Dr. Norza Zakaria Delivered Keynote Address at The ASEAN Conference on Gender Equity in Sports 2025

In conjunction with Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia has been entrusted to organise various programmes and initiatives related to youth and sports for the ASEAN community.

In line with this mandate, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, through the National Sports Council of Malaysia, is organising the ASEAN Conference on Gender Equity in Sports 2025, themed “Breaking Barriers, Building Champions – Together”. The Conference aims to chart more structured, inclusive and sustainable pathways for empowering women and promoting greater gender equity in the ASEAN sports ecosystem.

The Conference scheduled from 24th to 26th June 2025 at Cititel Penang, Malaysia brings together over 200 delegates from across Southeast Asia, including representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

The Opening Ceremony of the Conference held on Tuesday, 24th June 2025 at 2.30 pm, was officiated by Hon. Hannah YEOH, the Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia.

Dr. Norza ZAKARIA was graciously invited by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia to deliver the Keynote Address in his capacity as the Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Immediately following the Opening Ceremony, he presented a compelling keynote titled “Women in Leadership: Elevating Sports, Inspiring Generations”.

In his address, Dr. Norza ZAKARIA expressed his deep appreciation, on behalf of both the OCA and the NOC Malaysia, to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia for hosting this timely and significant Conference. He also commended Hon. Hannah YEOH for her unwavering leadership and commitment to gender equity in sports, highlighting her distinction as only the second woman to serve as Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports.

“The sports industry has historically been a male-dominated field. However, we are now witnessing a transformative era where women are increasingly stepping into leadership roles across all sectors, from sports management to governance and are driving innovation, inclusivity and growth. This change is not only necessary for achieving gender balance, it is crucial for unlocking new perspectives that will enrich and elevate the entire industry” quoted Dr. Norza ZAKARIA during his keynote address.

Dr. Norza ZAKARIA also shared insights from the OCA and acknowledged the achievements of prominent female sports leaders from Asia who have been entrusted with key leadership roles within both the OCA and the IOC, namely Mrs. Mikaela COJUANGCO JAWORSKI, IOC Member from the Philippines, Khunying Patama LEESWADTRAKUL, IOC Member from Thailand and Ms. ZHANG Hong, IOC Member from China.

He went on to highlight notable gender equity initiatives led by NOC Malaysia, including:
1. The appointment of Ms. Nicol Ann DAVID, 8-time World Squash Champion, as Deputy Chef de Mission of the Malaysian Contingent to the XXXIII Olympic Games Paris 2024,
2. The election of Mdm. Nurul Huda ABDULLAH OLY, a legendary swimmer, as Vice President and Chairperson of the Gender Equity Committee,
3. The election of Ms. Moira TAN Siew See, a dedicated educator, as Assistant Secretary General and Chairperson of the Education and Training Committee,
4. The election of Mdm. Shalin ZULKIFLI, an accomplished tenpin bowler, as Chairperson of the Athletes’ Commission.

Dr. Norza ZAKARIA concluded his keynote address by calling on all delegates to actively engage in the discussions, share their insights, experiences and recommendations and to collectively establish resolutions that will create the most enabling and inclusive environment for women athletes, officials, administrators and leaders to flourish.