Three-way global alliance set to take Australian football coaches and analysts to a new level

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Image provided by Football Coaches Australia

A new global partnership designed to take Australian football coaches and analysts to a new level of excellence was jointly announced today. Global Institute of Sport (GIS), Football Coaches Australia (FCA) and cutting-edge experiential learning firm XVenture have joined forces to provide unique opportunities for Australian football coaches and analysts to improve and accelerate their careers both here and abroad. Central to this collaboration is that upon completion of the immersive virtual reality based FCA XV Essential Skills Program, motivated Australian coaches and analysts can now be considered for entry into GIS’ pioneering MSc Football Coaching & Analysis Master’s degree. The FCA XV Essential Skills Program is made up of five modules covering:

  • Emotional Intelligence;
  • Leadership;
  • Communication;
  • Culture; and
  • Resilience.

The program is delivered in a self-paced online-based virtual world campus, with over 100 subjects brought to life as videos, podcasts, articles, websites and interactive e-books.

The modules cover universal themes and seamlessly integrate classic and contemporary models and thinking with each subject coloured with examples and cases from football, other sports and business globally.

This course aligns well with the themes of the MSc Football Coaching & Analysis Master’s program, which is also delivered in GIS’ inspirational campuses in the UK and US, which have Wembley, Etihad and DRZ PNK stadiums at their heart.

Brand new from January 2023, Australian coaching students will be able to study with GIS online with immersive face-to-face residentials once per year in Melbourne, including at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. In addition, GIS, FCA and XVenture have pledged to provide mutual guest speaker, placement and study tour opportunities for coaches to learn from their combined network of global football industry leaders.

Previous GIS guest speakers have included Harry Kewell, Gareth Southgate, Steven Gerrard and Hope Powell.

Glenn Warry, CEO of Football Coaches Australia, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Global Institute of Sport to provide enhanced progression opportunities for Australian football coaches and analysts. Aligning and integrating Australian football coach education and tertiary education pathways for coaches and other sports professionals is an important part of our strategy to enhance best practice, networking and high-performance capabilities of current and future Australian coaches. The future opportunity of partnering with GIS and XVenture to presenting high-performance coaching programs at world-class stadiums is exciting for all.”

The author of the FCA XV Essential Skills Program, XVenture Founder and CEO, Mike Conway, stated: “Having the opportunity to partner with a global sports education provider who is committed to providing best-in-class learning opportunities is fantastic. My team and I are passionate about developing accelerated experiential learning programs and we’re looking forward to working with GIS academics and students.” Mike is currently also working as the emotional agility and mind coach for the Australian National Football team, the Birmingham Phoenix Women’s team and the Adelaide 36ers NBL team.

Sharona Friedman, GIS President, added: “The aim of this partnership is to create an environment that helps to provide better and increased opportunities for Australian coaches, not just domestically but also globally. On top of this, it will also facilitate enhanced learning and career opportunities for GIS students studying on campus in the UK and online across the globe.”

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Inside GIS’ New Executive Edge Program Driving Sport’s Future Leaders

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

A new executive education program designed to shape the next generation of sports industry leaders is set to launch in June 2026, offering participants a rare blend of academic insight and real-world application at the highest level of global sport.

The Executive Edge in Sport, delivered by Global Institute of Sport (GIS) in partnership with Rotman School of Management Executive Programs, will provide current and aspiring leaders with the tools needed to navigate an increasingly complex and fast-evolving sports landscape.

The seven-week program, Sports Leadership Essentials, is delivered primarily online, offering a flexible and immersive learning experience for professionals worldwide. It is tailored for individuals seeking to strengthen their leadership capabilities within sport, as well as those aiming to transition into senior roles. This includes athletes navigating their post-playing careers.

Led by Sharona Friedman, President and CEO of GIS, and Walid Hejazi, Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at Rotman, the course combines academic rigour with industry relevance. Participants will engage with key topics shaping modern sport, including leadership and strategy, governance and ethics, finance and revenue models, marketing and fan engagement, event operations, and the growing influence of AI and emerging technologies.

The program also features exclusive masterclasses with senior figures from across the global sports industry, alongside sessions led by leading academics and practitioners from the Rotman School.

For those seeking a more hands-on experience, participants can opt into the Sports Leadership Lab. This is a four-day, in-person summit held at BMO Field in Toronto. Delivered in collaboration with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the lab provides behind-the-scenes access to elite sport operations, bridging theory with practice in a live stadium environment.

As the global sports industry continues to expand and evolve, The Executive Edge in Sport positions itself as a critical pathway for leaders looking to stay ahead. It provides students with the knowledge, network, and perspective required to lead with impact.

Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

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