Event Recap | Level Up 2026 - The Power of Investing in Yourself

Written By Gen Collective

"Growth isn't always about more. Sometimes it's about becoming more capable of carrying what comes next." – Alexandra Joy

On Friday, 4 September, our community came together for Level Up 2026. Designed around the themes of self-awareness, self-leadership, self-wealth, self-management and self-motivation, the conference challenged attendees to step away from the day-to-day and invest in themselves. Throughout the day, participants heard powerful stories, gained practical insights and engaged in meaningful conversations that encouraged reflection and action.

From entrepreneurship and financial wellbeing to leadership, resilience and innovation, each speaker brought a unique perspective and practical lessons that attendees could immediately apply to their careers and lives.

Our Key Takeaways

  • We were reminded to look past the expectations that we impose on ourselves and reconnect with our true selves.

  • We were empowered to take greater ownership of our financial futures.

  • We learned valuable lessons on resilience, maintaining momentum, and what different paths to success can look like.

  • We don’t need to have everything figured out at the start. We simply need to see the opportunity, believe in ourselves and take the next step.

Our Speakers

We were fortunate to be guided by an incredible lineup of speakers and panellists:

To all our attendees: thank you for your time, your presence, and for holding space for each other. This conference was a true testament to the power of women empowering women.

We left with new tools, new connections, and a refreshed perspective on what success looks like—being your true, authentic self.

Our Sponsors

Events like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors:

  • Genea Newcastle – Fertility change starts here.

    • Every fertility journey is different, and at Genea they’re committed to helping you fulfil your dreams. They’re here to support you at each important step, and to assist you with preserving your fertility and planning your future family

  • Hunter Financial – Helping people build wealth, confidence and financial freedom.

    • A trusted financial planning and wealth management firm, Hunter Financial is passionate about helping individuals and families build financial confidence and achieve their long-term goals.

  • Fourth Wave Wine – Celebrating connections, one glass at a time.

    • Known for its innovative approach to winemaking and portfolio of award-winning brands, Fourth Wave Wine continues to bring people together through exceptional wine experiences.

  • Ruppert Legal – Navigating complexity with confidence.

    • Providing specialist immigration and migration law services, helping individuals, families and businesses navigate Australia's visa, sponsorship and migration processes with confidence.

  • First National Real Estate Port Stephens - Turning property goals into reality.

    • With deep local knowledge and a reputation for outstanding service, First National Real Estate Port Stephens helps clients navigate their property journey with confidence.

  • Novo Finance - Fueling possibilities through smarter finance.

    • Dedicated to helping clients secure the right lending solutions for their personal and business needs, Novo Finance proudly kept our attendees fuelled as the Coffee Cart Sponsor at Level Up 2026.

Our Annual Partners

A huge thank you to our partners who helped make the day even more special:

Our Venue Partner

We couldn’t have asked for a more stunning backdrop than Belmont 16s. A big thank you to Rowena and her events crew for ensuring everything ran seamlessly.

You can check out the full event gallery here.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us for Level Up 2026. We hope you left feeling energised, inspired, and empowered to lead as yourself.

The Gen Collective Committee 💙

Gen Collective
Next

An Evening of Creativity, Calm and Connection