EVENT HAPPENING IN


Australia’s female leaders are not simply adapting to a changed world; they are actively designing a better future for us all.  

In honour of International Women's Day, Forbes Australia presents it's 2nd annual Women's Summit. Inspired by the theme “Power Rising”, the event will bring 25+ visionary women to the stage to examine the expanding influence of women worldwide, as they reinvent industries, upend old rules and harness the power of this critical moment to drive meaningful change.

Hands down the best women's event I have ever attended. It was great to hear from leading businesswomen and entrepreneurs, plus have the opportunity to meet the panelists."

Women's Summit 2023 attendee

  • Gain real-world insights from women at the top of their fields
  • Connect with like-minded business-women over breakfast, lunch or cocktails
  • Hear how influential female leaders and founders have overcome their biggest challenges
  • Feel energised and inspired with ideas to take back to your business and personal life
  • Business leaders and modern C-suite
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Change-makers
  • Early to mid-career professionals
  • People leaders
  • Diversity and inclusion champions
  • Everyone is welcome at this gender inclusive event

Topics

We'll examine current trends in sexual wellness + female health industries, and resilience of the beauty industry. Hear from a panel of entrepreneurial women on how they identify and capitalised on emerging trends, and how we can drive a shift to more investment in women-led businesses.

Explore how to nurture creativity, trust your intuition, build confidence and make connections. Creativity is that bit of magic that will keep your business, stakeholders and audience engaged.

A panel of barrier-breakers on why we need to shift the conversation to a more equitable, ethical, environmental and socially responsible future now. Hear from women leading the charge on driving ethics and accountability into business practice and leading social change for good. This session will be one to inspire, inform and ignite.

Just 18 women CEOs (6.2%) feature in the top 300 ASX listed companies. Hear from women at the top of their fields on their experience and advice for future female leaders.

Discover how pioneering female leaders and trailblazers are innovating products, ideas, and industries, breaking barriers, and disrupting the status quo. Gain invaluable insights and strategies to propel your own success in this dynamic landscape.

Hear what last year's speakers had to say about the Summit

Event Agenda

8:00 am

8:00 am
Diamond + Platinum Registration opens & Pre-event networking breakfast

General Admission Registration opens
9:00 am - 1:00 pmSummit Open & Welcome Remarks
Sarah O'Carroll, Editor-in-Chief Forbes Australia

Fireside Chat
Sam Mostyn

The Power of Responsibility Panel
Megan Dalla-Camina, Professor Megan Davis, Chanel Contos
Moderator: Angela Priestley

Spotlight
Yael Stone

Fireside Chat
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy

The Power of Leadership Panel
Sally Auld, Kemi Nekvapil, Sarah Walsh
Moderator: Sarah Liu

The Power of Product Panel
Kristy Chong, Nicole Liu, Kristina Karlsson
Moderator: Anastasia Santoreneos
Lunch - 1:00pmExclusive lunch for Platinum & Diamond Ticket holders only
2:15pm -
5:00pm
Spotlight
Kelly Ryan

The Power of Creativity Panel

Steph Claire Smith, Rebecca Vallance, Anjilla Seddeqi
Moderator: Rosie Whittaker

The Power of Innovation Panel
Siobhan Savage, Katherine McConnell, Kris Lovejoy
Moderator: Anastasia Santoreneos

Spotlight
Robyn Denholm

Event Concludes
Post-event cocktail and networking function
Platinum ticket holders only
Speakers and session times are subject to change

Event Concluded

26 March 2024
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney


Corporate packages

Contact us via the form further below to find out about our corporate packages.

Speakers

Steph Claire Smith
Kic

Bio

Steph is the Chief Community Officer and co-founder of Kic. It was her personal experience with toxic wellness, perpetuated by social media and the modelling industry, that sparked a fire in her belly to make a difference, rewrite the diet ‘rule book’ we were once told and help others build a healthy and more sustainable relationship with food & exercise. 

Steph has owned multiple successful businesses, is an international model to some of the world’s biggest brands, a proud mum to her son, Harvey, host of the KICBUMP podcast, co-host of the KICPOD, author and has a national grocery company stocked in supermarkets Australia-wide. 

