Jurdi among invited expert panelists for Women in Sports Conference – Riyadiya 2025

[November 24, 2025 – Harmon, Guam] Football management professional and 2024 Guam National Teams Assistant Manager Ghada Jurdi recently took part in the Women in Sports Conference – Riyadiya 2025 earlier this month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after accepting an invitation from Kotinos Sports to be a panelist in the conference’s segment, “Legacy Beyond the Podium.”

Ghada Jurdi, 2024 Assistant Manager of the Masakåda, Guam Women’s National Team and Guam U17 Women’s National Team, poses for a photo during the Women In Sports Conference – Riyadiya 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention on Nov. 10. Jurdi was among selected and invited expert panelists for the conference’s segment “Legacy Beyond the Podium.”

The conference, which took place at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention from Nov. 9-11, also featured guest speakers in four other segments, as well as HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar al Saud, Kotinos Sport CEO Ahmad Anani, and Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Allyson Felix from the United States.

“I was honored to have been a speaker at the Women in Sports Conference in Riyadh – an event that truly highlighted the importance of platforms dedicated to empowering women,” said Jurdi, former National Football Teams Manager in Lebanon and Assistant National Football Teams Manager in Guam. “These spaces do more than bring people together. They amplify voices, open opportunities, and spark conversations that lead to real, lasting progress. When women are given the stage, the support, and the recognition they deserve, the entire sports ecosystem becomes stronger, more innovative and more inclusive.

“I’m grateful for Ministry of Sport in Saudi Arabia, and Kotinos Sports for their commitment and vision in creating such an impactful event. Meeting so many powerful and inspiring leaders was truly a privilege. Their passion and drive are a reminder of how empowerment spreads: one women’s success inspires countless others … I am proud to have been part of this journey and excited for what’s ahead for women in sport,” Jurdi added.

Jurdi was among three other panelists in the conference’s segment titled “Legacy Beyond the Podium.” Joining Jurdi on stage was Astou Bale N’Diaye, a former Senegalese Olympian and three-time African Cup and WNBA basketball champion, Helena Wurf, the President of Women in Sport Australia and Chief of Staff of SURJ Sports Investment, and Ibtihaj Muhammad, an American Olympic medalist and World Champion in fencing, while also the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab, and the first Muslim-American to win an Olympic medal, among other accolades. The segment was moderated by Mohammad Saadoun, and Executive TV Producer.

Jurdi spoke about women empowerment through sports and education amid the financial crisis and other political and social hardships in Lebanon, while also relating her work in international football with spearheading programs for others in the sport on and off the playing field.

Jurdi was a Lebanon Youth National Football Team Manager for six years, including the Lebanon U17 Women’s National Team that played in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2024 Qualifiers Group G held in Guam in April 2023, before joining Guam’s teams. In 2024, Jurdi was the Assistant Manager of the Masakåda, Guam Women’s National Team at the WAFF Women’s Championship 2024 held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as well as the Guam U17 Women’s National Team during a training camp in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Jurdi also is the International Liaison Officer for Pairs to Glory, a non-profit organization in Nigeria that utilizes football to drive social change and provide opportunities for underserved communities.

In addition to her roles in football, Jurdi also is a certified National Athletics Referee with the Lebanese Athletics Federation and holds Level 1 and Level 2 AFC Futsal Coaching Licenses, the lone futsal coaching license holder in Guam, where she currently resides.

Through sports, she also has volunteered her time with Goal Ball, Gymnastics, the Beirut Marathon, and Special Olympics Lebanon, among others.

Other segments in the Women in Sports Conference were Women in Sports Governance, Breaking Barriers, Unlocking Capital, and Behind the Scenes.

Also invited to the Women in Sports Conference as a participant from Guam was Jill Espiritu, Guam Football Association Head of Communications and Commercialization.