Forging a new era of women’s leadership.
Canberra’s premier leadership event for women
She Leads Conference 2026: FORGE
As YWCA Canberra’s flagship leadership event, the She Leads Conference is a day for women and non-binary leaders to connect, learn, and challenge what leadership can be.
You’ll hear from experienced changemakers, join practical sessions that strengthen your skills, and meet people doing the work alongside you. The focus is on honest conversation, useful strategies, and building the kind of support that lasts beyond the day. Whether you’re early in your leadership journey or well into it, you’ll leave with clearer ideas, practical tools, and connections to people who get it.
Our Sponsors
JACQ BURRIDGE
Personal donation from the family of the late YWCA Canberra Life Member, Jacq Burridge
BETTY FERGUSON
Personal donation from YWCA Canberra Life Member, Betty Ferguson
Corporate donation from Humanify HR Managing Director, Sarah Queenan
REBECCA VASSAROTTI
Personal donation from YWCA Canberra Life Member, Rebecca Vassarotti
About
The She Leads Conference 2026 FORGE brings together women leaders who have worked at the frontline of systemic change. It’s a chance to hear honest reflections on the barriers they’ve faced, the decisions that shaped their careers, and the practical ways they’ve pushed for progress in their industries and communities.
The She Leads Conference is for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, you’ll leave with powerful tools, unshakeable confidence, and a network of ambitious peers who have your back.
Program
Breakout sessions
Choose from three panel discussions featuring leaders who will share their journey and the decisions behind their work — then go deeper in three seminars designed to give you practical tools and frameworks you can apply immediately, from rethinking how you operate to challenging the assumptions that may be holding your own work back.
Panel Sessions
From trailblazers to quiet disruptors, women labelled as ‘difficult’ have often been those who defy expectation, speak truth to power, and reshape the systems around them.
This panel celebrates the strength forged through resistance and resilience, showcasing the courage it takes to stand firm in conviction, lead unapologetically, and challenge norms in pursuit of progress.
Frances Crimmins | Heather Reid AM | Hala Batainah | Genevieve Krienke | Adrienne Francis (Facilitator)
This panel celebrates women who are building the future through leadership, innovation, and/or activism. Featuring women from diverse sectors, this panel highlights how women are driving transformative change in a variety of sectors.
Jessie Price | Dr Debbie Saunders | Dr Jessica Luyue Teoh | Dr Elise Stephenson | Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis (Facilitator)
This panel focuses on women leaders who are creating lasting impact by educating, and inspiring future leaders. It highlights the importance of legacy-building and intergenerational leadership in sustaining progress.
Christina Ryan | Debra Parker | Julie Peters | Satara Uthayakumaran | Han Worsley (Facilitator)
Seminar Sessions
Too many brilliant women hold back. They second-guess their words, downplay their achievements, and silence themselves in the very rooms where their voice is needed most. The result? Missed opportunities for influence, impact, and leadership. Not just for them, but for their teams, their organisations, and their communities.
In this high-energy seminar, international speaker and communication expert Annelise McCarthy unpacks the mechanics of influence. She challenges women to stop softening their message and start communicating with clarity, precision, and authority. Through practical frameworks and real-world examples, she reveals the communication shifts that turn hesitation into authority and lead conversations in a way that commands attention and builds lasting impact. Because in the rooms that matter, being heard is not the goal. Being remembered is.
Harnessing Stress, Mindset and the Power of Human Connection to Perform and Thrive
This seminar offers women leaders practical, research-based tools to understand the body’s response to stress, stay composed under pressure, and strengthen performance through meaningful human connection. Learn how mindset, supportive relationships, and simple everyday practices create the conditions to perform, grow and thrive, all without needing extra resources.
This seminar equips women leaders with practical, research-backed tools to reignite engagement, boost productivity, and build inclusive workplaces where everyone thrives. Learn how to forge a positive culture that benefits teams, organisations, and communities without needing extra resources.
Our Speakers
Introducing our incredible and diverse line-up of speakers who will join us for the She Leads Conference in 2026:
Chris Ryan
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Journalist and Comedian
Chris Ryan is a journalist, mum, and one of Australia’s most exciting comedy voices. She won Best Newcomer at the Sydney Comedy Festival (2019) and was nominated at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2021). Known for her laconic wit, she has performed at major festivals, toured with the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow, entertained Australian troops overseas, and hosted events like the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. A regular on ABC Radio, she also created the online series Chats with Mum. Her debut solo show Big Hair, Big Dreams sold out in multiple cities and was filmed in Canberra.
