The inaugural SuperNaari Conclave 2026 brought together parliamentarians, athletes, sports professionals, health experts, multicultural community leaders and advocates at the Parliament of NSW on 24 September, placing women’s health, participation and leadership in sport at the centre of a wider Women, Peace & Security conversation. The event was organised by the Saroni Roy Foundation (SRf) under the theme “SuperNaari Sportainment: Breaking Barriers for Women in Sports.” The event date, venue and theme were also publicly outlined by the foundation ahead of the conclave.
The conclave developed the work of SuperNaari, a period equity initiative launched by SRf at the MAHATMA Peace Symposium at the NSW Parliament in 2024. The 2026 gathering broadened that focus by examining the relationship between menstrual, reproductive and sexual health and women’s experiences in sport, fitness and wellness.
With “Naari” deriving from the Sanskrit word for woman, SuperNaari Sportainment focused on the experiences of female athletes, coaches and industry professionals while drawing attention to what the foundation describes as the Gender Health Gap in Sport. Discussions explored how menstrual and reproductive health can affect participation, athletic performance, career longevity and overall wellbeing, particularly in high-performance sporting environments.
A central part of the programme was the SuperNaari Sportainment Global Icons Forum, which brought together sporting and fitness personalities to share experiences and discuss barriers affecting women in sport. The session was designed around lived experiences, professional perspectives and practical conversations about improving health, leadership, equity and inclusion through sport.
The Global Icon Award 2026 was presented to a group of sports and fitness figures including professional boxer and Commonwealth Games medallist Kaye Scott, natural bodybuilding competitor and fitness professional Sharnalee Pignataro, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete and entrepreneur Isaiah Lazaro, professional boxer and coach Chloe Grech, and boxer and wellness and fitness advocate Natalia Savinova. Saroni Roy served as moderator and facilitator for the forum.
Saroni Roy, Founder and CEO of the Saroni Roy Foundation and SuperNaari, said the initiative is built around addressing period poverty, menstrual equity and the broader gender health gap. According to the foundation, its mission is to reach one million SuperNaari through education, advocacy, policy engagement and community partnerships while encouraging more open conversations around menstrual, reproductive and sexual health.
The foundation positioned the 2026 conclave as the next stage of that mission, expanding the conversation from period equity to the wider intersection of women’s health, sport, leadership, wellbeing and opportunity. The event also reflected the organisation’s stated Women, Peace & Security focus, bringing community and institutional voices together around issues affecting women and girls.
The programme began with a Welcome to Country performed by First Nations elder Uncle John. Parliamentary and community representatives also addressed the gathering, including host Warren Kirby MP, Julia Finn MP, Mark Coure MP, Jacqui Scruby MP, Jason Yat-sen Li MP, Charishma Kaliyanda MP, Donna Davis MP and Stephen Bali MP, alongside Dr Talat Uppal, an obstetrician and gynaecologist and Director of Women’s Health Road. Award-winning film and media personality Carol Ferrone served as MC.
The event also highlighted Australia–India cultural connections through women’s leadership, education, business and sport. The conclave was supported by the Australia India Business Council and major sponsor Bakasura, with multicultural community representatives, councillors, media and other guests joining the gathering.
The SuperNaari Global Icon Awards 2026 additionally recognised women working across community service, media, health, business and advocacy. Honourees included Dr Patricia Jenkings, President of the United Nations Association of Australia NSW; Arti Banga, Director and Editor in Chief of Desi Australia Media Group; Aruna Chandrala, Vice President of the Australia India Business Council NSW; Carol Ferrone; Sunita Kotnala, CEO of Women’s Shed Canberra; and Dr Talat Uppal. The Global Leader in Community Service Award 2026 was presented to Amal Dev and Kamal Pasha for their community service work.
Arts and culture formed another important part of the evening. Actor and singer Saroni Roy performed live, while Dr Tanima Banerjee, Founder of Bandana Cultural School, presented a dance performance featuring Rabindranath Tagore’s “Ekla Cholo Re”. The performances brought together culturally and linguistically diverse artists from India and Australia and were presented as a tribute to Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi and to the role of art in promoting peace and social harmony.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music artist Neeru Shyju also performed her original compositions “Shakti” and “Painted Maiden”, combining elements of Western and Indian classical music. The artistic programme complemented the conclave’s broader message of inclusion, cultural exchange and community participation.
The gathering concluded with a formal vote of thanks to parliamentarians, dignitaries, sponsors, media partners, volunteers and supporting community organisations, followed by community networking over refreshments. With its focus extending from menstrual equity to sport, health and leadership, the SuperNaari Conclave 2026 marked a broader public conversation around the experiences and opportunities of women and girls in Australia.
