Courage. UNLIMITED.
We are leading in a time of sustained pressure, complexity and change. Across industries, leadership now demands results in conditions defined by uncertainty – balancing growth with risk, navigating constant disruption, and sustaining performance as expectations continue to rise.
Women UNLIMITED creates the space to lead in exactly this context.
In 2026, this landmark summit convenes leaders navigating ambiguity and transformation at scale. Headlined by global leader The. Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern, the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand, it brings together voices who have led with clarity, empathy and courage under pressure – making decisive calls when certainty is limited. The focus is how direction, trust and momentum are established when the path ahead is unclear.
Across two days, the focus is practical: staying effective in complexity, leading teams through change and performance pressure, and making confident decisions with incomplete information – while strengthening clarity in how we lead.
Women UNLIMITED is where leaders reset perspective, sharpen thinking, and return with grounded confidence.
2026 theme: The courage to lead differently
Watch out our summit video below
Our speakers in
Sydney 2026
The Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern
The Hon. Prue Ann Car, MP
Susan Wheeldon
Erica Berchtold
Alexis George
Annabel Crabb
Professor Michelle Ryan
Rose Herceg
Rebecca Donaldson
Kristin Hay
Miranda Ratajski
Catherine Horan
Belinda Driscoll
Liz Selby
Alison Hancock
Liz Carnabuci
Aimee Buchanan
Suzy Mann
Suneetha Bodduluri PSM
Kinnie Ring
Yvonne Weldon AM
Rebecca Moulynox
Lisa Annese AM
Victoria Tavendale
Nicole Stafford
Holly Ransom
Why attend
Sydney Corporate 2026
The Women UNLIMITED Summit provides two days of insights and strategies, plus two post-summit online seminars forming a three-month learning journey.
All times are shown in AEST.
Welcome to Country
Opening remarks from The Hatchery
Ministerial Address
Session to be announced
Power pause
Connect with another delegate; sometimes insight comes from a quick conversation.
The new leadership mandate: Values, impact & the courage to lead differently
- Why ‘leading with values’ is no longer a soft skill, but a hard requirement for managing 2026’s sophisticated workforce
- How the best leaders move past ‘groupthink’ to create environments where the best ideas win, regardless of where they come from in the hierarchy
- Navigating high-pressure, high-scrutiny moments: How to make confident decisions and prioritise effectively when information is incomplete
- Redefining ‘executive presence’: how the most effective leaders today are trading authority for influence and authenticity
Morning tea
Leadership In Times Of Chaos
Annabel Crabb has spent nearly 30 years watching Australia’s leaders up close — in parliament, in their kitchens, and in an increasingly volatile political and economic arena. With a gift for naming dynamics that many find hard to pin down, she draws on the very latest from Canberra to illuminate what is going on and what you can expect next. Funny, forensic and deeply human, this session will leave you with a new understanding of what your ministers are really up against, and what to expect in the months and years to come.
Networking Bingo
Use your lunch break to connect, engage and discover! Grab a Bingo card and mingle with fellow delegates.
Lunch
Session to be announced
Leading with instinct in a noisy world
- Using distinctiveness and ‘human instinct’ as a commercial hedge against market volatility and noise
- Fostering productive friction among high-performing teams to spark creative disruption
- Why leading with clarity requires the courage to move against the prevailing industry grain
Power pause
Reflect on a key takeaway learned so far and define how you will apply it to your role.
Uncovering the leadership lessons & setbacks that change everything
- What is a leadership habit or daily ritual that has had the most significant impact on your ability to lead?
- How do you navigate a failure or unexpected career turn that forced a complete rethink of your leadership style?
- How do you build and leverage a network of mentors and peers for long-term career resilience?
- What is one piece of advice you’d give your younger self about navigating the move from middle management to senior leadership?