Sally Auld
Chief Investment Officer, JBWere

Bio

Sally is the Chief Investment Officer at JBWere. She joined JBWere in September 2020 from JP Morgan where she was Managing Director, Chief Economist and Head of Economic and Markets Research, Australia and New Zealand. She has also worked in economics and markets research at both ANZ and Credit Suisse.

Sally completed her Bachelor of Economics with first class honours and the university medal at The University of Sydney and has also completed a Doctorate of Philosophy in Economics at Oxford University.

She is Chair of the SCEGGS Darlinghurst Ltd. Board, a member of the Public Policy Committee of the Grattan Institute and a member of the Finance and Investments Committee for the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

Sam Mostyn
Chair, Aware Super

Bio

Sam Mostyn is a businesswoman and sustainability adviser, with a long history of executive and governance roles across business, sport, climate change, the arts, policy, and NFP sectors. Chair of Aware Super, FYA, AIIW, ANROWS and Beyond Blue, Sam also serves on various boards including Mirvac and Climate Change Authority, Tonic Media; alongside a broad portfolio of other roles including chairing Ausfilm and the Centre for Policy Development; past roles: Chair of Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, President of Chief Executive Women, Chair of Citi Australia and Climate Council board member. Sam was awarded the Order of Australia in 2021 for distinguished service to business and sustainability, and to the community, through seminal contributions to a range of organisations, and to women.

Nicole Liu
Founder, Kin Fertility

Bio

Nicole is the founder of Kin Fertility; a healthcare company on a mission to empower women to take control of their reproductive health, from contraception to postpartum. 

Kin is revolutionising women’s health in Australia, launching Australia’s first online subscription service to the contraceptive pill, access to fertility hormone testing, and the top-rated Prenatal on Product Review. 

Nicole is a passionate advocate for women’s reproductive rights, proudly leading the #weneedmoreleave campaign for increased miscarriage leave. Through her work at Kin to make women’s healthcare and education more accessible to more people, she’s been awarded The Australian’s Top 100 Innovators Award, and Forbes 30 under 30. 

Robyn Denholm

Tesla, Blackbird Ventures

Bio

Robyn Denholm is a leading global technology executive. She
is Chair of the Board of Directors of Tesla Inc., Operating
Partner of Blackbird Ventures and Chair of The Technology
Council of Australia.

Robyn joined the Tesla Board in 2014 as an Independent
Director and Chair of the Audit Committee. She was appointed to serve as Independent Chair of the Board of Directors in November 2018 and re-elected as Chair in 2020.

Robyn joined Blackbird Ventures as an Operating Partner in January 2021, in this role she works with the founders of
later stage technology companies to help them scale and succeed.
In addition, Robyn is actively stewarding the Australian technology sector as Chair of The Australian Tech Council, which was launched in 2021, with an ambition to get one million
people into Australian tech jobs by 2025.
Her global experience encompasses leadership roles across a range of leading companies,
including Telstra, Juniper Networks, and Sun Microsystems.

In 2019 Robyn was awarded a Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) from the UNSW.

Yael Stone
Actor + Climate Communicator

Bio

Australian actor Yael Stone is best known for playing Lorna Morello in seven seasons of the multi-award winning Netflix series, Orange Is the New Black. Most recently she starred in Paramount+ series One Night, ABC's Bay of Fires, Netflix's Wellmania and multi award winning feature film Blaze.

Yael began working on screen at the age of 12 and holds deep connections to the Australian theatre scene. Yael has a slew of awards and nominations under her belt from Helpmanns, Sydney theatre Awards, AACTA, Logies, Emmy and is a 3-time SAG Award winner.

Yael has written for The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Elle magazine, Marie Claire and Junkee. In Jan 2020 at the height of the Australian bushfires, Yael announced that she would be abandoning her US Green Card, with major impact on her transatlantic film career, returning home to Australia as a symbol of her commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

Since then Yael founded Hi Neighbour. Hi Neighbour is an organisation that uses solar projects to fund scholarships to help local workers to transition into low carbon jobs. As the Founding Director Yael is responsible for day to day management of the organisation; its volunteers and multi stream business activities.

