For more than two decades, Karen Lyon has covered Melbourne and its sporting obsessed culture. She was a political reporter before crossing over the boundary line to sport in 1999 and has been covering the world of sport ever since.

Karen has witnessed some of the world's biggest sporting events for The Age newspaper, and has been a regular contributor the ABC's sports coverage over the journey. The occasional television spot, and a slight addiction to social media means she has covered off most forms of modern media.

As well as continuing to freelance as a journalist, Karen teaches Sport Education and Media at The University of Melbourne, a subject that looks at the influences of commerce and media on sport, and asks does sport drive equality in our society?

17th October 2016

SESSION: THE RISE OF WOMEN'S SPORT "Opportunity or Opportunism?"

SPEAKERS: Angela Pippos, Karen Lyon, Chloe Saltau and Danielle Warby.

TIME: 18:30-20:30

VENUE: Supper Room, Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria

SESSION INFO: Women's sport is on the rise. The growth of professional netball and T20 cricket, the establishment of the first AFL women's competition and the rising prominence of national teams like football's Matilda's and the gold medal winning rugby 7's team has given women's sport in Australia unprecedented profile. Does this represent a revolution in sport? Is it world of new opportunity or simply opportunism by traditional male dominated sport?

Website http://sportswritersfestival.com.au