Ama Agbeze is widely recognized as a remarkable figure in the world of netball. With her extensive experience playing in Australia, New Zealand, and England, she has demonstrated her versatility by excelling in five different positions on the court. Currently playing for Severn Stars in the Vitality Netball Superleague, Ama's expertise and wealth of knowledge greatly contribute to the team's success. Having made her international debut in 2001, Ama has earned an impressive 100 caps for England. Her exceptional leadership skills and ability to inspire others led to her appointment as the England captain in 2016. Under her guidance, the Vitality Roses achieved a historic gold medal victory at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a moment that will forever be remembered in netball history. Ama's remarkable contributions to the sport in England were recognized when she was inducted into the England Netball Hall of Fame. The Commonwealth Games victory over Australia was a groundbreaking moment for netball in the UK. With the match attracting a live audience of 2 million viewers, the sport was thrust into the spotlight. At the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, the Roses were honoured as the Team of the Year and received the Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year award. This level of recognition was unimaginable before, and Ama's prominent role in the sport exemplifies the resilience and determination that have propelled netball onto the main stage. Since 2001, Ama has dedicated herself to England Netball with an unwavering ambition to reach the pinnacle of her sport, regardless of the sacrifices she has had to make. She has faced setbacks, including being dropped from the squad, but has always fought her way back. Ama's pursuit of excellence has led her to play in Australia and New Zealand, taking advantage of the higher level of club competition. Despite the challenges of being separated from her Kiwi husband when her career brought her back to the UK, Ama has maintained her income by practising as a lawyer alongside her sporting commitments. Throughout all these trials, Ama's self-belief and ambition have fueled her determination to overcome uncertainty and strive for success. Her appointment as England captain in 2016 was a culmination of her efforts and dedication. Recognizing the importance of motivation and empathy, Ama adopted a leadership style that focused on understanding and supporting each individual on the team. She also recognized the significance of mental strength and team culture, advocating for psychological support to be provided to the team. Ama's inspiring words before the final against Australia, "If not now, when? If not us, who?" continue to resonate with the media and the team's supporters, encapsulating her ability to motivate and instil a sense of possibility in her teammates. In addition to her experiences in teamwork and leadership, Ama also addresses diversity in various contexts, including race and gender in sports, and the importance of recognizing individuals' complexity. Her message is clear: judge people based on their actions and words rather than preconceived notions. More recently, Ama has utilized her extensive knowledge of international sport and her legal qualifications to serve as an ambassador, trustee, and/or board member for charitable organizations such as the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee, Birmingham 2022, and SportsAid.
When Ama’s drive and determination to reach the top of her game was rewarded by being named as England captain in 2016, having observed the approaches of many captains before her she made the conscious decision to be an empathetic leader with a focus on psychological support for her team and by doing so, cultivate a team culture of success. Now Ama shares how she was able to achieve this so other teams can do the same.
In this keynote, we'll reflect on the question of diversity from several perspectives – race, gender in sport, and the importance of understanding that people have many different layers. The message is simple: judge people based on what they say and do, not on preconceived ideas of what to expect.
