GOLD COAST (Australia) - Solomon Islands Basketball Board Member, Gloria Hong continued her leadership development this year with a practical internship at Hills Basketball Association in Sydney, following her participation in the 2025 Women LEAD Basketball Program.
Supported through FIBA in Oceania’s PacificAus Sports partnership, the placement provided Gloria with direct exposure to association operations, governance processes, and community program delivery within a high‑performing Australian basketball environment.
For Gloria, the opportunity represented an important step in her progression as a leader within the Solomon Islands basketball community.
“Being here means everything to me,” she said. “It means that yes, if I can do this, yes, it’s possible for the next.”
During the internship program, Gloria engaged with staff from multiple departments, observed competitions and community programs, and participated in discussions on safeguarding, administration, and strategic planning. The internship program was designed to complement the Women LEAD Basketball Program curriculum by giving participants a practical understanding of how challenges are addressed within an established association and how staff collaborate to deliver outcomes for their community.
“Coming here, I’ve had a lot of conversations with the staff,” Gloria said. “I’ve seen first-hand how things are being managed, how things are done here. I’m learning so much through conversation, and I’m looking forward to going back and starting to have these conversations with my board.”
Gloria’s motivation to pursue leadership is grounded in her commitment to women in the Solomon Islands. While she does not come from a playing background, she sees basketball as a platform for broader community impact.
“My big inspiration that really pushes me to do the things that I do is the women back home in the Solomons,” she said. “I come from a family of seven sisters, and opportunities are quite limited back in the Solomons. If I go through that, a lot of Solomon Islander women are going through all that. They inspire me to be here, to keep breaking barriers.”
She views the internship not only as an opportunity for her own development but as a pathway that must remain open for others.
“This opportunity has opened doors for me, and I’m keeping those doors open for the next,” she said. “I hope the next generation of women feel inspired, because for me, my inspiration is the women that I represent, the women of the Solomon Islands, and my family.”
FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, said Gloria’s progress reflects the purpose of the Women in Basketball strategy and the region’s commitment to strengthening female leadership.
“Gloria has shown a clear dedication to learning and to contributing to the growth of basketball in the Solomon Islands,” Jenkins said. “Her internship at Hills Basketball Association demonstrates how practical exposure, combined with the Women LEAD Program, equips emerging leaders with the confidence and capability to drive positive change in their federations. We are proud to support her journey through our partnership with PacificAus Sports.”
As Gloria returns home, her focus is on applying the knowledge gained in Sydney to support governance improvements and create safer, more inclusive opportunities for women in her community.
“What’s next is to go back and make sure we start the conversation,” she said. “Creating opportunities where women can be elevated, where our women feel safe and protected, and creating opportunities that can take them to the next step, that’s what’s next for me.”
Gloria’s internship marks another step forward for the Women LEAD Basketball Program, reinforcing the value of practical placements in building capable, confident leaders across the Oceania region.
About PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high-performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, with funding split evenly between women and men. PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific.
For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.