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Disability and Resilience Advocate
Sophie Delezio is a powerful advocate for resilience, inclusion, and systemic change. After surviving two life-threatening accidents as a child, she endured years of surgeries and rehabilitation, transforming profound personal adversity into a platform for national impact. Through her work, Sophie champions accessibility and inclusion for all and challenges the perception that disability should not define one’s identity.
At She Leads Conference 2026, Sophie will embody the theme of FORGE, defying conventional systems, advancing inclusive leadership, and inspiring emerging and established leaders to create meaningful change with courage, empathy, and unwavering determination.
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Nanotechnologist | Global Technology & Innovation Leader
Michelle Dickinson is a nanotechnologist, materials engineer and bestselling author who has spent her career making complex ideas accessible and actionable. She has worked on technologies for some of the world’s largest companies, built STEM programmes reaching millions of people, and dedicated her career to helping people and businesses embrace emerging technology with confidence. Michelle is currently leading commercial strategy for Workr, an AI workforce solution based in Silicon Valley, and speaks globally on innovation, curiosity and the future of technology to help others create the future they want to live in.
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Associate Professor, Curtin University Law School | Indigenous Human Rights Advocate & Lawyer
Hannah from the Kurin Minang people of Western Australia has specialised in human rights and Indigenous people, with particular focus on the lives of Aboriginal women and children. She has been an advocate for Aboriginal women impacted by violence before many UN bodies and was a member of the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues (2020-2026). Her doctoral thesis on Aboriginal child sexual assault and the criminal justice system received the Stanner Award for excellence in Aboriginal research and was published as a book ‘Our Greatest Challenge, Aboriginal Children and Human Rights’.
She was a strong advocate for Australia’s first dedicated national Plan on violence to Aboriginal women, ‘Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices’ and has led and assisted the establishment of Aboriginal family violence legal services in Perth and WA. Hannah has also worked with the families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls to highlight systemic and structural discrimination including the Seven Sisters project and series of communications to the UN CEDAW committee.
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Chef, Author and TV Presenter
Kylie Kwong is a renowned chef, author, and advocate celebrated for her pioneering Australian Chinese cuisine. As a chef, collaborator and creative, she uses food as a catalyst for positive social impact and cultural exchange. A third-generation Australian, she draws on her heritage, combining native Australian ingredients with Chinese cooking techniques and flavours to create an authentic and meaningful expression of traditional Australian Chinese cuisine.
Known for her cookbooks, television shows, and acclaimed former restaurants, Billy Kwong and Lucky Kwong, she was engaged by Powerhouse Parramatta in 2024, where she collaborates with Western Sydney’s multicultural communities through food and cultural programming in the lead-up to the museum’s 2026 opening.
In 2024, Kwong was also appointed as a Patron of Equality Australia and an Ambassador for DeadlyScience. In 2025, Kylie was invited by the American Academy in Rome as Guest Chef for their Rome Sustainable Food Project, recognising her ongoing commitment to sustainability and community-centred food practices.
Celebrating the Many Faces of ‘Difficult Women’
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Broadcaster & Journalist, ABC Canberra
Adrienne Francis is a popular presenter and journalist for ABC Canberra. You can catch Adrienne on Friday and Saturday nights, anchoring the ABC Canberra 7pm news.
During her more than twenty two-year career with the ABC she has presented the flagship TV and Radio News bulletins in the ACT and Northern Territory and was a current affairs reporter for 7.30 ACT. Adrienne began her career with Local Radio in 2003, where she worked across outback northern Australia.
As an Ambassador for Dementia Australia, Adrienne shares her experiences as the solo carer for her mother, who has early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
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Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Canberra
Frances Crimmins has led YWCA Canberra since 2013, driving systemic change for women and families experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and disadvantage. Under her leadership, YWCA Canberra has grown into one of Canberra’s most trusted community organisations, delivering specialist support across housing and homelessness, domestic violence services, early childhood education, and women’s leadership programs.
