2026 International Women’s Day Luncheon Wrap Up
Each year, International Women’s Day offers our community a moment to pause, gather and reflect on the progress we have made and the work still ahead. In 2026, the Gen Collective community came together once again to celebrate the power of connection, conversation and collective action. This year’s luncheon was our largest yet.
More than 430 women and supporters joined us, travelling from across the region and beyond to share in a day dedicated to celebrating women and girls. Surrounded by friends, colleagues, mentors and allies, the room reflected exactly what Gen Collective has always stood for: a community of people who believe that when women support each other, incredible things happen.
International Women’s Day is often marked on the calendar as a single date, but for our community it represents something much bigger. It is a reminder that the pursuit of equality is not confined to one day each year. It is reflected in the everyday decisions we make, the conversations we start, the behaviours we challenge and the ways we choose to support and uplift the women and girls around us.
It is about looking at our workplaces, our industries and our communities through a lens of fairness and opportunity. It is about asking how we can create spaces where every woman and girl, regardless of background or identity, feels safe, heard and empowered to shape her own future.
Gen Collective itself is proof of what can happen when one conversation leads to meaningful change.
Founded in 2008 by Mel Hamilton, Gen Collective began with a simple idea to create a space where professional women in our region could connect, support each other and grow their careers and businesses.
What started as one conversation and one room of women has grown into a thriving community almost 18 years later. Today, Gen Collective continues to bring women together through events, conversations and partnerships that support both individuals and the broader Newcastle community.
Events like the International Women’s Day luncheon are only possible because of the incredible support of local businesses and partners who believe in the importance of investing in women and in the community.
We extend our sincere thanks to our naming rights partner Regional Australia Bank, whose ongoing support helps make this event possible year after year.
We are also incredibly grateful to our Gold and Silver event sponsors Novo Finance, Galah Cyber, Skintifix, Governeering and Keepr Property Co, and to our accommodation partner Crystalbrook Kingsley for supporting this year’s celebration.
A special thank you goes to City of Newcastle, our venue partner, for helping bring the event to life in such a beautiful space and for their continued commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen our region.
We are also grateful for the support of our 2026 annual partners LH Agenda, MOA & Co, Williams Accounting Concepts, Skintifix, Myf Garven Creative and Alexandra Joy Consulting, whose ongoing partnership allows Gen Collective to continue creating meaningful opportunities for connection and professional development throughout the year.
Behind the scenes, many talented people contributed to making the event such a memorable experience. From the beautiful floral styling by Frost Flowers, to the AV support from Scion, and the talented photographers Lee and Myf who captured the day, every detail helped bring the event together.
We also acknowledge Event Speakers Australia, and in particular Nick, who works closely with Gen Collective each year to help bring inspiring speakers to our region.
This year we were honoured to welcome Cathy Freeman as our keynote speaker, an Australian icon whose story of resilience, courage and leadership continues to inspire generations.
In alignment with Cathy’s advocacy, Gen Collective was proud to partner with The Westerman Jilya Institute as our charity partner for the event. A portion of every ticket sold for the luncheon was donated to the foundation, supporting the important work they do providing resources and opportunities for Indigenous youth across Australia. Thanks to the generosity of our community and the success of this event, we are proud to share that a donation of $3,000 will be made to the foundation to support their continued impact.
As we reflect on this year’s celebration, we are reminded that progress is built through connection, conversation and collective effort. The energy in the room reinforced what we already know, that when women come together to share ideas, support one another and challenge the status quo, our communities grow stronger.
From all of us at Gen Collective, thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s International Women’s Day luncheon.
Your presence, your voices and your continued support are what make this community so powerful.
