Changes the Game
where business meets sport
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Jill Scott MBE is a former England international footballer and broadcaster who earned 161 caps and helped the Lionesses win UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. Her club career included Sunderland, Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa, and she represented Great Britain at the London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Since retiring from football, Jill has moved into broadcasting and public speaking. Drawing on her experience in elite sport, she shares insights on resilience, teamwork, overcoming setbacks and navigating career changes.
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Carla Ward is Head Coach of the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team, appointed by the Football Association of Ireland in January 2025. A former professional player, she previously managed Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Carla also worked with the United States Women’s National Team during their gold-medal-winning campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Her career spans club and international football, with experience of developing players, managing elite teams and supporting the growth of the women’s game.
& Lisa Strutt
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Sinéad Sharkey-Steenson and Lisa Strutt are leadership coaches and co-founders of Impact Players and Career Reboot. With more than 20 years’ experience each, their work spans business, sport and women’s leadership development. They have delivered the Irish FA’s female leadership programmes, combining coaching, mental fitness training and practical leadership development. Their programmes help women strengthen confidence and take on decision-making roles. Through Impact Players, they bring leaders from sport and business together to exchange insights, build networks and support more women to progress into leadership.
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Gail Redmond MBE manages Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-17 and Under-19 teams for the Irish Football Association. A former Northern Ireland captain and UEFA Pro Licence coach, she has more than two decades of coaching experience, including work with the senior international team and Glentoran Women. Gail previously led women’s football development within the Irish FA Foundation and has worked to expand opportunities for girls and women in the game. She received an MBE for services to association football.
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Award-winning clinical psychologist and author of The Tree That Bends, Prof Ross White specialises in mental health, wellbeing and psychological flexibility in high-performance environments. As founding director of Strive2Thrive, his consultancy and training have supported leading organisations including the Irish Rugby Football Union, the Football Association of England, Everton Football Club Academy and Dentons global law firm. He is an Honorary Professor of Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast.
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Sue Anstiss MBE is the founder and director of Fearless Women and has worked to advance women’s sport for more than 30 years. An author, filmmaker and podcaster, she wrote Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport and directed the documentary of the same name. She created and hosts The Game Changers podcast and co-founded the Women’s Sport Collective, a community for women working in sport. Sue received an MBE in 2018 for her services to women’s and grassroots sport.
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Emma Ledden is a presenter, author and communication specialist with 30 years’ experience across broadcasting and business communication. A former BBC presenter and MTV Europe’s first Irish presenter, she is the author of The Presentation Book and The Communication Book. Her work helps people communicate clearly, build confidence and find their voice. Drawing on her broadcasting career and communication training, Emma also hosts the Finding Your Pink podcast and created Courageous Communicators, a programme designed to build children’s communication skills.
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Belinda Brown is a fractional Chief Financial Officer, executive coach and strategic adviser, with senior leadership experience at Diageo, L’Oréal and Sephora. A Chartered Global Management Accountant and Queen’s University Belfast graduate, she supports growing businesses across consumer, retail and professional services. She is a trustee of the National Football Trust and a member of Queen’s University Belfast Foundation Board. Her work combines finance and business transformation with a longstanding commitment to mentoring and more inclusive leadership.
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Katherine Moore brings more than 20 years of experience working with global financial institutions, building client relationships and supporting organisations through change. Now with Neueda, she contributes experience in payments, customer partnerships and business transformation. Her professional interests include helping early-career talent develop communication skills and confidence alongside technical knowledge. A keen runner with an interest in strength training and HYROX, she also shares reflections on the connections between consistency, mental fitness and performance in work and sport.
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Dr Kathryn Canavan is an emergency medicine doctor and footballer who has competed in both Gaelic and association football. A Steelstown Brian Ógs player, she has represented Derry in ladies Gaelic football and Northern Ireland at youth level in association football. After playing for Leyton Orient, she joined Derry City, where she was appointed joint captain in 2021. Alongside sport, Kathryn contributes to medical education, helping deliver practical skills training and simulation for clinical staff and students.
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Marie McGrady is Managing Director of Belfast Skin Clinic, which provides consultant-led dermatology, plastic surgery, laser and aesthetic services. She has completed the Institute of Directors’ Certificate in Company Direction, developing her expertise in governance and business leadership. Alongside her professional role, she supports Cancer Fund for Children. In 2026, she joined Rory Best and fellow business leaders for Rory’s Miles to Mayo, a fundraising challenge covering 235 miles across Ireland to support children and families affected by cancer.
