Well, I think it's largely a gender equity issue to have more women and girls in sport and especially in a male dominated sport like football, the world game.
It's even more important to enable women and girls to have opportunities to play the game, to referee, to coach, to be at the board table where decisions are made about women and women's involvement in sport.
I've used my voice wherever possible to advocate for equitable rights for women and girls, for programmes to be developed for women and girls, to have things such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games come in and be available for women.
Whether it's lobbying for a National League, whether it's somehow keeping Canberra United afloat for the nine seasons that I was CEO there and Capital Football, I would like to think that my own journey has inspired many others to speak not just for themselves, but for all the others that are part of this great world game. It's no secret that it's been a tough road at times.
I've been subjected to some of the worst discrimination, to some of the worst name calling, the sexism, the misogyny, the homophobia.
But the rewards outnumber that. There was an article in a local paper about women's soccer in the ACT, a success story. It was about the 25th anniversary of women's soccer in the ACT.
And I'm quoted as saying that women's football will be the number one sport for women and girls in this country and a world around the world in 20 years.
And I'm proud to say that 20 years later, women's soccer, women's football is the number one sport for girls and women in this country and around the world.
There's an expression that's often used about you can't be what you can't see. I flip that around and say you can be what you can see.
And the World Cup in 2023 highlighted the importance of visibility. So many goosebump moments, so many, you know, spine tingling moments where we saw 10s of thousands of new supporters, boys, girls, men, women, all ages coming to support the Matildas.
It was phenomenal to be at Sydney Stadium, for example, where there was a sea of green and gold. It's mainstreamed.
It's a game that has arrived, but we still have a long way to go.
Professor Henry Brodaty is transforming the diagnosis, care and prevention of dementia – improving countless lives, both in Australia and around the world.
In 1972, Henry’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at just 52 years old. At that time, dementia was poorly understood and often ignored. People living with dementia and carers had little support and no pathway forward.
His father’s experience catalysed a lifetime of work that not only revolutionised Henry’s own field of psychiatry, but also the lives of people living with dementia and their families.
In 2012, Henry co-founded the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing and led internationally significant research that enhanced the world’s understanding of risk and prevention. His large Maintain Your Brain trial demonstrated that straightforward, cost-effective, targeted interventions can profoundly delay onset and even prevent dementia.
Henry is a leader who has reshaped dementia care from every angle as he navigates toward a future where dementia is better treated and prevented.
Learn more about positive ageing at health.gov.au/positive-ageing