Afternoon tea
Leading with purpose & empathy in high-stakes environments
- Acting as a ‘stabiliser’ to maintain team engagement during massive sectoral transformation
- How aligning organisational purpose with individual wellbeing creates a sustainable competitive advantage
- Why the most courageous leaders prioritise empathy as a core commercial discipline rather than a soft skill
- What navigating complex public scrutiny in the health and media sectors teaches us about authentic integrity
Leading transformation for long-term growth
- Reconstructing the cultural foundations of a legacy institution by shifting the internal narrative from crisis management to purpose-led growth
- Executing high-stakes divestments and shifting the internal narrative from crisis to growth
- Building trust and influencing decisions across complex stakeholders while maintaining leadership authenticity
Closing remarks
Networking drinks
Acknowledgement of Country & Opening remarks
Beyond the Glass Cliff: Turning risk into opportunity for women in leadership
- Understanding the real impact of the Glass Cliff and how it shapes leadership pathways for women
- Identifying organisational behaviours and biases that create high-risk leadership appointments and how to challenge them
- Applying practical strategies to set leaders up for success, ensuring support, sustainability and long-term impact
The human advantage: Leading at the intersection of AI, tech, trust, & talent
- Bridging capability gaps and redesigning roles to focus on strategy as administrative tasks are automated
- How do you maintain a culture of trust and human connection when more decisions are being made by data and algorithms?
- How can government and corporate Australia collaborate to ensure tech advancement doesn’t leave the workforce behind?
Morning tea
In Conversation with Jacinda Ardern: Finding the courage to lead differently
In this special Q&A moderated by Holly Ransom, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joins the stage to redefine the architecture of influence. Aligned with our theme, “The Courage to Lead Differently,” Ardern draws from her bestselling memoir, A Different Kind of Power, to challenge the outdated notion that leadership requires a “thick skin” or an iron fist.
Moderated by Holly Ransom, Acclaimed Interviewer of Barack & Michelle Obama & Hillary Clinton, Chief Executive Officer, Emergent Global & Author, The Leading Edge.
Power pause
Sip, breathe, smile — small pauses lead to big breakthroughs
Lunch
Leadership in action: Solving workplace challenges
Step into real leadership situations and test your problem-solving skills. In small groups, you’ll tackle authentic workplace challenges — from navigating bias and difficult conversations to leading through change. Collaborate on practical, usable strategies to solve authentic workplace challenges and strengthen team performance immediately
Facilitating economic empowerment & financial resilience through micro-entrepreneurship
- How lowering barriers to entry for micro-entrepreneurs provides a commercial hedge against traditional economic downturns
- Translating community-led marketplace data into strategic action to support education, childcare, and eldercare ventures
- Why leveraging remote work and domestic tourism shifts allows diverse stakeholders to pivot faster than traditional sectors
Leading through uncertainty: Navigating change, complexity & constant pressure
- Translating market pressure and policy shifts into actionable instructions to prevent team panic
- Practical capabilities for guiding teams through shifting priorities and organisational complexity
- How do you support your managers who are caught between high-pressure executive demands and a burnt-out workforce?
- What are some practical ways to train your team to view disruption as a chance to innovate rather than a threat to survive?
Afternoon tea
Building borderless cultures & courageous leaders in shifting markets
- Solving the puzzle of productivity in hybrid environments to prevent team fragmentation
- How building a sense of psychological safety enables high performance in high stakes commercial markets
- What navigating systemic shifts in the property sector teaches us about the courage to lead with empathy
Leading through volatility: How commercial leaders stay ahead of market disruption
- Re-engineering legacy models under pressure and making ‘unpopular’ decisions to own the numbers
- How maintaining a bias for action prevents legacy brands from stagnating during economic downturns
- Why the most courageous commercial leaders prioritise customer reality over internal corporate consensus
- What navigating high-stakes market shifts teaches us about the courage to disrupt your own business model
Closing remarks & close of summit
Leading in times of uncertainty: How to stay grounded & lead with impact
Overview
The pace and complexity of today’s work environment demands a new kind of leadership steadiness. This practical seminar draws on VUCA leadership principles, the concept of the Impact Player, and the critical distinction between distractions and genuine disturbance to help leaders cut through the noise, protect their focus, and show up with clarity and purpose – without burning out in the process.
