The first ever FIM-FIA Women in Motorsport World Conference will be held 17-18 August in Finland. Forty high-level speakers from 14 countries are lined up for the event.
Besides sharing stories of successful motorsport women – from MotoE racer Marìa Herrera (SPA) (second picture), to former rally champion Michèle Mouton (FRA), international circuit racing rider Shelina Moreda (USA) (top picture), F1 test driver Tatiana Caldéron (COL) and Hard Enduro Pioneer Kirsten Landman (SA) – the conference will involve a wide range of international experts.
The aim is to provide concrete solutions to several hot topics, such as how to attract more volunteers, how the federations should support competitors preparing their post-racing career – or help them manage their dual career – how athletes should consider themselves as brands and get sponsors, and what is the future of motorsport when it comes to sustainability and E-Series.
To answer these questions, a large array of speakers will be on stage such as Dr Lindsay Findlay-King, principal lecturer in sport management at Northumbria University (UK) and chair of UK Sports Volunteering, Mayi Cruz-Blanco, global head of athlete programmes from Cuba, Juha Dahlström, dual career expert from Metropolitan Sports Academy and, the Finnish Olympic Committee, and Bruno Chevolet, managing partner at Teammotivation Consulting (Belgium).
Coaching and training will be addressed at length during the conference, with experts sharing concrete tips with the audience.
The latest trends in motorcycling gears and how the manufacturers should target female users will be the topics of the Motosports Industry and Women session, with speakers such as Hannu Malinen, sales director and brand manager of Luhta Sportswear Company (Rukka Motorsport) and Midori Moriwaki, the rising leader of Japan´s business community and the world of motorcycle engineering and sports.
FIM president Jorge Viegas said: “We are very excited to have so many brilliant speakers joining us in Finland. Getting the next generation involved in motorcycling as riders or volunteers is a fundamental subject for us these days especially when the gap between generations is increasing.
“I am also looking forward getting tips from the experts outside our sports as we really value the importance of bench marking. I want to thank FIA for their co-operation with this historical event where we will share our common passion and plans for the future of motorsport.”
The registration deadline for the conference is 15 July. www.fim-women.com/registration
www.fim-women.com/women-in-motorsports-world-conference