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Sorcha Mac Laimhín is Development Manager in Major Gifts at Queen’s University Belfast and an advocate for women’s participation and leadership in rugby. A Cooke RFC player and volunteer, she contributes to the IRFU Women in Rugby Network and has served as the Ulster Women and Girls’ representative for the Energia All-Ireland League. A graduate of the Spirit of Rugby Leadership programme, she has helped develop initiatives including Yer Ma 7s and Touch to Tackle, creating more accessible opportunities for women to get involved in rugby.
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Ciara Riddell is a BBC broadcast producer with more than 20 years’ experience in media, journalism and communications. Her production credits include The Lynette Fay Show and BBC Radio Ulster’s consumer affairs programme On Your Behalf. Her work has helped bring conversations about women’s lives, health, family and careers to a wider audience. Alongside her broadcasting work, Ciara volunteers with Menopause Connect NI, supporting awareness and education around menopause and women’s wellbeing.
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Joanne McCune is Managing Director of McCune Management Services (MCMS), an independent, female-led professional services business based in Belfast. Established in 2013, MCMS supports clients with project and cost management, security design, financial data analysis and business operations. Joanne leads a team whose work spans individual assignments and large international programmes, including projects delivered alongside a Fortune 10 technology company. Her business focus is helping organisations improve delivery, strengthen governance and manage costs through practical, tailored support.
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- Access to the event
- Access to the pre- and after-party
- Additional events and webinars (coming soon)
- Access to recordings of 2025, 2026 and 2027 keynotes
- Access to our community platform (coming soon)
- A fab lunch and refreshments on the day of the conference
- ...and more to be announced in the coming months
- Get 5 tickets and we'll donate a ticket to an up-and-coming Impact Player
- Access to the pre- and after-party
- Access to recordings of 2025, 2026 and 2027 keynotes
- A fab lunch and refreshments on the day
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Subject: Request to attend Impact Players Live 2027, Belfast, 25 May Hi [Manager], I’d love your support to attend Impact Players Live 2027, taking place on 25 May at ICC Belfast. It’s a leadership conference for ambitious women and allies, bringing together the worlds of business and elite sport to explore what it takes to lead, perform and make a bigger impact. This year’s headline speakers include Jill Scott MBE, Lionesses legend and European champion, and Carla Ward, former Aston Villa manager and Republic of Ireland women’s national team head coach, alongside inspiring leaders from business and sport. Previous attendees have said: - “I’m not going to be the same person after this.” – Lakshmi Vishwanath - “It was the best conference I’ve ever attended.” – Archita Fritz - “We came away with so many new ideas, insights and inspiration to bring back into our work.” – NI Music Therapy Trust Why I think it’s a great investment: - Practical leadership insights – Fresh thinking on mindset, performance, resilience and leading teams, with ideas I can apply immediately. - Valuable connections – Opportunities to learn from and connect with ambitious leaders across industries. - Development beyond the day – Access to the 2025–2027 keynote recording library and the Impact Players community, with ongoing learning and events. - A stronger leadership pipeline – Supporting women to advance into decision-making roles and helping organisations develop and retain talent. There’s also a 5-a-side team ticket, making it a great opportunity for colleagues to attend together, share the learning and bring fresh ideas back to the business. Corporate leadership development packages are available too. You can find out more here: https://weareimpactplayers.com/live I’d really appreciate your support to attend. Thanks, [Name]
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Our philosophy is simple: learning happens best when you’re engaged and energised, not struggling to stay awake. This event promises to be both exciting and impactful, with speakers who bring a perfect mix of expertise and enthusiasm.
Ambitious, capable women who want to achieve more in their careers, leadership and lives. Non-binary people and male allies who share our mission are welcome too. Whether you’re from business or sport, you’ll meet inspiring leaders.
Ask for a no-questions-asked refund up until February 14th 2027. After this date, you can sell or gift your ticket to somebody else and request a free-of-charge name change.
Many of the speakers will be present throughout the event and at the social gatherings. It’s your chance to engage, connect, and leave such an impression that they head home completely exhausted, but in the best way possible.
We challenge our speakers to deliver advanced insights, actionable strategies, and practical advice. This isn’t a fundamentals conference, nor is it filled with empty inspiration. Whether you’re just starting out or already established, it’s designed to accelerate your growth.
We’re confident that Impact Players will go ahead. However, if we have to cancel at any point, you’ll receive a full refund.
If you would like to invoice for tickets through your company please email lisa@rebootandreturn.com.
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