The event will launch the Women and Leadership Development Programme, and will take place at Charlton Athletic FC from 3pm on Thursday 31 August 2006.

Invitations have been extended to senior female and male figures working in sport, with sportswomen, coaches, journalists, blue chip sponsors and chief executives sharing the same stage.

BBC Sport's Clare Balding will compere the event whilst amongst the keynote speakers already confirmed are Sue Campbell (Chair of UK Sport), Olympic gold medalists Sally Gunnell and Denise Lewis, Heather Rabbatts (Executive Deputy Chairman of Millwall FC), Sue Hough (FA Councillor and Chief Executive of the Dorset County FA) and Julia Bracewell (Chair of Sport Scotland).

The Conference aims to act as a catalyst to:
• Improve representation of women working in sport
• Provide networking opportunities for women to share best practice and contacts
• Discuss discrimination and employee rights, and
• Increase media coverage of women's sport.

The event will also provide an opportunity to find out about the first UK-wide Women and Leadership Development Programme which will be launched by UK Sport, the British Olympic Foundation and CCPR.

The seminar and launch will be followed by the crucial England Women's football World Cup qualifier against Holland which kicks-off at 8.05pm later that evening.

Media Accreditation can be obtained by emailing: Alex.Stone@TheFA.com