The Australian Athletics National Coaching Conference (AANCC) and Women in Coaching and Leadership Day (WCLD) brings together coaches from across Australia and around the world to connect, learn, and lead the future of athlete development in athletics.
Hosted at the University of Queensland in Brisbane from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October 2026, this three-day conference will explore what it means to be future-ready as we build toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The conference will feature leading experts from Australia, Oceania, and internationally, alongside strong opportunities for connection and collaboration through structured networking sessions. The conference centers on equipping coaches with the tools, knowledge, and network needed to evolve training environments, athlete support systems, and performance practice. From community participation through to high performance, the program will deliver practical, real-world insights where technical mastery meets innovation and impact.
📅 Dates: 9–11 October 2026
📍 Location: University of Queensland, Brisbane
*This event will only be in person to have a focus on connection and network; it will not be available online.
**The Women in Coaching & Leadership Day is open to everyone and welcomes all coaches to attend, but it will be centered around the needs of our women in coaching.
Early Bird: (closes 1 June 2026):
Standard Registration:
Get ready to learn from Australian and International experts.
Hayes is an Olympic gold medallist (Athens 2004, 100m hurdles) who has successfully transitioned into coaching, developing multiple Olympians and World Championship medallists including Rai Benjamin, Jasmine Jones, and Sydney McLaughlin. Named USA Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2024 and currently Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at UCLA, Hayes brings rare insight as someone who has excelled at the highest level both as an athlete and coach, building high-performance cultures with an athlete-centred approach.
Clements is the Executive General Manager of AIS Performance at the Australian Sports Commission, leading the national high-performance system to support Australian athletes to achieve podium success. Since joining in 2018, she has driven the integration of wellbeing into performance, establishing key initiatives such as the Mental Health Referral Network and the Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Manager Network. A qualified psychologist with over 15 years’ experience across elite sport, she has worked with organisations including the AFL, Cricket Australia, Netball Australia, and Tennis Australia, and currently chairs the HP2032+ Strategy Leadership Group guiding Australia’s high-performance strategy towards Brisbane 2032.
*This day is open to everyone and welcomes all coaches to attend, but it will be centered around the needs of our women in coaching
| 8:00am Registration opens |
| 8:30am Conference Opens |
| 8:45am Keynote Speaker Presentation with Joanna Hayes |
| 9:45am Beyond Athletics: What Other Sports Are Teaching Us About Coaching |
| 10:30am Morning Tea |
| 11:00am Practical |
| 1:00pm Lunch |
| 1:45pm Workshop 1 |
| 2:45pm Workshop 2 |
| 3:30pm Afternoon tea |
| 4:00pm Winning Well: The Role of Coach Wellbeing in Performance and Sustainability with Matti Clements |
| 5:15pm Networking Event |
| 8:00am Registration opens |
| 8:45am Keynote Speech Presentation with Joanna Hayes |
| 9:45am Coaching From the Inside Out: Advancing Intrapersonal Expertise in Sport Coaches with Lauren Robinson |
| 10:30am Morning Tea |
| 11:00am Event Group Practical: Horizonal Jumps, Throws 1, Short Sprints, Distance, Hurdles, Walks, Wheelchair |
| 12:00pm Event Group Practical: Vertical Jumps, Throws 2, Long Sprints, Starts, Ultra/Trail, Walks Strategy, Para Throws |
| 1:00pm Lunch |
| 1:30pm Influence of Coaches on Athlete Development Panel with Nicola Olyslages & TBC |
| 2:45pm Exhibitor Practical Presentations |
| 3:30pm Afternoon tea |
| 4:00pm Jury Duty: Integrity Case Studies in Athletics with Briar Sefo and Mariah Ririnui |
| 5:30pm Coaching Impact Awards and Conference Dinner Function |
| 8:00am Registration opens |
| 9:00am Psychology Split with Cliff Mallett and TBC |
| 9:45am Physiology and S&C Split |
| 10:30am Morning Tea |
| 11:00am Injury Rehabilitation Split |
| 11:45am Health and Nutrition Split |
| 12:30pm Lunch |
| 1:15pm Building Better Athletes: Practical Approaches to Preparation, Recovery & Resilience |
| 2:45pm The Future of Coaching with Bill Davoren |
| 3:45pm Closing Remarks |
| 4:00pm Official Close of Conference |
| 4:00pm Close of Day and Optional Networking |
More speakers to be announced soon
This activity received grant funding from the Australian Government.
