Pre-Conference Workshop 1

The Harmony Code

How Women Lead, Succeed, and Thrive Without Burning Out
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | 24 February 2026

In an era of relentless ambition and unprecedented challenges, the journey of leadership is more demanding than ever. The path to success is filled with pressures that can quietly erode clarity, energy, and wellbeing. As women step into greater levels of responsibility, the need to lead from inner harmony rather than self-sacrifice has never been more vital.

The Harmony Code is an immersive half-day masterclass designed to support women in cultivating true inner alignment, the foundation that allows professional success and personal fulfilment to coexist. This workshop is more than a learning experience. It is a transformational journey that supports you to understand and work with your own inner system so that leadership, achievement, and wellbeing arise from coherence rather than exhaustion.

Rather than striving for an unrealistic idea of balance, this experience focuses on harmony, the dynamic relationship between your thoughts, emotions, energy, and nervous system, allowing you to lead, perform, and create from a place of grounded stability and self-trust.

Key Course Takeaways

• The Power of Applying Harmony
  Learn how to bring your professional ambitions and personal wellbeing into coherent alignment so you can lead and live with greater ease and impact.
• Strategies for Sustainable Success
  Discover how high-performance leadership can be maintained without chronic stress, self-sacrifice, or burnout.
• Overcoming the Hidden Obstacles to Harmony
  Identify the unconscious patterns, internal pressures, and false stories that quietly drain your energy and clarity, and learn how to release them.
• A Clear and Practical Roadmap
  Leave with a personalised roadmap that aligns your goals, responsibilities, and inner needs so you can thrive across every area of your life.
• The Inner Leadership Mindset
  Shift from pushing and proving to leading from emotional intelligence, nervous system stability, and self-trust.
• Building Resilience and Adaptability
  Strengthen your ability to remain calm, focused, and responsive in times of change and pressure.
• Authentic Connection
  Creating authentic connection with other women leaders in a supportive and collaborative environment that inspires growth and resilience.

On conclusion of this workshop, you will leave with a clear and practical roadmap for achieving leadership success that supports both your professional growth and personal wellbeing. This session offers a grounded, supportive, and empowering space for women to explore, learn, and grow together, free from judgement or organisational politics.

Join us as we redefine what sustainable leadership looks like for women today, discovering how strength, clarity, and inner harmony can exist side by side.

Pre-Conference Workshop 2

The Competitive Edge You’re Ignoring: Why Emotional Intelligence is the Future
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | 24th February 2026

Discover how to lead with confidence and credibility by cultivating greater emotional intelligence, a growth mindset, and a human-centered approach to leadership. Have you ever felt unprepared or unsure in your leadership role? Do you worry about not being seen or heard – and how that might hold you back from leading with true impact and influence? As the workplace rapidly evolves, emotional intelligence and human connection are becoming the most sought-after leadership skills. This workshop will show you how to lead with heart and resilience – strengthening trust, collaboration, and long-term impact across your team and organisation.

Future leaders need a new toolbox of skills and mindset.

You will Learn:

• The foundational elements of emotional intelligence and their impact on leadership

• Practical strategies for applying emotional intelligence in daily leadership scenarios

• Communication techniques that elevate your executive presence

• How to approach difficult conversations

• Actionable methods for building trust, collaboration and team engagement

You’ll Walk Away With:

• A deeper understanding of your leadership presence – and how to use it to be seen, heard, and respected

• The clarity and confidence to communicate like a leader – no more second-guessing yourself

• Tools to handle tough conversations with emotional intelligence, courage, and clarity – so you can lead without losing connection

• The mindset and emotional fitness to lead in a rapidly changing world that demands purpose and people-first impact

Join us for this transformative experience that supports your professional growth, amplifies your voice, and equips you to lead with purpose and impact.

Conference Day 1

9:00 AM: Welcome to Country

9:05 AM: Opening Remarks from Chair

Dana Lightbody is the CEO of The Leadership Institute. She is a staunch advocate of equality for women in business and believes women should be helping other women every chance they get. Dana established Konnect Learning in 2013 and the Leadership Institute in 2017. Since then she has advocated for equality for women in all aspects of her entrepreneurial and professional life – in particular by chairing and assisting the production team in the development of TLI’s Women in Leadership line of events.