As Chair of Homelessness Australia, Frances shapes national policy on housing insecurity, and she has represented Australia as a YWCA civil society delegate at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women on six occasions. A passionate and tenacious advocate for gender equality, Frances volunteers across numerous boards and committees. On more than one occasion, she has been called a difficult woman—a title she wears with pride.
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Women Sports and Gender Equity Advocate | 2026 ACT Senior Australian of the Year
Heather Reid AM has been a staunch advocate for gender equity within all levels of sport since the late 1970s. She is an award-winning trailblazer and internationally recognised leader in the world game of football.
Heather helped established the ANU Women’s Soccer Club and the ACT Women’s Soccer Association in the 1970s. She was the first CEO of Australian Women’s Soccer and later, the first female CEO of Capital Football for 12 years from 2004 when Canberra United’s licence in the national league was secured. Heather’s vision, dedication and courage have opened pathways for thousands of women to participate in sport.
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Founder, Humanosity
Hala Batainah is a senior executive, advisor, and founder. Alongside her role as Chair of the Canberra Innovation Network, she focuses on Humanosity, her business practice supporting leaders, particularly women, to navigate complexity and change with courage and clarity.
With a career spanning leadership, sales, and innovation, in private and not-for-profit sectors, Hala is a vocal advocate for human-centred leadership. Often labelled a ‘difficult woman,’ she treats the title as evidence of challenging norms, asking better questions, and insisting on better systems.
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Lawyer | Former Captain of the Women’s Senior Team at Box Hill North Football Club
Genevieve Krienke, aged 25, is a lawyer practising in contested wills and estates and an advocate for women. In the 2025 season, she served as Captain of the Box Hill North Football Club women’s team, following two years as Vice‑Captain. She recently called for accountability after senior male leaders at the Club wore highly offensive and inappropriate costumes to a club event and posted the images on social media. When meaningful action did not follow, she chose to leave the Club, making clear that such behaviour was unacceptable and reaffirming her refusal to tolerate conduct that undermines respect and inclusion.
Women at the Vanguard
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Community Advocate | National Ambassador, Plan International Australia
Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis is a health and social researcher and fierce community advocate advancing equity, safety and meaningful participation for children, young people, and historically underserved communities in Australia and globally. A former Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, she currently serves as National Ambassador for Plan International Australia, Vice Chair of African Women Australia, and a member of the Sydney Women’s Fund Advisory Council. Angelica is a PhD student and manages the Future Healthy Countdown 2030 at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, a national initiative bringing together academics, policymakers, and young people to drive accountability for child and youth wellbeing. Recognised by the United Nations as one of 23 Young People Leading Resilient Recovery, her diverse portfolio has led her to become a Chief Investigator for the Centre of Research Excellence in Effective Action for Adolescent Health and producer of the global award-winning audio documentary series Sink or Swim.
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Former Independent Federal Candidate for Bean
Jessie Price is a mum, midwife and former journalist whose career has focused on connecting with people in moments that matter and advocating for better systems.
Endorsed by Voices of Bean, she ran as a community Independent in the 2025 federal election, leading a grassroots, people-powered campaign that transformed Bean from a safe seat into the most marginal Labor electorate in the country, just 351 votes short. Jessie brings a holistic, community-centred lens to politics and is committed to strong climate action, equity and accountable government. She will run again in 2028.
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Co-founder & CEO, NatureHelm
Dr Debbie Saunders is a conservation ecologist with 25 years of experience advancing biodiversity conservation through innovative technology. She is a co‑founder of NatureHelm, a leading Business Nature Platform that provides corporations and their supply chains with meaningful insights. The platform helps companies understand, manage and report on critical nature‑related risks and opportunities, and to strengthen business resilience. This builds on her success as the founder of award‑winning tech company Wildlife Drones, cementing her role as an innovator in tech‑driven conservation solutions.
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Women’s Health and Safety Advocate | Churchill Fellow | Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar
Dr Jessica Teoh is an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar, Churchill Fellow, and advocate dedicated to improving women’s health and safety. Her clinical work as a doctor is deeply informed by her voluntary work supporting victim-survivors of domestic violence, delivering compassionate and trauma-informed care.
As a Churchill Fellow, she has examined global best practices to strengthen responses to gender-based violence. In recognition of her impact, Jessica was named 2025 NSW Young Woman of the Year. She brings a powerful voice to women’s leadership, sharing insights at the intersection of healthcare, advocacy, and systems change to bring about safer, more equitable futures for women and children.