Prof. Megan Davis
Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous UNSW

Bio

Scientia Professor Dr Megan Davis grew up in Eagleby and Hervey Bay, Qld and is a Cobble Cobble woman of the Barunggam Nation. Prof. Davis is the Pro Vice-Chancellor Society (PVCS) at UNSW Sydney, where she is also Scientia Professor, the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law, a Professor of Law and Director of the Indigenous Law Centre UNSW Law.  

She is a renowned constitutional lawyer and public law expert, focusing on the human rights of First Nations peoples. She has been the leading Australian lawyer on constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples for two decades and designed the Referendum Council’s deliberative process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Prof Davis was a Commissioner on the QLD Commission of Inquiry into Youth Detention Centres in 2016 and was the Chair and author of ‘Family is Culture’, an inquiry into NSW Aboriginal Out of Home care (2017-2019).  

She was elected by the UN Human Rights Council to the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples based in Geneva (2017-2022) and was Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN Headquarters in New York (2011-2016).

Sarah Walsh
Women's Football Australia, Fmr Matilda

Bio

Sarah Walsh is a former Australian international athlete with 70 caps and 35 international goals for the Matildas.  She has a decorated career including appearances in the 2004 Olympics and 2007 FIFA World Cup. She clinched victory at the 2010 Women’s Asian Cup. 

Since then, Sarah has evolved into an accomplished sports executive, Logie-nominated commentator, and compelling public speaker. Her firsthand experience in high-performance sports has translated into advocating for pay equity and inclusion, spearheading innovation in governance and policy driving social change at all levels of football.  

Notably, as Head of Women’s Football for Football Australia, she influenced the strategy that generated a staggering $389M for football's World Cup, with an additional $200M earmarked to improve community infrastructure for women and girls across all sports. As hosts of the most commercial FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Matildas shattered attendance and viewership records, with over 11M viewers during the semi-final—the single highest rating TV program of all time.   

Today she is Head of Women’s Football, Women’s World Cup Legacy and Inclusion at Football Australia. 

Megan Dalla-Camina
Founder + CEO, Women Rising

Bio

Known around the world for her ‘brave’ and ‘refreshing’ approach to women’s leadership, empowerment, and wellbeing, Megan Dalla-Camina is forging a new path for women to own their power. She is a bestselling author, and the Founder and CEO of Women Rising, a women’s leadership and empowerment company creator of the fastest growing women’s development program on the planet. 

Megan is a celebrated coach, influential writer, committed researcher and women’s advocate. Her work is a unique fusion of science, spirit and experience drawn from a decade as an award-winning entrepreneur, an 18-year corporate career, deep academic credentials, and a wealth of knowledge in wellbeing and wisdom teachings. 

Her corporate leadership journey was grounded in two decades as an award-winning marketing director and multibillion-dollar strategist for corporate heavyweights including IBM, GE, and PwC.

Her experience as a female leader in male dominated environments, together with her journey of juggling it all (single mother, exec roles, post graduate study, life) left her burnt out and searching for the answers to how women could authentically combine fulfilling careers, leadership and the thriving wellbeing that had alluded her. This, combined with her passion for all things women’s leadership, gender diversity, wellness, and positive psychology, inspired Megan to launch Women Rising.  

To date, the company has supported 6,700 women in 37 countries, and partnered with Microsoft, ANZ, Telstra, EY and PwC to name a few.

Kristy Chong OAM
Investor, Philanthropist, Founder Modi Bodi

Bio

Kristy Chong OAM is the Founder of Modibodi, an innovative leak-proof apparel brand, providing a sustainable and more comfortable alternative to disposable hygiene. Kristy's vision with Modibodi was for all people to have higher expectations of the physical, emotional and ethical comfort they get from clothing, forgo disposables, and feel empowered to live more comfortably in themselves, without limitations.  

Kristy scientifically developed and proved the exclusive technologies behind the Modibodi brand including the patented Modifier Technology, and six other patent-pending technologies. 

Kristy has won numerous awards including the 2018 NSW Business Woman of the Year Award and 2021 Veuve Cliquot Bold Woman award. Modibodi also won the People's Choice Award and Medium Business Awards at the 2019 National Telstra Business Awards, and was recognised by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and acquired in its permanent collection as an Australian Innovation.  

