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<\/p>\nDr Anita White, founder of the IWG, has today been recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours List.
\nAnita will be honoured with a CBE in recognition of her services to women and to sport throughout
\nher career, which has spanned over 40 years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Beginning her career as an athlete, Anita won 42 caps representing England at hockey, leading the
\nteam to world cup victory in 1975. A lack of recognition for the women\u2019s team\u2019s achievements
\nencouraged Anita to be amongst a group of women who established the \u2018Women\u2019s Sport
\nFoundation\u2019 (now \u2018Women In Sport\u2019) in 1984 \u2013 the first organisation of its kind in the UK.<\/p>\n
Ten years later, Anita went on to establish the first official \u2018World Conference on Women and Sport\u2019
\nin 1994, from which the IWG was born. Anita remains close to the IWG in her role as Strategic
\nAdvisor, offering guidance and support to the current UK Secretariat.<\/p>\n
As well as playing an integral role in the creation of these two important organisations for advancing
\ngender equality and equity in women\u2019s sport both in the UK and worldwide, Anita has also
\nestablished the \u2018Anita White Foundation\u2019 and the \u2018Anita White Fund\u2019. The Anita White Foundation
\nwas launched in 2011 to support the education and development of women leaders from countries
\nwhere women face particular challenges. A key achievement of the Foundation is the establishment
\nof the Women's Sport Leadership Academy (WSLA) in 2013, which has provided development
\nopportunities to 456 women leaders from across 76 countries.<\/p>\n
As a legacy of the Foundation, the Anita White Fund was launched in conjunction with the IWG
\nearlier this year and consists of two sets of awards \u2013 The Anita White Catalyst Grant and The Cath
\nSweet Award \u2013 established to honour Dr Anita White CBE and the late Cath Sweet, two leading
\nfigures in the women and sport movement and international sport development. The Anita White
\nFund has provided micro grants to support 18 projects across 14 countries, empowering women in
\nsport and helping women access sport, around the world.<\/p>\n
Dr Anita White CBE said: \u201cIt is a great honour to be named alongside all the other people recognised
\nfor their service this year. It is my belief that sport is for everyone, and in the past forty years
\ntremendous strides forward have been made \u2013 but we must go further to achieve true equality. I
\nhope this honour inspires other women and girls to break down barriers and smash glass ceilings in
\n2025.\u201d<\/p>\n
Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Chair of the IWG UK Secretariat, said: \u201cCongratulations to Anita from
\neverybody at the IWG \u2013 it is great to see this recognition for such a remarkable woman. Anita has
\nhad a trailblazing career in advancing gender equality within sport globally.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cThe IWG celebrated its 30th anniversary this year giving us an opportunity to look back and
\ncelebrate the achievements that have been made due to Anita\u2019s determination, dedication and
\nforesight. The IWG is committed to progressing this mission and are very thankful for Anita\u2019s
\ncontinued support.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"