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Deputy Director of the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, Australian National University
Dr Elise Stephenson is the Deputy Director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Australian National University, founded and chaired by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. She is a multi-award-winning gender equality researcher with an entrepreneurial background – a fellow of the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and Victorian Women’s Trust.
Elise’s research focuses on gender, sexuality and leadership in policy frontiers, from researching the space sector, to diplomacy, national security, intelligence, climate action, international relations, and the Asia Pacific. She is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) fellow 2025-2028 for her research on: Gender Equality at the Frontiers: AI, Space and Climate Action. She has several books out now, including The Face of the Nation: Gendered Institutions in International Affairs (Oxford University Press), Future Generations Policy, Leadership and Governance: Ending “Policrastination” (Palgrave), and an upcoming book Space XX: Gender, Power and the New Space Race (Monash University Press) out in late 2026.
Forging Legacy – Sponsored by Parker Coles Curtis
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Speaker | Educator | PhD Candidate | Advocate
Han Worsley is a passionate educator, advocate, and proud non-binary person who grew up on a farm near Nullamanna, NSW, population 40. Their love for rural communities has shaped everything they do.
Han works for Study Hubs Australia, bringing their passion for equitable education to the more than 60 study hubs across Australia. With locations in both suburban and regional areas, these hubs work to bring higher education and training to more students. They are also doing a PhD to understand how primary school kids in country towns dream about their futures, building on their original career as a primary school teacher.
Han has been CEO of Country to Canberra, done a TEDx Talk, been named an ABC Community Champion and one of Out For Australia’s 30 under 30, but they’re proudest when helping country kids believe they belong in education.
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CEO & Founder, Disability Leadership Institute
In 2016, Christina Ryan took one of the most radical steps in her long career of activism and change-making: she put the two words disability and leadership into the same sentence. Her next step was founding the Disability Leadership Institute. Now governments and major corporations use the term disability leadership, and Christina shares her experience and leadership knowledge with disability leaders all over the planet.
The Disability Leadership Institute is now Australia’s largest professional network of disability leaders, supporting each other through a community of practice and member groups. As a specialist leadership coach, Christina now uses her decades of expertise built through frontline disability rights activism, community sector management, systemic advocacy, working at the United Nations, and mentoring to build more disability leaders.
She was recently a finalist for the ACT Australian of the Year 2025.
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Founding Partner, Parker Coles Curtis
Debra Parker is a founding partner of Parker Coles Curtis and one of Australia’s most respected family law practitioners. A pioneer of alternative dispute resolution in Canberra, she is the only lawyer in the ACT with Specialist Accreditation in both Family Law and Dispute Resolution.
Debra previously served as a Dual Registrar of the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court, conducting around 2,500 mediations before returning to private practice. She is the ACT’s only Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and sits on the national board of AIFLAM. In 2025, Debra received multiple national awards recognising her leadership, while continuing to mentor the next generation of family lawyers.
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Long‑Serving ABC Creative | Social Justice Advocate
Julie Peters, PhD, is still naïve enough to believe the world can be a better place and has tried to empower women for over 50 years in a number of leadership roles, including at the ABC, the Australian Democrats and TransGender Victoria. She has also been activist trying to lift health and agency for women as a doctoral researcher, teacher, performer, writer, parliamentary candidate, environmentalist and media professional. A strong focus of her work has been to demythologise and promote social justice and equity for trans and gender diverse individuals with the public, health professionals, the media and academics.
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Former Australian Youth Representative, United Nations
Satara Uthayakumaran is an advocate, dedicated to legal and social reform, and was Australia’s Youth Representative to the United Nations for 2025. She serves on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Youth Advisory Council, was a National Youth Advisor for Amnesty International, and has worked with the ACT Human Rights Commission.
Satara also served as the youngest board member of the Domestic Violence Crisis Service. She frequently appears on the ABC and writes for SBS, Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian. Satara worked as a Policy Advisor at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and is currently completing her Bachelor of Arts/Law at ANU. In 2024, she was named a Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs and in 2025 was chosen as a finalist by the Australian Human Rights Commission for their Young People’s Award.