Attend & learn
- Apply VUCA leadership principles to navigate volatility & complexity with confidence
- Distinguish between distractions & genuine disturbances that deserve your attention
- Identify what it means to be an Impact Player & how to lead beyond your formal role
- Build practical self-care habits that sustain your performance & judgement under pressure
- Develop your personal approach to staying grounded when conditions keep changing
How to make better decisions, prioritise your time & lead with confidence
Overview
The most significant leadership development happens when we confront the thinking, habits and assumptions that have quietly shaped our careers. This practical seminar helps leaders identify what’s holding them back, cut through competing priorities and define what success genuinely looks like at this stage of their journey – then leave with the tools to act on it immediately.
Attend & learn
- Identify & let go of the thinking patterns that quietly limit your leadership potential
- Prioritise what matters most when everything feels urgent & the list never gets shorter
- Reduce low-impact work to create space for the leadership that actually moves things forward
- Make faster, more confident decisions without second-guessing yourself at every turn
- Set clearer boundaries with stakeholders & teams without damaging trust or relationships
- Manage competing priorities & define success on your own terms, using a practical framework
Why bring your team
Strengthen your team
Develop and retain talent
Enhance your visibility
Collectively learn and implement
Get discounted table bookings
Who should attend?
Download our Business Case for Attendance template to easily share the value of this event with your organisation and secure approval to participate.
The use of the term “women” across the event is inclusive of both cisgender and transgender women. We acknowledge the under-representation of non-binary people in leadership, which is also a result of gender inequality.
Sydney Corporate 2026 | Pricing
Can’t attend in-person? Join the online interactive Sydney Summit and save $200 off the current rate
Groups of 3-4 save 5%
Groups of 5-9 save 10%
Groups of 10-19 save 15%
Groups of 20-29 save 25%
Groups of 30-49 save 30%
Groups of 50+POA
All prices shown in AUD
Save on the 'Standard Summit Experience' for non-government community services providers.
Call 1300 918 334 or email [email protected] for special rates.
Hear from our community
FAQs
Do all the speakers present live in person?
All speakers at The Hatchery present live and in person unless specifically noted on the event program or circumstances prevent the speaker from appearing live.
Are there opportunities to network with other delegates?
The Hatchery provides a number of networking opportunities for all event attendees. Clearly printed name badges are provided to all attendees at registration. Attendees are encouraged to wear these for the entirety of the event to ease networking processes during all session breaks. Attendees are also encouraged to bring plenty of business cards.
Online attendees are encouraged to network and collaborate during break out sessions or via chat forum on the online platform.
How do I access the slides and resources?
Once the event has finished you will be given the opportunity to provide feedback which will provide access to the session resources which we have permission to share.
Are meals included in my registration?
The program will include morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea for all participants. Please refer to the agenda tab above for more details.
Do you cater for dietary requirements and any additional needs?
Dietary requirements and any additional needs are to be communicated to event organisers minimum one week prior to the event commencing. Please identify yourself to The Hatchery staff upon arrival to ensure all your needs are met.
What if I cannot attend all sessions?
Some sessions are being recorded and will be made available after the event ends online (subject to speaker consent).
What happens if I am no longer able to attend?
All cancellations must be raised at least 2 weeks before the event. For cancellations received in writing more than 2 weeks before the event date, a credit voucher will be issued and valid for 12 months from the registration date to use for another The Hatchery event.
Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. The company regrets that no cancellations will be refunded. Course documentation will however be sent to the attendee.
A substitute attendee is always welcome at no extra charge, you must notify us in writing at least 48 hours in advance if you wish to send a substitute participant. Please email [email protected] and quote your invoice number to arrange this. Delegates may not "share" a pass between multiple attendees without prior authorisation.
For an event cancelled by The Hatchery registration fees are fully refundable.
