Women Onside

What Women Onside does

Women Onside is an Australian not-for-profit advocacy organization founded in July 2017 to promote gender equality in Australian football. It is structured as a company limited by guarantee, registered in Victoria with a Melbourne office, and governed by an 8-member board (7 elected directors and 1 appointed director) chaired by Kerry Harris with Kieran Pender as Deputy Chair. The organization was instrumental in embedding the 40:40:20 gender representation rule into the Football Federation Australia (now Football Australia) constitution, requiring governance bodies to include at least 40% women, 40% men, and 20% flexibility; as of 2026, 55% of governing bodies are compliant. The co-founder and inaugural Chair Maria Berry AM passed away in September 2025, and the organization launched a namesake coaching scholarship in early 2026 to preserve her legacy.

The product portfolio is a membership-based advocacy ecosystem rather than a technology platform. Core offerings include three membership tiers (Associate free non-voting, Annual $22, Auto-Renewed Annual $22), the Onside Mentoring Program, the bi-annual Women in Football Leadership Conference, the Getting on Board Masterclass (three-part online governance series), the Maria Berry AM Coaching Scholarship, Special Interest Groups, Legal Support delivered via partnerships with Working Women's Centres, annual research publications (Women Onside Index and Coach Tracker), and a calendar of Events and Webinars. The underlying technology is a Wix-hosted website used for membership acquisition, content distribution, and event promotion; no proprietary software, APIs, or AI/ML systems are operated.

Revenue is generated through three streams: low-priced recurring individual memberships at $22 per year, tax-deductible donations facilitated through the Australian Sports Foundation (donations over $2 are deductible), and commercial partnerships with aligned organizations. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via womenonside.com.au, supplemented by in-person events across Australia and virtual events accessible nationwide. The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan targets a base of 1,500+ members and 70% retention by 2027, with current membership undisclosed; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed and the operational team comprises approximately 6 staff. The organization serves women, gender diverse people, and allies across all levels of Australian football from grassroots to governance, with membership also open to international supporters.

Name

Women Onside

Legal name

Women Onside Limited

Website

https://womenonside.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women Onside is an Australian not-for-profit advocacy organization founded in 2017 to advance gender equality in Australian football. It operates a membership-based ecosystem offering mentoring, scholarships, conferences, and research to support women across coaching, governance, and administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Advocacy and Gender Equality Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF)

Keywords

• Gender equality advocacy
• Sports governance
• Membership organization
• Women in football
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Women Onside generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees. Members pay $22 per year (inclusive of GST) for access to exclusive events, member-only resources, networking opportunities, and special interest networks. The organization offers three membership tiers: Associate Member (free, non-voting), Annual Membership ($22/year), and Auto-Renewed Annual Membership ($22/year).
2. Donations and Fundraising: Women Onside accepts tax-deductible donations through the Australian Sports Foundation. Donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia. The organization also runs crowdfunding campaigns to support specific programs such as the Maria Berry AM Coaching Scholarship.
3. Commercial Partnerships: Women Onside pursues commercial partnerships with organizations seeking to support gender equality in women's football. These strategic partnerships provide revenue and support the organization's mission to advance women in football through advocacy, programs, and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Women Onside is a not-for-profit membership-based advocacy organization that advances gender equality in Australian football through annual memberships ($22/year), mentoring programs, leadership conferences, governance masterclasses, coaching scholarships, research publications, special interest networks, and legal support services. Members and supporters include women players, coaches, referees, administrators, and allies across all levels of Australian football from grassroots to professional.

