WRCRA is partnering with USA Rugby to bring you the Leadership & Legacy Forum, a series of conversations, panels and keynotes around empowering leadership in women’s rugby. This event, taking place on July 13 from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., is one component of the Women’s Super Weekend, held in conjunction with the Women’s SuperSeries Final Round.
The Leadership & Legacy Forum will include a Lessons In Leadership panel and a leadership interactive workshop. The sessions will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center:
11:00 a.m.: Welcome and Introductions
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Lessons in Leadership: Celebrate California Women’s Rugby
Angel Brunner, founder and CEO of EB5 Capital and former player for Berkeley All Blues.
Kathy Flores, coach of Brown University rugby and former coach of All Blues, and San Francisco Fog; first woman to coach US Women's National Team, World Cup player and coach.
Kris Hermanns, current chief impact officer for the Seattle Foundation; former CEO of the Pride Foundation. **JUST ADDED**
Alex Williams, first USA Rugby Women’s High Performance Director and former Executive Director of Southern California Youth Rugby, Women's National Team player and forwards coach.
(to learn more about our panelists, please see their bios below)
12:45-2:00 p.m.: The Exercise of Leadership: An Interactive Workshop
The Forum will also provide an opportunity for the women’s rugby community to network and build relationships across all sectors of the game with a social held at Novo Brewery immediately following the formal discussions from 2-4 p.m.
General Manager of Women’s High Performance Emilie Bydwell shared the following in the USA Rugby event press release: “The Super Series will be an incredible spectacle of rugby in showcasing the five best teams in the world but the tournament is more than just a series of international fixtures. It’s an opportunity for our rugby community to connect; celebrating the past, present and future of our game and honoring the legacy of those who helped us get to where we are. We are so excited to partner with WRCRA to continue providing opportunities for the community to connect and facilitate conversations that empower, unite and inspire us all.”
To RSVP for the WRCRA Leadership & Legacy Forum, please complete this form. To learn more about all of the activities taking place during the Women’s Super Weekend, please visit the event website.
Panelist Bios
Kris Hermanns, Chief Impact Officer, Seattle Foundation - Kris has worked as a nonprofit executive, strategist, grant maker and fundraiser for over 25 years. She was the Chief Executive Officer of Pride Foundation—the largest LGBTQ public foundation in the United States—where she led its efforts to mobilize individual and institutional resources to advance legal and lived equality for LGBTQ people and their families in the Northwest. Prior to that, Kris was the Deputy Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, where she was part of the team that worked to secure early victories related to marriage equality for LGBTQ couples, immigration protections for LGBTQ asylum seekers, and rights for LGBTQ athletes to openly and fully participate in sport. Kris played rugby at the University of Wisconsin and Beantown RFC.
Angel Brunner, Founder and CEO, EB5 Capital
Angel provides strategic direction to a $6 million EB-5 investment fund, providing oversight of its investments, marketing, and legal departments. Angel is a noted expert in creative financing, a highly respected EB-5 investment fund manager, and an advocate for innovative financing solutions and urban development. In 2017 she testified before congress in support of the EB-5 Program. She currently serves as a board member for a public REIT, the Chesapeake Lodging Trust. She and her work have been featured prominently in The Washington Post, Forbes, and Fast Company. Angel played rugby at Brown University and Old Blues.
Kathy Flores, Head Coach, Brown Women's Rugby
Kathy was the head coach of the US Women’s National Team from 2002-2010. Kathy played for the US in the first women’s World Cup and went on to coach the US at two World Cups. She has coached the San Francisco Fog Men’s Rugby Club (2010-2013), the Berkeley All-Blues Rugby Club (2010-13), and the University of San Francisco women’s rugby club (2009-2013). In 2016 Kathy was inducted in the US Rugby Hall of Fame. She played rugby at Florida State, the US National Team and the Berkeley All-Blues.
Alex Williams
Alex was the first women’s High Performance Director at USA Rugby (2008-2012) where she was responsible for early leadership of the WPL. She also served as Executive Director of Southern California Youth Rugby (2013-2018) where she built a national model for youth engagement. She also served as coach of the Berkeley All Blues, in various capacities including assistant coach, head coach, and forwards coach from 2005- 2011 winning four national titles in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2011. Williams was the forwards coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2006 and 2010 Rugby World Cups. She also served as the forwards coach from 2005-2010. She played rugby for Harvard, the US National Team and Beantown RFC.
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