Prior to Modibodi, Kristy had 13 years in senior management public relation roles for multinational organisations including McDonald's Australia, sanofi-aventis and Edelman PR. 

After 10 years at the helm of Modibodi as CEO, Kristy sold Modibodi to global health company Essity in 2022 for AUD$140M. 

Kristy is a mum of 4, and is now dedicating her time to giving back, by investing in and advising female owned, social impact led businesses (including Everty, Laronix, PeopleBench and CleanSlateClinics), and through philanthropy.

Kristy was recently awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her successful contribution to business, and for championing women’s health. 

Chanel Contos
Founder Teach Us Consent, Consent Activist

Bio

Chanel Contos founded Teach Us Consent, a grassroots campaign in Australia that exposed how many school students experience and perpetrate sexual violence, and advocated for holistic consent education for young people to prevent this. 

It started on Instagram, and soon evolved to make consent education a political priority. Chanel has worked closely with politicians from across the political spectrum, including sitting and former Prime Ministers to achieve mandated consent education in Australia. Chanel was the recipient of the Australian Human Rights Commissions Young People’s Medal in 2021 for this work, and in 2023 she was named NSW Young Women of the Year for her persistent efforts towards eradicating rape culture. Chanel continues to act as an Executive Director of Teach Us Consent as the organisation provides holistic consent education to the public, and advocates for structural reform to prevent normalised sexual violence. She sits on multiple government reference panels, and consults for multinational companies on violence prevention. 

Chanel has been presented a Diana Award, which is named after Princess Diana and is the most prestigious accolade a young person can receive for their humanitarian work and in 2022 she was listed as one of BBC’s 100 inspiring and influential women worldwide. Chanel has a Masters in Gender, Education, and International Development from University College London and was recently appointed by Julia Gillard to Chair the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership’s Youth Advisory Committee. 

Siobhan Savage
Workforce Futurist, AI Expert, CEO + Co-Founder Reejiig

Bio

Siobhan Savage is an award-winning workforce futurist and one of the top global experts in the intersection of workforce strategy and artificial intelligence. 

She led the efforts behind the world’s first independently audited Ethical Talent AI™, and has earned the status of World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, Forbes Cloud 100 Rising Star, and LinkedIn’s Top Start Up in 2022. 

As the CEO and co-founder of Reejig, the leading global workforce intelligence platform that helps organizations find, mobilize, upskill and optimize their workforce, Siobhan has dedicated her life to helping companies unlock potential across their business and ensuring that everyone has access to a meaningful career. She is a visionary leader and dominant voice in conversations around the future of work and the role AI can play in ensuring equitable opportunities for all workers. 

In Siobhan’s previous career, she led the workforce strategies behind some of the most successful multi-billion dollar mega-projects in the world. She founded Reejig in 2019 with a passion-driven mission to create a world with Zero Wasted Potential™ in people, business and society. 

Kris Lovejoy
Global Security + Resiliency Leader, Kyndryl

Bio

Kris Lovejoy, an internationally recognized leader in the field of cybersecurity and privacy, is the Kyndryl Global Practice Leader, Security & Resiliency. 
 
Kris came to Kyndryl from EY, one of the world’s leading professional services organizations, where she was the global consulting cybersecurity leader and was responsible for the organization’s multi-billion-dollar security practice.  
 
Before Kyndryl, Kris was the founder and CEO of BluVector Inc., an AI-powered, sense-and-respond platform that was acquired by Comcast in 2019. She was also Global CISO and VP of IT Risk for IBM, and General Manager of IBM’s Security Services division where she led teams that built end-to-end security programs for IBM’s global clients. She also served as co-chair of IBM’s Women’s Diversity Committee. 
 
Kris holds U.S. and EU patents in areas around risk management; was named The Consulting Report’s “Top Cybersecurity Leader of 2021” and has served as a member of the World Economic Forum’s cybersecurity committee. 

Rebecca Vallance
Creative Director + Founder, Rebecca Vallance

Bio

Rebecca Vallance launched in 2011, showing her first collection in Paris and immediately
securing Harvey Nichols. As the business began to evolve internationally, Rebecca
returned to Australia and launched the brand locally in 2012, where it now has a
growing and dedicated following.