SESSION 1 9:20 AM: Rising to the Next Level

The transition from mid-level management into senior leadership is one of the most defining points in a leader's career - and often the most challenging to not only achieve, but to also sustain. Charissa will share insights and reflections to illustrate this "shift" and offer strategies that can assist in identifying the opportunities and converting these into leadership success. Drawing on real-world experience, Charissa will weave elements of "life" into "work and offer an holisitic perspective in building influence, increasing visibility and "playing the politics" to your advantage. The aim is to understand the what, why, how and when of aligning leadership style with executive expectations - whilst also "still being you". Attendees will walk away with a new perspective and approach, together with an understanding of the Greek concept of "Arete" and how this is the key to reaching potential and leadership success, without losing yourself in the process.

SESSION 2: 

Every leader has a story — but few embrace it as the cornerstone of their strength. In this inspiring and deeply personal session, Tracy Vo shares how her family’s journey from Vietnam to Australia shaped her purpose, resilience, and leadership style.

As a journalist, presenter, and author of Small Bamboo, Tracy has spent nearly two decades telling stories that move the nation. Here, she turns the lens inward, exploring how leaders can use their own stories to connect authentically, inspire trust, and create lasting impact.
Through honesty, humility, and reflection, Tracy reveals how to transform lived experience into leadership strength. Attendees will walk away with renewed confidence in their voice and the understanding that the stories we carry are often the greatest foundations of the leaders we become.

10:10 It’s Time.....for Networking!

10:30 MORNING TEA

SESSION 3 11:50 AM: Career Growth through Connection and Courage

In this session, Clare Lugar shares the key lessons from her leadership journey—where trust, courage, and connection turned challenges into opportunities. Through personal stories and practical wisdom, Clare explores how nurturing authentic relationships and daring to say “yes” at the right time can unlock career growth.

This session invites leaders to be intentional in how they connect and to pursue leadership with purpose and heart.

12:50 PM: LUNCH

SESSION 4: KEYNOTE ADDRESS & Q&A 1:50 PM: Blazing Your Trail: How Being Female, Indigenous and LGBTIQA in Media Shaped My Career and Life

In this session, Narelda Jacobs, a trailblazer as the first gay Indigenous woman on Australian television, will share her unique experiences and insights into how her intersectional identity has shaped her career and life. Narelda will discuss the challenges and triumphs she has faced in breaking barriers in the media industry, and how her identity as a proud Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ woman has influenced her approach to storytelling and advocacy. She will explore the importance of representation in media and the powerful impact that diverse voices can have on society. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how embracing one’s full identity can enrich professional work, foster inclusivity, and drive meaningful change in the community.

SESSION 5 2:40 PM:  Learning from the past, leading into the future 

SESSION 6 3:30 PM: Closing Keynote: Building Influence with Purpose

Suhejla shares a leadership journey shaped by expertise, resilience through economic cycles, and the less celebrated leadership that sustains decision-making at the highest levels. From a PhD in financial econometrics and pioneering work on country risk, to leading Treasury teams through the GFC, a record mining boom, a post-boom transition and the uncertainty of COVID, she has learned how to find her voice in technical and high-stakes environments. She reflects on what it means to build credibility through clarity, professionalism, and consistency, mentoring women to take the next step, and translating complex ideas into choices leaders can act on. You will leave with insights on leading with authenticity and purpose — and for creating a legacy through the women you lift.

3:30 PM: AFTERNOON TEA

4:40 PM: END OF DAY ONE & NETWORKING DRINKS

Conference Day 2

9:00 AM: Opening Remarks from the Chair

Dana Lightbody is the CEO of The Leadership Institute. She is a staunch advocate of equality for women in business and believes women should be helping other women every chance they get. Dana established Konnect Learning in 2013 and The Leadership Institute in 2017. Since then she has advocated for equality for women in all aspects of her entrepreneurial and professional life - in particular by chairing and assisting the production team in the development of TLI's Women in Leadership line of events.

