Women's Climate Conversations 2026: Strong Women, Living Country

Start: 2026-08-27 17:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)

End: 2026-08-27 19:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)

Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.

Host contact info info@womensclimatecongress.com

Image prepared by Celeste Ackerly

strong women, living country

First Nations Women's Voices in Leadership, Responsibility and Caring for Country

What does leadership look like when it begins with responsibility rather than authority?

How do First Nations women continue to care for Country, strengthen language, advocate for water, preserve culture in the face of increasing climate change impacts, and create spaces where communities can heal, lead and thrive?

Join Women's Climate Congress for an evening of yarning that explores the many ways First Nations women are leading change through culture, community, governance and Country.

Co-hosted and facilitated by Janet Salisbury, Founder of Women's Climate Congress, and Celeste Ackerly, Trawlwoolway woman, conservation and First Nations governance and engagement practitioner, this webinar brings together remarkable First Nations women whose leadership reflects the strength, resilience and responsibility carried by women across generations.

Speakers:

🌿 Polly Cutmore – Gamilaroi/Wiri/Anaiwan Elder, Traditional Owner and nationally respected advocate for Aboriginal water rights and cultural governance.

🔥 Sandra Woosup – Angkamuthi Traditional Owner, Chairperson, language keeper and community leader dedicated to strengthening culture, language and women-led leadership on Country.

🌿 Barbara Ibuai – a Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) climate advocate, Saibai Koedal woman, and founder of Climate Collective Zenadth Kes (CCZK) – a civil society response to climate adaptation in her region.

Through this yarn, we'll explore:

Caring for Country through water, language and cultural responsibility.
The unique role of First Nations women in leadership and decision-making.
Women-led approaches to caring for community and future generations.
Cultural authority, self-determination and governance.
Building genuine partnerships that honour First Nations knowledge and leadership.

Rather than a traditional panel discussion, this webinar invites participants into a respectful conversation grounded in lived experience, storytelling and shared learning.

Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A at the conclusion of the discussion.

Whether you work in climate, conservation, government, community development or are simply interested in learning from First Nations women, we warmly invite you to join us.

Further information and speaker bios are on our website at:
https://womensclimatecongress.com/womens-climate-conversations.

Donations welcome to support these events
WCC is a volunteer-led organisation with big ambition! While this is a free event to support inclusion, a donation to support our work would be appreciated.
Recommended donation: $10–20

Donate here

Event by

Janet Salisbury

Yarralumla, Australia

Registration is Closed