Women’s Leadership Honoree
The Tournament of Champions Women’s Leadership Program supports female athletes, women who lead and equality. The women we honor inspire us with their accomplishments on and off the court
Program
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Will Carlin, Master of Ceremonies
College Squash Association Chair
PATHWAY TO The olympics
John Nimick, Women’s Leadership Program Co-Chair
College Squash Association Chair Emeritus
Lunch
Keynote
Rowena Samarasinhe
Founder GENSport, Specialist in International Sport and
Board Member Squash Media & Marketing
INTRODUCTION of honoree
Ashley Bernhard, Women’s Leadership Program Co-Chair
Honoree Remarks
Zena Wooldridge OBE, President World Squash Federation 2026 ToC Women’s Squash Leadership Award Honoree
PRESENTATION OF AWARD
Jess Winstanley, Women’s Leadership Program Co-Chair
12:30pm
2026 Honoree:
Zena Wooldridge OBE
Zena Wooldridge OBE has spent her career in University Sport alongside many volunteer roles in multi-sport and particularly squash. Zena played squash and squash57 for over 35 years, including 25 caps for England at masters’ level. She has in the past also been a tournament level referee and level 3 coach.
Zena’s previous non-executive director experience includes the Board of British University Sport, Chair of England Squash (2006-12), President of European Squash (2013-19), and Chair of the Squash Technical Committee for FISU (International University Sport Federation). She was also a member of the successful bid committee for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Featured Speaker: Rowena Samarasinhe
Rowena Samarasinhe has spent more than 20 years working in commercial sport and is a specialist in international sponsorship and broadcast agreements, as a lawyer and entrepreneur. Through her agency GENSport, Rowena works with owners and investors to unlock the commercial potential in sport and women’s sport in particular – delivering innovative, consumer-centric strategies tailored to unlocking a new generation of sports fans.
HONORARY CHAIR: Kirsten Gillibrand
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Capt. Dartmouth Varsity Squash) grew up in Upstate New York in a family committed to public service. Her grandmother worked in the New York State Legislature at a time few women did and was a trailblazing grassroots organizer. As a child, Kirsten would join her grandmother to go door-to-door urging their neighbors to vote. Her father was a public defender and her mother was a lawyer who taught Kirsten about the importance of representing those without a powerful voice of their own. They inspired Kirsten’s passion for public service.
Previous Honorees
Honoree
Year
2014
Natalie Grainger
2015
Linda Elriani
2016
Demer Holleran
2017
Nicol David
2018
Sarah Fitz-Gerald
2019
Wendy Lawrence
1980 USA Jr. Women’s Team
2020
Jenny Duncalf
2021
2022
Margaret H. "Peg" Wyant
2023
Ashley Bernhard
Gail Ramsay
2024
Wendy Bartlett
2025