SESSION 1 9:00 AM: Cultivating Relationships and Seizing Opportunity: Lessons in Career Growth

In this session, Catherine draws on her executive leadership journey to share how meaningful relationships and well-timed decisions can shape a thriving career. Catherine will explore the importance of cultivating trust, seeking diverse mentors, and recognising when to back yourself and say yes. With practical insights on building influence, aligning your values to your work, and taking smart risks, this session will inspire attendees to be intentional about their networks and bold about the opportunities that come their way.

SESSION 2 11:00 AM: The Power of Knowing Yourself: A 12-Year Journey of Authentic Leadership

True leadership begins with self-awareness. Over 12 years at RAC WA, Kylie has demonstrated how understanding your values and trusting your instincts can transform organisations. Kylie’s journey shows how breaking free from traditional expectations and daring to lead differently creates authentic success. Participants will learn how self-awareness became her compass for driving change, building high-performing teams, and championing sustainable communities, proving that when you have the clarity and courage to stay true to yourself, you create a vision that is both successful and deeply authentic.

10:40 AM: MORNING TEA

SESSION 3: EXCLUSIVE KEYNOTE SESSION 11:00 PM: Stepping Up Without Burning Out: Redefining Success in the C-Suite

ow do you step into executive leadership while still protecting your purpose, energy, and life outside of work? Caroline leads strategy, brand, communications, and client experience across a mission driven organisation, has previously served as Chief Operating Officer at the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and held senior marketing roles with HBF, Alinta Gas, Silver Chain and Australia Post.

In this session, Caroline Webb shares her journey of moving from senior management into the C-Suite. She will explore redefining success on your own terms, resetting priorities through different seasons of life and leadership, and building the right support systems at home and at work.

SESSION 4: EXCLUSIVE IN-CONVERSATION 11:50 AM: Leading with Impact in Male-Dominated Industries

 With more than two decades in law and leadership across mining, resources and construction. Anastasia knows what it takes to lead with confidence in male-dominated environments. As Chief Legal Officer at Westgold Resources, she shows that impact comes from clarity, credibility and courage. Her approach blends strong governance with authentic leadership, proving that influence is earned not by fitting in, but by bringing your full self to the table. Anastasia’s journey reminds women that expertise is power, curiosity is strength, and real progress happens when you use your voice to challenge norms, shape culture and open doors for others. 

12:50 PM: LUNCH

SESSION 5 1:50 PM: Leading with Resilience and Purpose

In this session, Leading with Resilience and Purpose, Cathie draws on her leadership journey to explore how clarity of purpose anchors effective decision-making, and how resilience enables leaders and teams to thrive through challenge and change. She shares practical insights and lessons from her experience at NAIF and Transport for NSW, offering participants strategies to strengthen their own leadership, build resilience, and create positive, enduring impact.

SESSION 6 2:40 PM: Leadership at Scale

Robyn will share how women step up by turning financial stewardship into strategic influence, partnering across engineering, operations and government to deliver outcomes that matter. She will unpack how to lift visibility in high-scrutiny forums such as Estimates and board settings, and how to use collaboration to deliver value, manage risk and meaningful outcomes. Expect practical tips and real life examples to engage stakeholders, translate numbers into narrative (and why it matters!), and show up with calm executive presence in complex public sector settings

3:30 PM: AFTERNOON TEA

SESSION 7 3:50 PM: Cultivating Relationships and Seizing Opportunity: Lessons in Career Growth

In this session, Rene draws on her executive leadership journey to share how meaningful relationships and well-timed decisions can shape a thriving career. Rene will explore the importance of cultivating trust, seeking diverse mentors, and recognising when to back yourself and say yes. With practical insights on building influence, aligning your values to your work, and taking smart risks, this session will inspire attendees to be intentional about their networks and bold about the opportunities that come their way

4:30 PM: CLOSE OF CONFERENCE

Post-Conference Workshop