women’s faces are blurred for privacy; one wears a dark long sleeve top with straight hair, the other wears a black blazer and has her hair tied back.

    Cindy-Lu Bailey Fitzparick OAM and Katie Kelly OAM PLY will serve as Masters of Ceremonies. As trailblazers in Paralympic sport, they bring lived experience and passion to the ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum.

    Image shows ASAPD Forum Panel members smiling. Included in the image is Carol Cooke OAM PLY, Jamieson Leeson PLY and Ben Felten.

    Learn from Paralympic champions Carol Cooke OAM PLY and Jamieson Leeson PLY, alongside Ben Felten a lifelong elite para-athlete, and more recently the world’s fastest blind motorcyclist, as they share powerful stories of resilience, dismantling ableist attitudes, and everyday challenging the narrative of what people with disability can do.

    Griffith University logo in red, featuring a stylized abstract book or sunburst graphic above the words “Griffith University” in bold uppercase letters.

    Discover groundbreaking academic research through this unique 3 Minute Research session showcase Griffith University. The 3 Minute Research is a unique and engaging format where researchers who pitched their research to the Griffith University Forum panel, and have now been selected from across Australia to present their work to all of you, in what will be an engaging, dynamic format designed to spark new ideas across the sector and showcase the latest research of inclusion across sport, community and disability.

    Cartoon black lightbulb with light shimmers coming out the side.

    Gain practical tools and resources grounded in real-world application. From grassroots participation to elite performance pathways, the Forum shares knowledge to support inclusive growth across sport and active recreation.

    A promotional graphic for the ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum, happening on Friday, March 20th, 2026. The left side features event details and the logos of ASAPD, Uber, Dentons, and Achieve Australia as a supporter. It highlights Emma Bennison, MBA GAICD, as an “Equity and Lived Experience Strategist,” described as a Change Maker, TEDx Speaker, and Advocate. On the right is a professional portrait of Emma Bennison, a woman with short curly hair wearing a black and white patterned top and layered silver necklaces, smiling towards the camera. The background is styled with orange, lavender, and white gradient waves.

    Emma Bennison MBA GAICD is an award-winning advocate and TEDx speaker who’s driven change across Australia’s disability and arts sectors. She will speak on leadership, inclusion, and equity.

    Surf Life Saving Australia Logo. Shows a circle with a person with a surf live saving red and yellow cap on witht the text 'Surf Life Saving' on the outside.

    Disability and Inclusive Leaders and Advocates, Narelle Duggan and Sharon Deans will present the keynote, “Breaking down the Barriers for Adaptive Surf Sports,” sharing how Surf Life Saving Australia is opening surf sports to people of all abilities. Narelle Duggan is a sport leader shaping pathways for inclusion and high performance in Australian surf sport. Sharon Deans drives inclusive participation and programs, making surf life saving more accessible for all backgrounds and abilities.

    Image shows 4 ASAPD Member Logos. Sport Inclusion Australia, Blind Sports Australia, Deaf Sports Australia and Special Olympics Australia.

    Learn from four of our eight (8) Australian Sporting Alliance of People with Disability (ASAPD) Members – Sport Inclusion Australia (SIA), Deaf Sports Australia (DSA), Blind Sports Australia (BSA), and Special Olympics (SO) Australia, as they showcase the groundbreaking initiatives and programs they are leading to advance participation, accessibility, and inclusion for people with disability in sport across Australia.

    ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum promotional tile featuring event details (Friday, March 20th, 2026), sponsor logos (Uber, Dentons), and a photo of a speaker with their face obscured. Text highlights Rosemary Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission, supported by the Australian Government and Australian Sports Commission. The background uses orange and blue gradients.

    Commissioner Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, will deliver a special pre-recorded keynote at the ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum. A leading voice in disability rights, Commissioner Kayess helped draft the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, received the 2019 Human Rights Medal, and brings deep experience across disability councils and academia.

    Why attend?
    • Practical tools for inclusive program delivery
    • Evidence-based policy and research insights
    • Networking with national and grassroots leaders
    • Inspiration to lead inclusively in your space
    • An exclusive opportunity – attendance is capped at 110 delegates to ensure meaningful connections and engagement

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    Gold Sponsors

    Uber logo. It shows a landscape black logo with the word 'Uber' in white.
    Dentons Logo, it is a purple banner with white words stating 'Dentons'

    Silver Sponsors

    Gold Coast Airport Logo. Shows the wording 'GCA, Gold Coast Airport' in white on a blue background.

    Bronze Sponsors

    Achieve Australia logo. Shows the words 'Achieve Australia' staked on top of each other in a purple colour.

    Support Sponsors

    Sports Accounting Australia logo. Logo shows an 'SA' with a star next to it and the text "Sports Accounting Australia" in red and navy colours.

    Principle Partners

    Strategic Partners

    First Peoples Disability Network Logo. Shows an image of australia in artistic style with the wording 'First Peoples Disability Network' next to it.