Since her first showing at New York fashion week in February 2014, Rebecca has proven to be one of Australia’s leading fashion exports, and her recent collaboration
with Qantas has solidified that. Qantas have partnered with Rebecca Vallance on
their business class pyjama & amenity kit offering for their new flight route for Sydney
– New York via Auckland.

Rebecca Vallance rejoined afterpay Australian fashion week in 2021 to celebrate 10 years of the brand in Australia by showcasing her ‘Holiday’ collection which received
rave reviews. In 2021, Rebecca Vallance won the people’s choice award for the
Australian fashion laureate, cementing her as a favourite Australian fashion brand.
The Rebecca Vallance signature combines structured tailoring and unique luxurious
fabrications which, combined with a global aesthetic, have seen her pieces become
desired amongst stylish women including Rita Ora, Meghan Trainor, Lady Gaga,
Hailey Bieber, Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Priyanka Chopra, Aubrey Plaza, Sienna
Miller, Eva Longoria, Molly Sims, Rachel McAdams, Chrissy Teigen, Chanel Iman,
Joan Smalls, Halle Berry, Sofia Vergara, Kate Beckinsale, Behati Prinsloo, and many
more.

Kemi Nekvapil
Author, Coach + Entrepreneur

Bio

Kemi Nekvapil is one of the world’s leading credentialed coaches for female executives and entrepreneurs, a bestselling author and a highly sought-after international speaker.

She has studied leadership and purpose at The Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan and trained with Dr Brené Brown to become a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, working with teams and organisations to create daring leaders and courageous cultures.

Kemi is a facilitator for The Hunger Project Australia and a regular interviewer of industry icons including Elizabeth Gilbert, Martha Beck and Marie Forleo.

Kemi’s latest book POWER was featured in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Onward Book Club and through her Audible Original podcast, POWER Talks with Kemi Nekvapil, she’s helped thousands of people to live a more purpose-filled life, rooted in power.

With a level of compassion and wisdom only gained through extraordinary life experience, Kemi is a powerful advocate for connected, value-based living.

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy 
CEO, Xero

Bio

As CEO Sukhinder leads the growth and performance of Xero globally. With more than 25 years’ experience in Silicon Valley as a CEO, digital leader and board member, she has experience building and scaling global companies including Google, Amazon, Yodlee, Joyus and StubHub. 

She currently serves on the board of publicly traded fintech, Upstart with previous experience serving on the boards of Ericsson, Trip Advisor, Urban Outfitters, Stitchfix and J.Crew. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Arts (Honors), Business Administration & Management from Western University, Ontario, Canada. 

Flavia Tata Nardini
CEO & Co-Founder, Fleet Space Technologies

Bio

Flavia Tata Nardini is Co-founder and CEO of Australia’s leading space exploration company, Fleet Space Technologies. A real-life rocket scientist, former propulsion test engineer at the European Space Agency and holder of two patents, Flavia has worked across a broad range of innovative space projects. Along with her team, Flavia led the development and launch of Fleet’s pioneering Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation - Australia’s first - and continues to push the boundaries of exploration by delivering groundbreaking satellite-enabled solutions in mining, space exploration, and defence. 

Flavia is also a highly engaged leader in the global space sector and local community in Adelaide as Chair of the Australian Space Agency Space Industry Leaders Forum, Ambassador of AmCham SA Council of Governors, and Adjunct Professor of UniSA.

She is also on the Board of Directors of Austmine, the leading industry association for Australia’s mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector, representing over 700 companies advancing mining innovation around the world. A strong advocate for women in STEM, Flavia also regularly speaks at events to empower the next generation of leaders.

Sarah Liu
Founder & Managing Director, TDC

Bio

Sarah Liu is the founder and managing director of TDC, an Asia Pacific (APAC) top 10 diversity and
inclusion consultancy, which works with the world’s leading multinational companies to attract and advance diverse talent into their workforce.

Born in Taiwan, raised in New Zealand, studied in Japan and built her career in Australia, Sarah is a true global citizen with deep market knowledge, business networks and commercial understanding of
the APAC market.

