LEADERSHIP BEYOND THE ROOM
Expanding economic opportunity for women everywhere
Delivered in partnership with UN Women Australia, the Women in Leadership Summit connects leadership development with tangible, global impact.
UN Women Australia is a non‑profit organisation and does not receive any core funding. The organisation relies on partnerships and voluntary support to deliver and scale initiatives that expand economic opportunity, increase leadership pathways and improve safety outcomes for women in Australia, across the Pacific and beyond.
In Australia, the Women’s Business Second Chance Hub supports First Nations women who have been excluded from education or employment pathways. Delivered with Real Futures in NSW and WA, the program provides vocational training, job opportunities and entrepreneurial support to build skills, confidence and long-term independence.
Globally, the broader Second Chance initiative has reached more than 113,000 women across Australia, Cameroon, Chile, Jordan, India and Mexico.
In the Pacific, Markets for Change supports women who make up 90% of market vendors. The program improves market infrastructure and safety, while providing business and leadership training that enables women to grow income and and step into leadership roles. In 2024-2025, 8,465 women across the Pacific were supported through the Markets for Change program.​
Alongside these programs, UN Women Australia leads such as Safe.Everywhere.Always. supporting the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global movement to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls, and the UN Women Australia Leadership Network, which brings together leaders committed to advancing gender equality through collective action, influence and investment.
Through our partnership with UN Women Australia, your participation in the Women in Leadership Summit contributes to programs that expand opportunity, strengthen leadership and improve safety outcomes for women and communities worldwide — ensuring leadership development here translates into long-term economic empowerment beyond the room.
UN WOMEN PROGRAMS
Women’s Business Second Chance Hub (NSW and WA)
Meet Penny
A single mother, Penny, joined the Second Chance Return to Work initiative to follow her passion for supporting the community. Through a tailored support plan - including workshops on life and career planning, resume writing, and interview preparation - she quickly secured a part-time position with a Sydney-based First Nations charity. To ensure a smooth start, Penny received a professional work wardrobe and transport for her first day. Today, she is thriving in her role and creating a brighter future for herself and her child.
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Markets For Change (Pacific)
Meet Mariana
For years, Mariana’s stall at Namaka Market in Fiji overflowed with fresh produce - a testament to her hard work and resilience. But when she joined the Markets for Change program, everything changed. Through leadership and business training, Mariana discovered her own power and broke barriers by becoming the first woman elected President of the Namaka Market Vendor Association - a role long reserved for men.
Today, Mariana looks around the market with pride. Namaka has blossomed into a vibrant, safe, and welcoming space where women vendors lead with confidence, access training and skills to grow their businesses, and create better futures for their families and communities. It’s more than a market - it’s a movement for equality and opportunity.
