2021 Women in Leadership Fund recipient Vanessa Robertson using new skills to grow Rugby Nova Scotia

October 27, 2022 (Halifax, NS) – Currently the Provincial Administrative Coordinator for Rugby Nova Scotia, Vanessa Robertson’s aspiration to continue to develop her sport management skills and apply them in the Nova Scotia rugby community made her an ideal recipient for the inaugural Women in Leadership Fund in 2021.

With an undergrad from Acadia University and her Master’s in Sports Management from the University of Ottawa, Robertson has applied her trade with Rugby Nova Scotia since 2020.

With the funds she received through her successful application to the program, Robertson completed one course, is enrolled in two more this fall and attended a Gender Equity in Sports Conference hosted by Tennis Canada.

“The gender equity conference gave us the opportunity to be present for an interview and conversation with Billy Jean King about her impact in Tennis and how to advance Gender Equity – it was fantastic.”

Commenting on the course she took at Toronto Metropolitan University called Financial Management for Non-Profits, Robertson said, “It was extremely beneficial to better my understanding of the financial aspects of non-profit sport organizations, something that I think is beneficial in any leadership role. I gained a large number of resources to help me succeed in this area.”

In the coming weeks, Vanessa will start her final two courses funded by the Women in Leadership program. Put on by St.Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, developing leaderships skills, strategic thinking and operational management will be the focus of the “Skills for New Mangers” and “Operational Excellence” courses Robertson will take.

“Overall, I think the funding provided has given me an opportunity to look closely at myself and look at areas I believe I need to develop in order to bring a new perspective, knowledge and growth to the organization I support, Rugby Nova Scotia. This program has given me an opportunity to actually afford the development opportunities I want and because of this funding I can support the organization in new and enhanced ways, something they were hoping this opportunity would do.”

Women in Leadership Fund 2022

The 2022 edition of this program will extend to wider range of eligible applicants in comparison the inaugural Women in Leadership Fund that was launched in 2021. In the first year, applicants only qualified if they were part of a provincial union’s staff, board or executive committee. Now the Women in Leadership Fund will award six recipients from rugby club executive committees across the country funding of up to $2000 to pursue development opportunities that will enhance their ability to lead from within our sport.

Find the full Women in Leadership Fund overview here.

Eligible applicants must:

• Currently be involved in rugby at an administrative or governance level within a Provincial Union or Provincial Board of Directors OR,
• Currently be involved in rugby at a governance level within a member club.

How it Works:

Step 1: Applications
Application forms can be accessed here and will be accepted until Monday, November 7th, 2022, at 5pm EST.

Step 2: Selections & Notification
Selections will be made by Monday, November 28th, 2022. Once all those selected have been notified and have accepted the funding, the recipients will be publicly announced.

Step 3: Professional Development
Each recipient will move forward with pursuing their personal development plan that was part of their application.

Step 4: Reporting
As part of the agreement in receiving the fund, each recipient commits to sharing their journey through reports, photos and any other method they may choose.