Sarah had been awarded one of the Most Influential Asian-Australian in 2019, nominated as 100 most influential women in Australia and shortlisted as the Top Exporter in Australia by NSW Premier & Cabinet in 2020. She represented Australia in the G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance for 3 consecutive
years to share expertise on the future of work and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) best practice on a global scale.

Her thought leadership in the DEI space, in particular women in technology, has led her to present at global platforms such as UN Women and Women in Tech Global Summit. She is also appointed as part
of the Special Taskforce for Global Australia by the federal government to attract diverse talent into Australia.
Working with clients across Technology, Manufacturing, Resources, Health Science and FMCG, Sarah
and her team brings a deep domain expertise as well as cross-sector knowledge to help clients build equitable best practices for their organisations, achieving true diversity and inclusion for all.
Sarah sits on the Vice Chancellor's Advisory Board at University of Technology Sydney, the judging panel for Forbes Women’s Awards and has served as an APAC advisor to the Japanese Prime
Minister's Cabinet.

Kristina Karlsson
Founder, kikki.K

Bio

Swedish born Kristina Karlsson is the Founder of kikki.K and Founder & Creative Director of Dream Life - an inspiring & empowering brand turned global movement. 

She’s also an engaging sought-after international speaker, coach, a passionate learner & self-improver, and the proud mother of two children, Axel and Tiffany, with her partner Paul. 

After growing up on a small farm in country Sweden, at the age of 22 she found herself in a new country, half a world away from family and friends, with little money and no idea what to do with her life. So, what was a girl to do? 

Imagine what her Dream Life could look like – write her dreams down on paper - and then make them happen. 

Initially that led to Kristina selling all she owned to found and create globally loved Swedish design and stationery business, kikki.K. From the ground up she built it to have award winning retail stores across the world, a passionate team of 1,500, a reputation for innovation and service excellence, an online presence serving stationery & design lovers in over 150 countries …to generate revenue of over $650m. 

Kristina won the hearts and minds of literally millions of people the world over, as the creative force and personality behind what was a genuinely authentic, founder and purpose led brand - driven by her own personal philosophy's, personal purpose and Swedish design aesthetic. 

After a difficult and tumultuous business experience thru the Covid pandemic with the forced closure of retail stores, which tested her and her team to the core, Kristina lost control of kikki.K and parted ways in heart-breaking circumstances - a riveting story - and one that came with many learnings and silver-linings (as hardships do). 

The biggest silver lining of all is the freedom to now do what she loves again, with a creative team, on a mission to continue inspiring & empowering people the world over to discover and chase their dreams. Leveraging all that she’s learned through the ups and downs about how to stay well and thrive through good and tough times. 

Kristina is now a sought-after international speaker and coach - and is passionate about human potential and helping people discover and chase their dreams. 

Kelly Ryan
Ex CEO, Netball Australia

Bio

Kelly is an experienced CEO, sports administration, innovator and leader and in December concluded her time as CEO of Netball Australia. 

Kelly took over as CEO of Netball Australia having seen the enormous potential in the sport to continue growing as the leading sport for Women and Girls across Australia whilst developing new growth opportunities.  

In her time at Netball Australia she oversaw significant change including; 

  • Keeping the Super Netball Season alive during covid in 2021 
  • Stabilised the financial position of the sport reversing millions of dollars in debt to a profit in 12 months 
  • Delivered record breaking Super Netball Seasons in terms of membership, attendance and revenue 
  • Oversaw the most successful international period in Diamonds history winning Commonwealth Gold and the Netball World Cup 
  • Growing diversity and inclusion in the sport across all levels  

Her most significant achievement was developing and leading a talented and highly capable team of staff. 

Having completed a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing, Kelly has held multiple Executive roles leading disciplines such as Marketing, Commercial, Consumer Business, Customer Experience, Stadium Operations, Major Events and Women’s Strategies. 

She has a demonstrated ability in every core aspect of business including innovative strategic planning, stakeholder management, financial management, commercial growth and people management. She is a strong leader and passionate about building other leaders especially when it comes to fostering female talent. 

Kelly has also graduated from Harvard Business School completing the Authentic Leadership Program. 

Most importantly she is a proud mum to two beautiful girls. 

