Hockey Australia Partner Summit grows to over 45 Partners on the road to Brisbane 2032

The Hockey Australia Partner Summit has grown in its second year, with almost 50 attendees representing Hockey Australia partners coming together in Sydney. Together they represent a network whose support reaches every level of the game, from local clubs to the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras.

The Summit's growth comes as hockey builds towards LA 2028 and a home Olympic Games in Brisbane 2032.

Held at Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour on Thursday 8 October under the theme Every Partnership, A Story, the Summit was designed to show partners the full picture of the sport, from local clubs and community programs to the Hockey One League and the national teams.

Nielsen Head of Client Services Anthony Caruso told partners that viewing minutes for sports documentaries have more than tripled in the past three to four years, and that half the population has an interest in women's sport. He encouraged partners to share athletes' stories, noting that every athlete has a story to tell.

Komo Technologies Chief Customer Officer Niel Isdale spoke about communicating more intelligently with fans across broadcast, events and digital channels, and connecting with them beyond the website and email. He noted that hockey's numbers on the Komo platform are among the best in the industry.

That support can be seen at every level. Retail partner JustHockey equips players from juniors through to internationals, longstanding partner Kookaburra supplies equipment used in clubs across the country, and official national team partner East Coast Car Rentals and ASICS back the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras. Social enterprise SisterWorks, Sportslink and Virgin Australia also contributed to this year's Summit.

Hockeyroos Casey Sablowski and Jocelyn Bartram and Kookaburra legend Mark Knowles gave partners an insight into life in the green and gold on the Beyond the Jersey athlete panel.

"It was so great to meet the faces behind the brands backing hockey and understand what is going on behind the scenes with the partners we wear on our shirts," Bartram said.

"Seeing first hand the impact they're having for the sport, and for the partners as well, was very rewarding."

Partners also heard from Hockey Australia Chief Commercial & Digital Officer Blair Crouch, Hulsbosch Managing Director Jaid Hulsbosch and Automatorr CEO and Founder Rajesh Nair, before taking part in an interactive workshop exploring new ways to work together.

Hockey Australia Acting CEO David Thompson said every partner, at every level, plays a part in the story of Australian hockey.

"Whether a partner is helping a family get to Saturday morning hockey or backing the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras on the world stage, they are part of our story," Thompson said.

"To welcome almost 50 partners this year, up from just over 30 at our first Summit, shows the momentum behind our sport.

"Hockey is a proudly gender equal, inclusive and family orientated sport, and with LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 ahead of us, there has never been a better time to be part of it."

Crouch said Hockey Australia would continue to create opportunities for partners at every level of the game.

"There is a place in hockey for every organisation, from local businesses supporting their community club to national brands aligning with our national teams," Crouch said.

"The Summit is about giving our partners a real understanding of our community, connecting them with each other and with our athletes, and helping them get the most out of their partnership."

Organisations interested in partnering with Hockey Australia, from community programs through to the national teams, can contact partnerships@hockey.org.au.