On 6 March, the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR) hosted a breakfast event to bring together government, sport and business leaders to discuss how women’s sport is deepening ties between the two countries. With Australia and India’s women’s cricket and football teams competing in Perth at the time, the event provided a timely opportunity to consider how to sustain and grow women’s sport across both nations.
Hosted by cricket commentator Bharat Sundaresan, there were keynote addresses from Assistant Minister Nita Green, Indian Consul General to Perth Kajari Biswas, and CAIR’s acting CEO Cal McGuirk before a panel discussion with Christina Matthews AM, Jackie Lee-Joe and Trent Copeland.
The event was delivered in partnership with the Western Australian Government, DFAT’s WA State Office, WA Cricket, Cricket Australia, Football Australia and the University of Western Australia at the WACA.
Over the next decade, India is predicted to invest more in sport than any other country – offering strong commercial opportunities for Australia. The Centre stands ready to support deeper ties on and off the field.
Image details:
Left to right: Ms Kajari Biswas – Consul General of India to Western Australia and Northern Territory; Senator Varun Ghosh – Senator for Western Australia; and Bharat Sundaresan – Journalist and Sports Commentator.
Back row to right of banner (left to right): Cal McGuirk – a/g CEO of the Centre for Australia India Relations; Trent Copeland – Former Australian Cricketer, General Manager of Sydney Thunder and Broadcaster; and Dr Shaji Prabhakaran – Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee Member.
Front row to right of banner (left to right): Shuba Krishnan – Head of Strategic Communications at the Centre for Australia India Relations; Jaclyn Lee-Joe – Co-Chair of the Women's Asian Cup 2026 Local Organising Committee; and Christina Matthews AM – Former CEO of WA Cricket and President of the Australian Cricketers Association.