Australia’s most ambitious women’s leadership gathering is set to make history this September, with former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard AC confirmed as headline speakers for what organisers describe as the country’s largest women in leadership event.
The Women UNLIMITED Leadership Summit will span six cities and seven events simultaneously from September 29 to October 1, bringing together more than 3,000 attendees and over 200 speakers in an unprecedented show of support for women’s professional advancement.
Star-studded speaker lineup
The summit has secured an impressive roster of influential voices, with Clinton making exclusive in-person appearances at the Sydney and Canberra events. Her sessions will be livestreamed to other locations, ensuring participants across the country can access her insights on leadership and breaking barriers.
In a technological first for such events, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard will present via hologram across all locations, demonstrating the summit’s commitment to innovation in delivering world-class content to attendees nationwide.
The speaker lineup extends beyond political figures to include prominent media personality Leigh Sales AM and renowned leadership expert Holly Ransom, creating a diverse mix of perspectives from across sectors including government, non-profit, education, and corporate leadership.
Corporate focus and strategic content
For corporate attendees, the summit promises high-level strategic insights from powerhouse executives including Christine Holgate, Lisa Annese, and Professor Michelle Ryan. The corporate track will tackle challenging themes that resonate with today’s business environment.
Sessions are designed to explore “understanding failure as a sign of success, harnessing the power of mentoring, and the phenomenon of the Glass Cliff” – addressing both practical leadership skills and the unique challenges women face in executive roles.
Ellen Foxall, Head of Production at The Hatchery, emphasized the summit’s practical focus beyond traditional inspirational content.
“We are immensely proud to bring the world’s most influential voices in leadership to the Women UNLIMITED Summit stage,” Foxall said.
“This event goes beyond inspiration, it equips thousands of women across Australia with the practical tools, connections, and confidence to lead transformative change within their organisations and industries.”
Unprecedented Scale and Growth
The 2025 summit represents a dramatic expansion from its modest beginnings just two years ago. Since launching in 2023 with 300 attendees, the event has grown ten-fold, reflecting what organizers describe as an urgent need for dedicated women’s leadership development spaces.
“Since launching in 2023, the momentum behind this Summit reflects the urgent need for spaces such as these, and 2025 marks a defining moment in that journey,” Foxall explained.
The scale of the event positions it as Australia’s premier gathering for women in leadership, bringing together participants from across government, corporate, and non-profit sectors in a coordinated national effort.
Multi-city coordination and technology
The simultaneous multi-city format represents a logistical achievement in event management, with coordinated programming across Australia’s major centers. The Canberra summit will run from September 29-30, while other cities host events from September 30 to October 1.
This approach ensures maximum accessibility for participants while maintaining the quality and impact of a major leadership conference. The use of holographic technology for Julia Gillard’s presentation demonstrates the organizers’ commitment to leveraging innovation to deliver consistent, high-quality experiences across all locations.
Comprehensive learning experience
The summit offers various participation options, from individual tickets to group packages for organizations bringing 50 or more attendees. All packages include two post-summit online seminars, extending the learning journey over three months beyond the main event.
VIP experiences are available in select cities, including exclusive lunch opportunities with Hillary Clinton, providing intimate networking opportunities with one of the world’s most recognizable political figures.
This extended learning approach reflects recognition that leadership development requires ongoing engagement rather than one-off events, with the post-summit programming designed to reinforce and build upon insights gained during the main sessions.
Behind the scenes: The Hatchery’s vision
The Women UNLIMITED Leadership Summit is curated by The Hatchery, an Australian company established in 2020 that specializes in high-impact conferences and leadership development events. The organization has built a reputation for delivering around 50 major events annually, primarily for government and publicly funded organizations.
Their expertise spans diverse areas including public sector leadership, regulation, Indigenous outcomes, domestic violence prevention, and aged care reform. This breadth of experience positions them uniquely to understand the leadership challenges facing women across different sectors.
The Hatchery also delivers over 100 practical masterclasses and 20 expert-led seminars annually, demonstrating their commitment to practical skill development alongside high-profile summit events.
Addressing critical leadership gaps
The summit comes at a time when organizations across Australia are grappling with leadership diversity challenges and the need to better support women’s career advancement. The focus on practical tools and organizational change reflects recognition that individual inspiration must be coupled with systemic transformation.
The inclusion of topics like the Glass Cliff phenomenon – where women are more likely to be appointed to leadership positions during times of crisis or difficulty – demonstrates the summit’s commitment to addressing real-world challenges rather than offering generic leadership advice.
National impact and future implications
With thousands of participants expected across multiple sectors, the summit has the potential to create ripple effects throughout Australian organizations. The combination of inspirational content from global figures like Clinton and Gillard, alongside practical workshops and networking opportunities, is designed to generate lasting change.
The event’s growth trajectory from 300 to 3,000 participants in just two years suggests strong demand for dedicated women’s leadership development, potentially inspiring similar initiatives across the country.
For attendees, the summit offers not just learning opportunities but the chance to be part of what organizers position as a defining moment in Australia’s approach to women’s leadership development.
Tickets and packages for the Women UNLIMITED Leadership Summit are now available, with organizations and individuals able to secure their participation in what promises to be a landmark event in Australia’s professional development calendar.
For more information and to secure your place, visit: https://womenunlimited.co/
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