Olympia Yarger
Founder & CEO, Goterra

Bio

Olympia Yarger, the visionary founder and CEO of Goterra. With a relentless commitment to innovation and sustainability,  Olympia designed and commercialised the world's first decentralised, autonomous, insect farms.  This technology is now deployed across Australia processing resources onsite, where waste is created.   Olympia’s technology is reshaping not just the agricultural landscape but also how we imagine the future of food waste management. 

Felicity McVay
Event MC, Ex TikTok & YouTube

Bio

Felicity has spent her career in tech and entertainment, leading teams at organisations like Google, YouTube, and most recently as Global Head of Entertainment at TikTok.

Felicity now consults on media strategy and is producing her first feature film.

Sarah O'Carroll
Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Australia

Bio

Sarah O’Carroll is the Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Australia, where she brought the Forbes brand to the Australian market in 2022 including the iconic print magazine. Her mission is to tap into the deep well of innovation in Australia and connect and champion the leaders who are making a significant impact on the world. In her first year, she also successfully launched the Forbes Business Summit, Forbes Women’s Summit and Forbes Forums.

With over 15 years of experience in business journalism, Sarah has extensive expertise in engaging and growing business audiences.

Before joining Forbes, she was Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo Finance, which she relaunched in the Australian market in 2018 and grew its audience to a peak of more than two million monthly users. She has also held news, editorial and management roles at News Corp and Private Media, in addition to running her own content strategy consultancy.

Anjilla Seddeqi
Australian Fashion Designer & Human Rights Lawyer

Bio

Anjilla arrived as child in Australia with her family, seeking refuge and peace. At a very young age this life journey inspired her to conquer the legal world and work in a profession that would help others. Anjilla practices refugee law and for a number of years has provided legal advice and representation to asylum seekers who have arrived to Australia by boat. As a strong advocate in this field, Anjilla has organised numerous fundraisers for the women and children of Afghanistan. She also volunteers with refugee agencies including Australia for UNHCR, raising funds for the most vulnerable people in the world. 

With a strong creative flair and passion for design, Anjilla launched her brand Anjilla Seddeqi and revolutionised the perception of modest fashion. Anjilla’s work has been featured in the worlds most revered mastheads including Harpers Bazaar Australia and she is now respected as an authority on fashion inclusivity and a pioneer of change progression in the industry.

Location


Roslyn Packer Theatre
22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, Sydney 2000

Breaking the barrier

6.2%

of top 300 ASX-listed companies have women CEOs

5%

of women say they work for gender equality leaders

18%

of Australian board chairs belong to women

7x

less VC funding is given to female founders versus their male counterparts

Speak with a consultant.

For information on corporate discounts and how the Summit can benefit you or your team, enquire below and a consultant will contact you.

Presenting partner

Platinum partner


FAQ

How & when will I receive my live event ticket?
You will receive your live event ticket via email within 24 hours of completing your purchase. Guest tickets will be emailed within 72 hours of providing full details.
Is this event live or virtual?
The Forbes Australia Women's Summit is a live, in-person event hosted in Sydney. Please note the Women's Summit will not be streamed virtually. 
What do I need to bring to gain entry to the event?
Please bring along your pre-purchased ticket along with photo identification.
Can I purchase a ticket on the day/at the venue? 
Yes, tickets will be able to be purchased on the day of the event, if ticket allocations have not already been exhausted. You can purchase tickets online or speak to a Forbes member at the venue.
Is the Women's Summit suitable for men to attend?
The Forbes Australia Women's Summit is a gender inclusive event that will address topical issues around equality and representation in the workplace and beyond. We invite all genders to attend to work towards a successful and equitable future together.
Is there a discount for group or corporate bookings?
Yes, please contact us at events@forbes.com.au for more information on group and corporate packages.
Am I able to alter the attendees name?
Only the purchaser of the ticket(s) can alter an attendees name up until 11.59pm (AEDT) on the 1st of March 2024. This can be done by the purchaser by clicking on the modify registration button on your confirmation email.
Venue
The venue is Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, Sydney 2000.
Is there a dress code?
The dress code is smart casual. Any inappropriately dressed attendee may be refused access to the Forbes Australia Women's Summit.
Event Terms and Conditions
Click here for the Terms and Conditions for the Forbes Australia Women's Summit.