Raised on a cattle property in regional Queensland, Deb Frecklington has carried the values of hard work, determination, and community into every stage of her career. Juggling study, motherhood, farming, and running her own legal practice before entering politics, Deb is driven, down-to-earth, and focused on delivering real change for Queensland, with a leadership style that is personable and empowering. In this keynote session, she will reflect on the pivotal moments that forged her path into public life, the challenges she has faced, and the lessons she has shared with her three daughters along the way.

Join your peers in an insightful conversation about your leadership journey. Share how you have uncovered new approaches in familiar settings, how you have led in a complex, evolving environment, or created space for others by challenging limiting structures or assumptions.

Explore with others the next steps you might take to redefine possibilities in your own team or work.

Kamala D. Harris has dedicated her career to public service, from her roles as District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California, to her time as a U.S. Senator, and ultimately as the Vice President of the United States. She has made history at almost every stage of her career, most notably becoming the first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American Vice President. Born to immigrant parents, her journey embodies her mother’s sage advice: “Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last”.

In this exclusive interview moderated by Leigh Sales, discover her advice on how to fight for your values, build strong coalitions, and lead with impact to redefine possibilities for those who come after you.

Join your fellow attendees for a networking experience curated by Women UNLIMITED. With a set of intriguing questions in hand, you’ll engage in casual conversations and discover new connections as you work your way through your Summit Bingo card. It’s a great way to break the ice and start building valuable connections from the very beginning.

• Personal experiences with mentorship/sponsorship
• Navigating change: What’s shifting in public sector leadership and how can leaders prepare for change?
• Key moments, mentors, and allies that shaped leadership journeys
• Leading with authenticity and guiding others to do the same
• Defining meaningful impact as a leader

Annabel Crabb is an award-winning ABC writer, broadcaster and political commentator with nearly 30 years covering Australian politics and society. Creator of Kitchen Cabinet and Ms Represented, and author of the bestseller The Wife Drought, Annabel brings unique insights into leadership, gender and power drawn from her deep experience observing Australia’s leaders up close.

• Improving, investing in, and backing yourself
• Leaning into the skills we need as women to ensure our voice is heard, respected and valued
• Communicating with clarity, credibility, compassion and consistency

In this interactive session, you are encouraged to practice the skills shared by Rosanna at your table. Guided by the MC, you will have the opportunity to share and practise the strategies you would like to apply in a work setting to be more confident and comfortable presenting.

• Learning from the lived experience of people navigating leadership with intersecting identities
• From accommodation to inclusion: redesigning systems that work for all
• The power of visibility and representation in shifting workplace cultures
• Empowering employees to feel safe to show up as their whole selves

• Moving sideways, taking on new opportunities and adding to your skillset
• Adopting a growth mindset and knowing how to pick yourself up and go again

• Having an impact as a leader
• Defying adversity and trauma to become whoever and whatever you want to be
• Taking a chance and not looking back
• Taking up all opportunities and throwing myself into everything

Ali France’s leadership journey offers insight into leading through complexity and challenge. This session distils lessons on resilience, purpose, and leading with integrity.

In this interactive roundtable session, you will discuss with peers how to identify and nurture the powerful network of connections currently available to you.

You are encouraged to share and explore practical strategies for recognising valuable relationships within your workplace, from finding trusted mentors to building a resilient circle of advisors.

• Identifying hidden inequities in organisational structures
• Applying gender analysis tools and using gender impact assessments for policy and program design
• Moving beyond initiatives: embedding equality into governance, KPIs & reporting
• Building cultures that support equitable progression and safety
• Embedding gender equality into everyday workforce decisions

• Identifying the drivers of resistance
• The system at work: Organisational and structural barriers
• Managing resistance: Proactive planning and leadership alignment, targeted and deliberate interventions
• Leadership culture: Insights, communication and genuine dialogue

Join us for an inspiring keynote and Q&A with the Hon Julie Bishop — a trailblazer and role model for women leaders.
With a distinguished career spanning law, politics, and global diplomacy, Julie will share unique perspectives shaped by
her roles on the world stage.

Through candid reflections and lessons learnt from world leaders, she will explore the power of authentic leadership and the importance of building a strong personal brand. Her career insights offer practical lessons in influence, resilience, and leading
with purpose.

• Destigmatising mental health in high-performance environments: What needs to change
• Burnout among women leaders: Recognising the signs and responding with care
• The case for mid-career breaks: Redefining success and sustainability in leadership
• Instilling culturally safe approaches to care

• Embedding a leadership philosophy that amplifies capability and supports excellence through the people who provide the service
• Cultivating a value-driven culture
• Celebrating continuous improvement, collaboration, and contribution

• Humanising the system: Empathy isn’t “soft” – it’s structural
• Connection is key: Retain staff, reduce burnout and strengthen teams
• Linking empathy with curiosity and representation—listening deeply and championing diverse voices

Use this time to reflect on key takeaways from the conference and commit to the steps you would like to take once you return to work. At your table, discuss and share how this experience has reshaped your goals and what you would like to commit to changing.