Cricket Scotland has hosted the ICC Female Leadership Summit in Glasgow this week, bringing together women leaders from seven European nations to boost inclusion and skills in cricket. The three day event, timed with Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week and the global ICC Womens Cricket Week, wrapped up on Tuesday after workshops and talks on leadership challenges and growth opportunities.
Event Launch and Opening Celebrations
The summit started on Sunday with a lively gathering called a Wee Bash at Hutchesons Grammar School. This fun kickoff set the tone for the conference by connecting delegates right away.
Next came a special evening at Clydesdale Cricket Club to celebrate women in Scottish cricket. Attendees shared stories and built networks during this relaxed session. The timing linked perfectly with the start of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, which runs from October 6 to 12 and promotes active lifestyles for females across Scotland.
This week long initiative has sparked various sports events nationwide, including free cricket sessions for girls. It aligns with the ICCs new Womens Cricket Week, a global push from October 6 to 12 to highlight womens roles in the game and draw more fans.
Workshops Focus on Transferable Skills
Monday brought a full day of workshops run by ICC Europe experts. Delegates dove into topics like transferable skills from other fields to cricket leadership.
These sessions covered practical tools for career growth and handling daily hurdles in sports administration. Women from small nations like Luxembourg and Finland found value in learning from larger cricket setups in England and Scotland.
One key takeaway was how skills from business or education can strengthen cricket governance. Participants discussed real world examples, such as adapting to budget limits or building team morale. The group size allowed for open chats, fostering ideas that could spread across Europe.
Ministers Speech Inspires Delegates
On Tuesday, Maree Todd MSP, the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport, addressed the group. She praised Cricket Scotland and ICC Europe for driving female leadership in cricket.
Todd shared her own path into politics, stressing adaptability and resilience as core to success. Her talk touched on how these traits help leaders navigate changes in sports and beyond. Delegates appreciated her direct style and personal anecdotes, which made the session engaging.
This appearance highlighted Scotlands government support for women in sports. It came amid rising interest in female cricket, with the sport seeing a 20 percent jump in participation among girls in Europe over the last two years.
Key Themes and Participant Nations
The summits main theme was transferable skills and knowledge, but talks also explored inclusion and overcoming barriers for women in cricket. Female leaders remain a small group in the sport, so events like this build solidarity and best practices.
Here are the seven nations represented:
- Scotland
- England
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Belgium
- Jersey
- Finland
Each brought unique views, from established programs in the UK to emerging ones in smaller countries. Discussions revealed common issues like work life balance and gaining board seats.
| Day | Main Activities | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Wee Bash at Hutchesons Grammar School; Celebration at Clydesdale Cricket Club | Networking and fun start; Tied to Women and Girls in Sport Week |
| Monday | ICC Europe workshops | Focus on skills transfer and leadership tools |
| Tuesday | Keynote by Maree Todd MSP | Emphasis on resilience; Praise for organizers |
This table shows the structured flow that kept the event productive.
Broader Impact on Womens Cricket in Europe
The summit comes at a pivotal time for womens cricket. The ICCs Womens Cricket World Cup starts later this month in India, spotlighting the games growth. In Europe, efforts like this aim to close the gap, where women hold only about 30 percent of leadership roles in cricket bodies.
Cricket Scotlands head of growth and partnerships, Nic Wilson, noted the value in connecting across borders. She pointed out shared challenges and the need to promote good practices. Wilson thanked ICC Europe for the partnership, calling the days hugely beneficial.
Linking to recent trends, Scotlands hosting of the 2025 ICC Womens U19 T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier shows commitment to youth and female talent. Such events inspire more girls to join, addressing the drop off in participation after age 14 seen in many countries.
Overall, the summit strengthens Europes cricket community by empowering women to lead change. It supports the ICCs goal to make cricket inclusive, with female participation up 15 percent globally since 2020.
Readers, what do you think about efforts to boost women in sports? Share your views in the comments and spread the word by sharing this article to support female leaders in cricket.