Product overview

Women Onside is a not-for-profit membership-based advocacy organization offering a portfolio of programs and services to advance women in Australian football. The core offering is membership (Associate, Annual, and Auto-Renewed Annual tiers at $22/year) providing access to exclusive events, resources, and professional development networks. Key programs include the Onside Mentoring Program connecting women with experienced mentors, the Women in Football Leadership Conference (bi-annual), the Getting on Board Masterclass for governance training, the Maria Berry AM Coaching Scholarship for grassroots coaches, Research Trackers including the annual Women Onside Index and Coach Tracker reports, Special Interest Groups for networking across coaching, governance, and administration, Legal Support services through Working Women's Centres, and Events & Webinars for community building. The organization also offers Commercial Partnerships for organizations seeking to support gender equality in football. The product portfolio is unified under the Women Onside brand as a comprehensive ecosystem supporting women at all levels of football from grassroots to governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Women Onside Annual Membership Annual voting membership program offering exclusive access to events, webinars, advocacy opportunities, member-only resources, special interest networks, and professional development for supporters of gender equality in football, priced at AUD $22 per year (incl. GST).
• Associate Membership Free non-voting membership tier providing access to exclusive events, webinars, advocacy opportunities, and community connection for individuals supporting the Women Onside mission.
• Auto-Renewed Annual Membership Annual membership with automatic yearly renewal at AUD $22 per year (incl. GST), providing ongoing access to member resources, special interest networks, and professional development opportunities.
• Onside Mentoring Program Mentorship initiative connecting women across football with experienced mentors to build leadership skills, confidence, and opportunities through tailored guidance and professional development.
• Women in Football Leadership Conference Bi-annual premier conference bringing together thought leaders, professionals, and aspiring women leaders from across football to engage in transformative discussions, share experiences, and promote gender equity.
• Getting on Board Masterclass Three-part online series equipping women with knowledge, skills, and confidence to step into board and committee roles within football governance, covering governance obligations, financial literacy, election processes, and networking.
• Maria Berry AM Coaching Scholarship Scholarship program honoring Maria Berry AM, providing financial support, mentoring, professional development, and coaching network access for women and gender diverse coaches at community level.
• Research Trackers Annual research initiative providing data and insights on participation, leadership representation, and investment trends in women's football across Australia, including the Women Onside Index and Coach Tracker reports.
• Special Interest Groups Community groups connecting women across football to share knowledge, build networks, and support leadership in coaching, governance, and administration through storytelling, mentorship, and shared experiences.
• Legal Support Support service providing resources and referral pathways for women navigating unsafe, unfair, or unlawful treatment in football environments through partnerships with Working Women's Centres across Australia.
• Events & Webinars Events and webinars bringing together football professionals, players, and advocates for practical workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities to celebrate and advance women's football.
• Commercial Partnerships Commercial partnership program inviting organizations to support gender equality in football through strategic partnerships that amplify voices, drive systemic change, and invest in women's football leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55% of Australian football governing bodies compliant with 40/40/20 gender equality target as of 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Melbourne VictorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Strategic partnership for the Maria Berry AM Coaching Scholarship. Melbourne Victory provides a coaching internship for the major scholarship recipient and supports the scholarship program's professional development component.
• Football Coaches AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Strategic partner for the Maria Berry AM Coaching Scholarship. FCA provides membership, mentoring from the coaching network, access to resources and webinars, and professional development support for scholarship recipients.
• Beyond 90supportingOthersLogo partner supporting Women Onside's mission to promote gender equality in football. Beyond 90 is a women's football media platform.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Our Watch: Australia's leading national primary prevention organization for violence against women. Adjacent gender-equality advocacy mandate with comparable research, policy, and community engagement functions.
• Football Australia: National governing body of football in Australia and the principal entity Women Onside seeks to influence on gender-equity policy. Overlapping governance remit but vastly larger scope and resources.
• Sport Australia (Australian Sports Commission): Federal government agency responsible for sports policy and funding in Australia, including gender equity initiatives. Sets the macro policy environment in which Women Onside operates.
• WomenSport International: Global non-profit network promoting women in sport at the international federation level. Comparable advocacy mission but operates at a transnational scale across all sports.

Others

• Australian Sports Foundation: Tax-deductible fundraising infrastructure that channels donations to Women Onside. Functions as enabling infrastructure rather than a peer organization.
• Equality Australia: Australian national LGBTIQ+ human rights organization. Operates in a related advocacy space (rights-based campaigning, policy reform) without overlapping football/sport focus.
• Beyond 90: Australian women's football media platform listed as a Women Onside logo partner. Adjacent ecosystem participant providing media amplification rather than advocacy.
• June Canavan Foundation: Existing Women Onside logo partner that funds women in sport and football. Functions as a donor/funding ally rather than a direct advocacy peer.

Direct peers

• Women in Sport (UK): Long-standing UK charity advocating for gender equality across all sports. Operates with a similar combination of research, advocacy, and program delivery, making it a closely comparable organizational model.
• Women in Football (UK): UK-based membership and advocacy organization focused on gender equality in football. Explicitly cited as Women Onside's international counterpart, with collaboration on annual surveys and advocacy initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WomenOnside
• Facebookfacebook.com/womenonside
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womenonside
• Instagraminstagram.com/womenonside

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women Onside