Earlier this week, the third Sport Industry Dining event of 2023 took place at M restaurant Threadneedle Street.
Sport Industry Dining is a series of exclusive dinners for Sport Industry Members, that meets four times a year at some of London’s most exclusive venues.
The prestigious series provides representatives from leading brands, right holders, and agencies across the industry with the opportunity to network, socialise and hear from some of the most inspiring names in sport.
In the most recent edition, two-time Team GB Winter Olympian and Olympic broadcaster Aimee Fuller took care of hosting duties, and was joined by Hannah Mills, OBE, the most successful female sailor in Olympic history
During the Q&A, Mills discussed her transition from her Olympic career in the 470 class to racing as part of the international sailing competition SailGP, the importance of sustainability in sport, dealing with pressure, and the future of women’s sailing.
“The team have been unbelievable in bringing me into the loop and immediately trusting everything I say,” said Mills, touching on the fact that she’s the only female on board the Emirates GBR team. “It was so refreshing to come in as a female in a bit of a man’s world at that point and be embraced,” she explained.
Asked about her transition to SailGP, Mills highlighted the Women’s Pathway Programme as the driving force. Launched in 2021, the Women’s Pathway Programme aims to help high-level female athletes transition successfully into SailGP by providing training and development designed to fast-track their process.
‘’My dream, goal and ambition for SailGPs Women’s Pathway programme is that we end up with 50/50 equity onboard,” said Mills. “We are one of the very few sports at this level, if not the only sport at this level that can theoretically have 50/50 men and woman on board competing with each other at this incredibly high level, showcasing to the world, boys and girls growing up seeing that is just so so powerful,”
Sustainability sits at the heart of SailGP mission and, to that end, Mills also discussed the need for sport to act as a vehicle for change. “Sport is innovative, adaptable and is such an exciting place for businesses that partner with sport, to try new ideas and to do it in a controlled, but quick moving environment and transfer it to their own industries. The power of sport is unrivalled for me.”
Mills also highlighted the power of sport to improve lives for individuals. “Whether you go to the Olympics or not, anyone doing sport competitively growing up, is so powerful because you do learn so many skills like communication, how to deal with failure, resilience, all of those things that you just need in life. I just think its so important for young people to experience that growing up”
Finally, asked how other sports and organisations within the industry can start their own journey to sustainability, Mills emphasised that it’s a step-by-step process and one that requires a degree of soul-searching to be truly effective. “By being honest about the changes you can make, and implementing this change, we can inspire as many people as possible in your sphere of influence to do the same,” she explained.
”As sports people, your reach is so much more than others reach, so we have to use it, and we have to use it now.”
Hannah Mills joins the likes of Molly Thompson-Smith, Alessia Russo, Hannah Cockcroft, Ellie Simmonds, Jermaine Jenas, Will Buxton Ugo Monye, Alex Scott and Aimee Fuller on the list of Sport Industry Dining speakers, with more high-profile sportspeople lined for next year’s Dining events.
Access to Sport Industry Dining can be gained by purchasing a Sport Industry Membership. In addition, the package offers tickets to Sport Industry Socials, tickets and entries to the FEVO Sport Industry Awards, and a number of other generous discounts and benefits. Find out more here.