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Professional Speaking Coach
Annelise McCarthy is an international speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice, and communication expert specialising in confidence-led communication and leadership presence. For over a decade, she has coached professionals, leaders, and founders, from CEOs to Olympians, helping them communicate with clarity, credibility, and authority. Known for her dynamic delivery and practical approach, Annelise equips women with the tools to speak up, back themselves, and lead with confidence.
With more than 15 years of experience and a background in education, law, and competitive public speaking, she has supported thousands of professionals across 20+ industries and 15 countries. Today, she leads a highly engaged global community of 300,000+ who connect with her modern, no-BS approach to communication, confidence, and impact.
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Olympic Taekwondo Champion | High‑Performance Thought Leader
Dr Lauren Burns OAM is an Olympic gold medallist, researcher, and global speaker specialising in wellbeing, leadership, and sustainable high performance. She is the Chair of the Victorian Institute of Sport and Wellbeing and Engagement Manager for Combat Australia, where she leads initiatives supporting athletes to thrive in both sport and life. With a PhD focused on athlete lifestyle and mindset and qualifications in nutrition and naturopathy, Lauren bridges elite sport, science, and lived experience. She is the creator of the Performance Alliance and Circle of Lifestyle frameworks and is a sought-after keynote speaker known for delivering practical, inspiring strategies that elevate potential across businesses.
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Culture & Change Leadership Expert | Speaker | Author
Over many years, Penny has developed a reputation for being passionate and knowledgeable, presenting complex material in an engaging and impactful way. Penny draws on evidence-backed tools and techniques working with organisations on fostering thriving cultures, positive leadership, and smoother change transition. She has delivered workshops and keynotes across AsiaPac to diverse clients including IP Australia, the Office of National Intelligence, QANTAS, the ABC, Isentia, Westpac, Defence and Home Affairs and Johnson & Johnson. She has appeared on ABC and 2UE radio, HR Daily, emceed charity events and corporate conferences.
Scholarships
She Leads had a number of sponsorships available for young women to attend due to the kindness of those who pledged tickets. No young woman should miss out on this experience because of cost — if you’re unable to attend but would like to sponsor a ticket, get in touch with us today. When you sponsor a ticket, you get to set the criteria for who receives it.
*Please note: All scholarships cover the She Leads Conference and Networking Night ticket only. She Leads Conference attendees travel free on Friday, 31 July, from Transport Canberra when displaying their 2026 ticket, and we intentionally choose a venue accessible via public transport.
Jacq Burridge Scholarship
for Young Women
Thanks to the Burridge family’s ongoing generosity, we are proud to offer two FREE tickets to the 2026 She Leads Conference and the Networking Night through the Jacq Burridge Scholarship!
If you’re a woman or non-binary person under the age of 30 and a full-time uni student – this opportunity is for you.
Deadline: 1 June
Rebecca Vassarotti
Life Member Scholarship
The Rebecca Vassarotti Life Member scholarship ticket is generously sponsored by YWCA Canberra Life Member Rebecca Vassarotti, for a woman 25 and under who is politically engaged but doesn’t have access to professional networks or employer sponsorship.
It’s an opportunity for a young woman to step into advocacy spaces she/they might not otherwise reach.
Deadline: 1 June
Betty Ferguson Scholarship
The scholarship is generously supported by YWCA Canberra Life Member, Betty Ferguson, providing two tickets at the 2026 She Leads Conference and the Networking Night.
One ticket is offered to a vocational educator, and the other supports a woman who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend due to financial barriers. It helps create space for more women to take part in the conference and connect with others in a supportive environment.
Deadline: 1 July
HerCanberra Scholarship
Through the support of HerCanberra, one woman will have the opportunity to attend the She Leads Conference and Networking Night free of charge.
Created for someone navigating financial challenges, this scholarship recognises and backs her/their leadership potential and passion, which deserve to be nurtured and seen. It creates access to spaces, connections, and conversations that can help shape her/their leadership journey.
Deadline: 10 June
Conference Resources
The She Leads Conference offers you the ability upgrade your professional skillset, connect with emerging leaders and build the mindset you need to lead.
Guarantee your attendance by showcasing the Professional Development value of this opportunity to your employer through the email template below.
7 Questions with Nadia
Hear from Nadia Pessarossi – Strategic Advisor and Director of Pulse8 Strategies and seasoned industry leader with more than 25 years of experience.
