Audacious Coherence in Hobart: WCEI’s 2026 National Forum and Awards Gala

On Friday 14 August, WCEI members and guests from across Australia came together in Hobart for a day that celebrated leadership, enterprise, ideas and connection.

The 2026 WCEI National Forum and Awards Gala brought the theme Audacious Coherence: Build with Intelligence, Lead with Integrity, Define with Intention to life through challenging conversations, inspiring speakers and the recognition of women creating genuine impact through business and leadership.

Thanks to our Tasmanian Black Spinel Sponsor, Minch Media, we also have a wonderful photographic record of the day and evening.

View the National Forum photo gallery
View the Awards Gala photo gallery

A forum designed to challenge our thinking

Held at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, the National Forum explored three themes: Build with Intelligence, examining women at the intersection of science and creativity; Lead with Integrity, asking the provocative question “Is sustainability just greenwashing?”; and Define with Intention, challenging us to consider the algorithms, assumptions and patterns that can shape the way we lead.

We were especially honoured to have Her Excellency, The Honourable Caroline Wells, Governor of Tasmania, open the Forum. Her reflections on leadership, compassion and kindness set a fitting tone for a day centred on the relationship between what we value, what we say and how we choose to lead.

Keynote and panel speakers Suzanne Bosanquet, Sophie Ballagh and Janis McKenna brought very different professional perspectives to those conversations, spanning architecture and systems thinking, polar exploration and impact investment, governance, business and purpose led leadership. The program combined keynotes with panel conversations, breakout discussions and plenty of opportunity for members and guests to connect.

Making space for the next generation

One particularly special aspect of this year’s Forum was welcoming Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds, Principal of St Michael’s Collegiate School, together with students Jemima “Mimi” Burbury and Ruby Sutherland.

The invitation gave the two students an opportunity to step outside their usual school environment and hear directly from women leading across a wide range of professions and enterprises.

Their subsequent reflections spoke strongly about the value of bringing generations of women together. Mimi described leaving with a broader understanding of leadership and a stronger belief in what she could aspire to achieve, while Ruby reflected on the opportunity to hear different career pathways, connect with women from diverse fields and take those conversations back to her peers at school.

Dr Wilson Reynolds told WCEI that both students “left buzzing with ideas” and highlighted the strong alignment between WCEI’s work and the school’s focus on developing young women as leaders.

It was a privilege to have them with us and an important reminder that leadership communities can have an impact well beyond those already established in business.

An evening celebrating leadership and achievement

The day continued at Wrest Point’s Derwent Room for the WCEI National Awards Gala Dinner.

The Gala was opened by prominent Australian tourism and development entrepreneur Julia Farrell, co owner of the Federal Group, who shared the story of the raw drive and pursuit of excellence that have shaped her role within the family business, together with her commitment to supporting and developing women throughout the organisation.

Guests also heard a deeply personal presentation from Rosie Garrison, daughter of WCEI founder Dr Noel Waite AO. Rosie shared a heartfelt story of altruism connected to her mother’s experience of tragedy while travelling overseas, offering a moving insight into the character, values and humanity of the woman whose vision helped establish WCEI in Australia.

Celebrating the 2026 WCEI National Award recipients

The Gala recognised outstanding leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, environmental action and service to the WCEI and FCEM community.

Congratulations to our 2026 award recipients:

The Dr. Noel Waite AO Award, WCEI Champion and Ambassador:
Jenny Hoysted ACC ICF FAHRI and Robin Powis, recognised for their exceptional leadership, advocacy and contribution to strengthening WCEI and advancing its mission.

WCEI Entrepreneur of the Year:
Lyndey Milan OAM, whose four decade career has built an enterprise spanning food and wine, television, publishing, speaking, culinary experiences and tourism.

The Shirley Randell AO Award for Community Dedication and Social Impact:
Ronnie Benbow OAM, founder and CEO of The Carers Foundation Australia, recognised for her sustained work supporting and advocating for unpaid family carers.

Digital & Technology Innovator Award:
Tracy Sheen CSP, recognised for helping businesses and leaders translate technology and AI into practical, responsible and sustainable business use.

Environmental Impact Award:
Lynette Mayne AM, Executive Chair of The B Team Australasia, recognised for turning environmental ambition into practical systems, collaboration and business led action.

WCEI 2026 Champions Award:
Suzanne Bosanquet FRAIA, recognised for her exceptional contribution to WCEI and FCEM internationally, including her involvement in successive FCEM World Congresses, the 2024 Sydney Congress and the development of Social Impact Scholarships for migrant, refugee and First Nations entrepreneurs.

With thanks to our sponsors and supporters

An event of this scale relies on the generosity, commitment and support of many people and organisations.

Our sincere thanks go to our Killiekrankie Diamond Sponsor, Novaris, a Tasmania global electronics manufacturer specialising in surge and lightning protection founded by Di Tompson (long term WCEI and FCEM leader) and her husband, and to Tasmanian Black Spinel Sponsor Minch Media, whose photography and content production captured both the Forum and Gala and has enabled us to share these moments with the wider WCEI community.

We also thank endota spa for generously providing treatment discounts for delegates and gifts for our speakers, adding another thoughtful touch to the Forum and Gala experience.

Our thanks also go to Killara Distillery, owned and operated by second generation distiller and longstanding WCEI member Kristy Lark CF, for providing gifts for our panel speakers. Killara is a Tasmanian producer of whisky, gin and premium spirits, and Kristy’s generosity was greatly appreciated as we acknowledged the women who contributed their time, experience and perspectives to the Forum.

Generosity of thinking, action and contribution was abundant; the gifts were thoughtfully offered to support FoLa and enhanced the experience. Thank you Rare and Beautiful for the very uniquely Tasmanian gifts of Killiekrankie Diamonds for each of our panelists and the Award winners. Delegates also received a Folabulous journal, designed and curated by Amanda Jones founder of Jones and Sons, to capture your imagination. Thank you to Lalita Lowe for her book, It’s Time to Rethink Your Fashion, gifted to every delegate. To Kim Lovely of lovely3c for releasing Sasha Abdul Rahman from her other responsibilities to support the team operationally. To Freya Downie for the jars of Dulce de Leche produced on the family farm in Tasmania, given to each panelist. Every gift a celebration of women entrepreneurs.

Extending the connection beyond the Forum

For many delegates, the experience continued well beyond Friday.

Members and guests spent time together across the weekend, visiting Killara Distillery and MONA, Salamanca Market and enjoying some of Tasmania’s finest food and wine at Hobart’s award winning restaurants.

Those more informal moments mattered too. They created space for conversations to continue, friendships to deepen and members from across Australia to spend valuable time together outside the formal program.

We also thank the WCEI Tasmania team, speakers, moderators, award judges, volunteers, members, guests and everyone who travelled to Hobart to make the 2026 National Forum and Awards Gala such a memorable gathering.

The theme may have been Audacious Coherence, but what we saw in Hobart was the idea in practice: ambitious women sharing ideas, challenging one another, recognising achievement and strengthening the relationships that allow us to achieve more together.

Alone, we are invisible. Together, we are invincible.

The WCEI Board and all members extend their sincere thanks to WCEI Tasmanian President and Board member Miriam Coleman and her team for delivering an extraordinary event.