Stray & Campbell Join Cricket Australia’s ‘Project Inspire

With over 100 applications for the program across Australia, Northern Territory Cricket is excited to announce that Bronte Stray (Alice Springs) and Melissa Campbel (Darwin) have been selected to participate in the program.

The announcement of Stray’s inclusion ‘caps off’ a significant personal week, after she was also confirmed as the NT’s first-ever U16 Head Coach for the Junior National Championships in Ballarat, 2025. Stray has demonstrated leadership as both a player and coach throughout Alice Springs and the NT for several years.

Campbell has also been a key contributor to female cricket in the Top End, featuring regularly for Waratahs, Darwin (Desert Rose Cup) and Australian Defence Force sides. In 2024, she successfully captained Waratah’s to the Darwin District Women’s Premiership and also Darwin to win the Desert Rose Cup – while she has also played a pivotal role in the integration of junior female pathway players into senior and representative levels.

Melissa Campbell:

“I’m really very proud to be selected to help work with Cricket Australia as part of Project Inspire as we grow the amazing game of cricket for women and girls all over Australia, especially here in the NT. 

“Cricket has been a major part of my life for the past 31 years and I owe so many amazing friendships and opportunities to this amazing game. I am excited to help other women and girls to be able to have this opportunity just like I have”.

Running from December 2024 through to October 2025, Project Inspire will provide participants with hands-on leadership training through virtual learning and immersive experiences, led by Australian cricket legend, Belinda Clark and Chris Rubick. The program is designed to support women from all backgrounds who are passionate about cricket and want to make a positive impact in their communities. 

As well as monthly online sessions, participants will engage in an immersive 2-day workshop held during the CommBank Women's Ashes Day-Night Test at the MCG in January 2025. Throughout the program, participants will use their learnings to design and implement an initiative aimed at growing the presence of women and girls in cricket at the community level.

Jodie Newton, Cricket Australia's Chief of Staff: 

“Having more influential female leaders across Australian Cricket and inspiring the next generation is a key aspiration of our Women and Girls action plan. Project Inspire is an important new initiative that demonstrates our commitment to building pathways for women in every facet of the game.  

Program Details: 

• Online sessions: Monthly from December 2024 to April 2025 

• Immersion Workshop (in-person): January 30 – February 1, 2025, at the MCG  

• Community Initiative: To be developed and delivered from May to October 2025 
• Second Workshop (in-person): October 2025 (location TBC) 
• Click here for further information