Clare Balding to headline Impact Players 2026
Impact Players returns to ICC Belfast on 12 May 2026 and promises to be even bigger and better
The UK’s leading leadership conference for ambitious women in business and sport will welcome broadcaster, author, and trailblazer Clare Balding as its headline speaker. Known for breaking barriers in sport and broadcasting, leading with authenticity and humour and using her platform to advocate for women and the LGBTQ+ community, Clare embodies the spirit of Impact Players.
Impact Players blends inspiration with action, offering:
- A full day of world-class speakers and Olympians translating the sporting mindset into business leadership.
- Practical workshops designed to help women accelerate their careers.
- Networking opportunities including pre- and after-parties, plus a brand-new community platform launching this year.
- Access to recordings of the 2026 event, as well as keynotes from 2025.
The speaker line-up for 2026 also features visibility coach Nicole Osborne, speaking specialist Louisa Clarke, Everest adventurer Jen Copeland, record-breaking footballer Rachel Furness in conversation with Gail Redmond MBE and Olympian Shirley McCay MBE, among others.
Impact Players co-founder Sinead Sharkey-Steenson said:
“Impact Players isn’t just another conference. It’s a movement where sport and business collide, creating an environment that fuels courage, clarity, and confidence. We can’t wait to welcome Clare Balding and hundreds of ambitious women to Belfast in 2026.”
Hosted at ICC Belfast, Impact Players harnesses the energy of a city known for its warmth, vibrancy, and buzz. In 2025, the event drew over 400 women leaders in business and sport, sparking conversations that spilled from conference halls into Belfast’s streets, pubs, and coffee shops. In 2026 we expect that number to double.
