World Rugby and Capgemini today announce the 25 inspiring female leaders from around the world to participate in the Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Program in 2024 and 2025.
USA Eagle Alum and current Board of Directors representative, Jamie Burke was named to the list of program participants, driving visibility of female leaders from within the rugby family and helping to accelerate the development of the women and girls’ game, on the road to Rugby World Cup 2025. Burke is the fourth American to earn the scholarship, following Jillion Potter (2018), Jenn Heinrich (2020) and Jessica Dombrowski in 2022.
Burke has represented the game in many capacities, first on the pitch as a USA Eagle and currently the women's record holder for most test match caps. She has since coached the game from the youth level in Colorado to the USA National Team, while also serving on the Board of Directors and USA Rugby International Athlete Council since September of 2020.
- Scholars will have access to personalized coaching and training sessions via Capgemini’s internal University to help their professional development
- The program is creating a growing global network of female leaders and role models across the sport on the road to Rugby World Cup 2025
- Ninety-eight scholars have completed the program since 2018
- The 25 scholars on the program will be granted access to the best learning programs from the Capgemini University.
- They will also be paired with a mentor assigned by World Rugby as well as a Capgemini coach, and eligible to apply for an additional discretionary grant of up to £5,000 to help aid their development and learning.
Working closely in collaboration with its unions and regional associations, World Rugby shortlisted the next generation of female leaders within their global rugby pathways. Those nominated are already actively involved with their national union or regional association as a board member, member of staff or volunteer.
The 2024-2025 Capgemini Women in Rugby leadership scholars are:
- Ingrid Sibusisiwe Mangcu (South Africa) - General Manager, Human Resources
- Nour Khaled (Tunisia) – Women's Rugby Supervisor
- Menna Sedky (Egypt) – Women's Rugby Representative
- Princess Alban Ugonwaezeh-Agugo (Nigeria) – Board Member and Chair of the Sponsorship and Marketing Committee
- Ciera Arriola (Guam) – Board Member and Treasurer, Committee Member of Asia Rugby Audit and Risk Committee
- Chiharu Nakamura (Japan) – Committee Member and General Manager for Nanairo Prism Fukuoka as well as current player for Japan national sevens team
- Angelina Liu Huiyun (Singapore) – Board Member and Head of Women’s Rugby Development Commission
- Fouzeya Faridoon (UAE) – Chair of the Gender Balance Committee and Women’s Committee
- Marissa Lowe (England) – Inclusion and Diversity Officer Jeanne Teillac (France) - Digital & Communication Deputy Director
- Elena Vallejo López (Spain) – Vice President
- Anete Skrastina (Latvia) – Secretary General
- Nina Vistisen (Denmark) – Volunteer, Coordinator Women’s Rugby Development and head coach of Denmark women's national team
- Hatice Kübra Yılmaz (Turkey) – International Relations Specialist
- Harriet Kate Tuara (Cook Islands) – Vice President, Women's Representative
- Matilda K. Tigilai (Papua New Guinea) – Member of the Vetting Committee
- Lailanie Burnes (Fiji) – Sponsorship and Hospitality Manager for the Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific team
- Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten (New Zealand) – Co-Chair, New Zealand Rugby Pasifika Advisory Group
- Fiona Brady (Australia) – Judiciary Officer, Rugby Australia
- Jamie Burke (USA) – Board of Directors and Member of the Medical Committee, Eligibility Committee, International Athlete Council
- Rhian Minty (Cayman Islands) – Vice President
- Paola Rodríguez Escobedo (Mexico) – Senior and Youth Female Development Consultant
- Danielle Phillips (Barbados) – Director of Women's Rugby and Council Representative of Women's Rugby
- Ursula Alvarez Mandiola (Chile) – Development Officer
- Ximena Choy Henriquez (Peru) – CEO
Due to the volume and high calibre of candidates, World Rugby will be exploring opportunities to provide all applicants with ongoing support and mentorship, continuing to build upon the existing network of superb women from within the game. More details will be announced later this year as part of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Global Impact Plan.
World Rugby Chief of Women’s Rugby Sally Horrox said: ”We are thrilled to announce our next cohort of inspirational female leaders in partnership with Capgemini. They will gain priceless learnings and experience through this world class program, and will inspire many more girls and women from within their unions and regions.”
“It’s also vitally important that we continue to support all of the applicants for the scholarship program, as we build an exciting network of emerging female talent. These women will become the next generation of leaders in rugby across the world. We look forward to announcing further details, as part of our Global Impact Plan.”
“A huge thank you to our unions and regional associations that helped us to identify these individuals and to Capgemini, who share our vision and passion to increase opportunities for women at all levels of the game. We are already seeing our scholars make a real difference as they progress and take on new leadership roles in rugby. We have no doubt this new cohort will excel over the next 18 months and beyond, as we grow our leadership teams and build towards Women’s RWC 2025.”
Anne Lebel, Chief Human Resources Officer at Capgemini and Group Executive Board Member, said: “Capgemini has a strong track record of empowering women, whether they are part of Capgemini or former scholars of the Capgemini Women in Leadership Program. We are honored this year to again have the opportunity to support a further 25 female leaders by offering them access to our learning program through our Capgemini University, including leadership coaching and training sessions as well as Connected Manager, a well-regarded Harvard Business Certified program.”
Since its launch in 2018, the Women in Rugby Leadership Program has already awarded 98 scholarships to the next generation of female leaders globally with the aim to support their personal and professional development, increasing the number of women in key positions within unions, and regional associations.
