By Linda Pearce
As World Netball Chief Executive Officer Fiona Harold considers and refines a Global Event Project blueprint designed to help plot the direction of the sport internationally, she spoke to netball.com.au about the important considerations ahead.
Netball World Cups will remain quadrennial for now in the countdown to Sydney 2027, with hosting bids soon to be sought for the next editions, in 2031 and 2035.
New ideas, proposed last year, are under review.
“There has been work done on a Global Event Project which started well before I joined, looking at how World Netball works with some of its key nations to look at calendar alignment and try and unlock some additional opportunities,'' says Harold, who was appointed last November.
“That project is under review because it’s critical that I take the time to understand the context and shape it so that I can drive it forward with conviction. We're a very lean organisation, very tight on human and financial resources, and we need to get it right for the game. We will move as quickly as we can but it can’t hold up business as usual so if there's one thing that I absolutely do need to achieve this year, it is procuring hosts for the 2031 and 2035 Netball World Cups.’’
Another key priority for Harold is clarifying netball’s Commonwealth Games position. Following initial uncertainty over the choice of non-core sports for a scaled-down 2026 edition relocated from regional Victoria to Glasgow, Harold is seeking assurances for any future Games and is currently in a consultation process with the Commonwealth Games Federation.
“Otherwise that presents a window in the calendar,’’ she says. “And then we have to be respectful of and understand the value and challenges around existing international fixtures for England, New Zealand, Australia and others.
“(That includes) the Constellation Cup, the bi-laterals that are in the calendar, ambitions around domestic leagues etc, and trying to be more cohesive to understand how we can continue to have that cadence of fixtures that fits everybody's objectives.
“We’re a Member organisation and we have to remember that we have Members of really diverse capability. So what England, Australia, New Zealand might want is different to what other nations might want and/or need.’’
Harold stands by her early decision to pause the FAST5 Netball World Series for now as she consults stakeholders, seeks feedback and reviews netball’s current slimmed-down, short-form version and compares it with those in other sports.
Harold’s questions: “Is it a short enough format? Are we obsessed about having short formats? Do we need a short format? Who’s it for? Is it for the best players in the world because it needs to be if you're going to sell it properly. Does it need to be an Olympic format? Does it reach a different fan demographic etc?
“It’s on pause and we're doing a product review as part of the wider global event strategy piece. We need to work through whether there is a future for FAST5 or whether more broadly there is a future for a shorter format or a different format.
The Origin Diamonds are ranked No.1 in the world.“It could be that we look at it as an option for mixed netball. It could be our elite men’s product. It could be that we have a different format altogether on a half-court. It is a slightly blank sheet of paper from my point of view. It's not demonstrating the commercial return it was meant to and that for me is a problem, so you've got to look at why it's not and it might be that it's because we've not resourced, nurtured or promoted it properly, or and that actually the format would work if we give it due attention.
First and foremost, we've really got to redefine what we're trying to do with any short format or different format and if we actually need one. That is on the ever-growing list of priorities, and we're working through it.’’
Harold’s Australian visit included attending the SportNXT conference in Melbourne and, with Netball Australia CEO Stacey West, a tour of the Homebush facilities that will be home to the 2027 NWC.
The two share ambitions for an innovative event that provides an excellent experience from an athlete point of view, compelling for fans and fertile for content opportunities, while harnessing old traditions and building new ones through possible format, presentation and fan experience tweaks.
“We've obviously got budget considerations, but we're all very much aligned on trying to do what we can to make this a slightly different Netball World Cup and better than anything that's gone before, ensuring that we appeal to that really passionate netball audience, but catching the attention of new consumers as well,’’ Harold says.
So, what of all those painfully one-sided pool games before the real action begins?
“If we're trying to drive increased audiences and revenues through ticket sales, a more compelling partner proposition and media/content rights, then people tuning into just the semis and final isn't going to cut it,’’ says Harold, acknowledging the importance of drawing an audience from day one.
Australia represents a safe pair of hosting hands, and Harold and her team inherited a bid proposal with an agreed budget, venues and competition deliverables, so there is limited room to manoeuvre in some respects but absolutely a shared ambition to deliver an incredible event.
“We will aim to raise the bar across the board where we can, making some tweaks and making it the best Netball World Cup we possibly can, and then I've got an opportunity for 2031 onwards to move it on again.’’
Even before moving into the big chair, Harold - as a former teenage goal attack and school captain - had personal experience of a sport that has touched so many in a positive way.
She believes the biggest challenge facing netball is navigating the complex, fast changing and competitive global landscape, which is also seeing the continued rise of women’s sports across the board, to maintain and grow the current profile and participation rates of netball. This will require all stakeholders working together to evolve and expand the entire ecosystem.
On her Australian visit, Harold was struck by the sport’s strength and breadth, through the WN World Ranked No.1 Origin Diamonds and world-leading Suncorp Super Netball league, and sees the benefit in working collaboratively with Australia and other leading nations to help WN expand into developing markets such as the Middle East and India where they have really proactive Member federations.
Adding to the degree of difficulty, a sport rich in human resources lacks the financial investment, security and visibility of those backed by major male codes domestically and internationally.
“We have to be really cognisant of that to make sure that we do still continue to grow and stand out as the number one loud and proud women's sport,’’ Harold says.
“There's a lot of challenges, opportunities, priorities and we've got to be realistic about the resources we do have, but I'm excited about the opportunity and working with a brilliant community,’’ Harold says.
“I think there is appetite and desire to move the game forward, however that is, and there is recognition that with what's happening in the global sports marketplace we do need to be fully aware of how that could be a threat to netball if we don't continue to evolve.
“So let's hope I can bring people on a journey and that we enter into a new chapter. Which takes time, but ultimately, we've got to push on, make the big decisions and take a long-term approach.’’
