Marshall Islands Representative Joins Regional Tennis Leadership Program
Neilani Ackley from the Marshall Islands has commenced her participation in the 2025-26 Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis (PWLiT) Program, with initial workshops recently held in Papua New Guinea. This significant regional initiative aims to empower and develop female leaders within the sport across the Pacific.
Program Fosters Women's Leadership in Pacific Tennis
The Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis Program is a key component of Tennis Australia's 'Pacific Women and Girls in Tennis - Emerging on to the World Stage' program. It is generously funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and PacificAusSports, in collaboration with Tennis Australia and the Oceania Tennis Federation (OTF). The program's core objective is to equip women with the essential skills, knowledge, and confidence required to assume leadership roles in tennis within their home countries and on the international stage. This includes preparing them for professional positions on sporting boards, committees, and national and regional sporting organizations.
Workshops Held in Papua New Guinea
The 2025-26 cohort, comprising eleven women from eight Pacific nations, began its journey with workshops in Papua New Guinea. This marks the first occasion that Papua New Guinea has hosted this regional leadership workshop. The initial sessions, held on October 14 and 15, 2025, focused on critical areas such as
- stakeholder engagement
- goal setting
- public speaking
Neilani Ackley's Role and Program Impact
Neilani Ackley, who serves as the Vice President for Women's Development at the Marshall Islands Tennis Association (MITA), brings valuable experience to the program. Her participation underscores the program's commitment to developing leaders who can drive tennis development and gender equality in their respective nations. Over the past three years, the PWLiT Program has successfully graduated 29 women, empowering them to lead tennis development initiatives, mentor future generations, and represent their countries on various platforms. The 2025-26 program will conclude in January 2026 with final workshops and a graduation ceremony held during the Australian Open in Melbourne.
6 Comments
Muchacho
Is this really making a difference on the ground, or just another PR event?
Coccinella
Highlighting Neilani Ackley's participation is inspiring for many. Yet, we need to ensure that the focus on elite leadership doesn't overshadow the need for basic infrastructure and access to tennis for girls at the community level.
Mariposa
While empowering women in leadership roles is commendable, I wonder if the significant travel costs could be better utilized for local, ongoing development programs within each island nation.
Muchacha
Only 11 women? That's barely a drop in the ocean for such a vast region.
Mariposa
Another foreign-funded project. Are local governments doing enough for their own women?
Bella Ciao
It's great that women are gaining leadership skills, but the article doesn't detail how these skills translate into tangible, long-term changes for broader participation in tennis across the Pacific.