Sydney, 12 November 2026: UN Women Australia (UNWA) and The Hatchery have announced a landmark partnership for the Women UNLIMITED Leadership Summit series.
The three-year partnership will see UNWA become the official partner of Women UNLIMITED, bringing together UNWA’s global brand authority and advocacy platform with The Hatchery’s national summit series, which spans six cities and attracts approximately 2,000 delegates per series.
UN Women Australia is sharpening its focus on women’s leadership and representation in 2027, launching a year-round program of leadership summits, training, school and community engagement, and advocacy designed to create lasting change for women and girls across Australia.
For many years, UN Women Australia’s International Women’s Day lunches have brought together an extraordinary community of changemakers and advocates, celebrating women’s achievements, amplifying their voices, and raising vital funds for women and girls.
UN Women Australia is now building on that legacy with a deeper, long-term commitment to women’s leadership, learning and development, during International Women’s Month and throughout the year. This includes the Women UNLIMITED Leadership Summit series, delivered in partnership with The Hatchery.
“Our IWD lunches built an incredible community, and now we want to give that community more ways to be empowered and to lead. Leadership is where we can make the biggest difference for women and girls,” Simone Clarke, CEO of UN Women Australia said.
“We can’t do this alone. That’s why we’re proud to partner with The Hatchery on Women UNLIMITED, bringing together the best in leadership development to help women turn the urgency of ‘How Much Longer?’ into action.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to accelerating women’s leadership across Australian workplaces, combining practical leadership development with global advocacy for gender equality.
With the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaching, the UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2026 reports that not a single SDG 5 indicator is on track. Women hold just 27.4% of seats in national parliaments, and at the current rate parity is still 63 years away.
The March 2027 series, celebrating International Women’s Month, will feature Australia’s first woman Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard AC, and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, who will share perspectives on leadership, conviction and using your voice when it matters.
The series will run across six Australian capital cities from 1 to 3 March 2027, with a second series later in the year (dates to be confirmed). The second summit series will give attendees the opportunity to return, share what they have put into practice, and deepen their leadership alongside a community of women who are doing the same.
Clarke said the year-round approach would match the urgency of gender equality with practical opportunities to drive change. “International Women’s Day is a powerful moment, but progress is built in the months that follow. A second summit later in the year means women can keep that momentum going.”
A percentage of proceeds from the summit series will go to UN Women Australia, supporting UN Women’s life changing work for women and girls everywhere.
Alongside the summit series, UN Women Australia will deliver content for workplaces, community resources and an expanded schools and youth engagement program. This work will help young people understand gender equality and recognise their own leadership potential, while creating more opportunities for people of all genders, demographics and geographies to contribute to a more equal and representative future.
“Meeting the moment also means looking ahead,” Clarke said. “We need to support women leading today while nurturing the next generation of leaders. Through our school and community engagement, we will support young women and young men in shaping a future where equality is an expectation, not a distant ambition.”
Cath Jules, Founder and Chair, The Hatchery, said:
“When I founded The Hatchery, our purpose was to connect people with knowledge to inspire change. Partnering with UN Women Australia on Women Unlimited is a powerful expression of that purpose. This partnership brings together our national event capability with UNWA’s extraordinary cause. Together, we can reach more women leaders, deliver greater impact, and demonstrate that bold, purposeful events can drive real change in Australian workplaces.”
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Media enquiries:
Jessica Lewington
External Engagement Lead, UN Women Australia
E: [email protected] M:+61 2 5112 2060
Sarah Green
Marketing Manager, The Hatchery
E: [email protected] M: +61468863366
About UN Women Australia
UN Women Australia is a non-profit organisation committed to achieving gender equality for all women, empowering them to contribute their unique knowledge and skills to help create a better world for themselves, their families and their communities. Working in over 100 countries across the globe, UN Women runs vital programs that provide women and girls access to technology, training programs and safe spaces, empowering women and girls to obtain an education, become leaders in their community and build a brighter, more equal future for us all.
About Women UNLIMITED
The Women UNLIMITED Leadership Summit series will take place across six Australian capital cities from 1 to 3 March and in August (dates to be confirmed) 2027. For program information and registration, visit womenunlimited.co.
About The Hatchery
The Hatchery is Australia’s leading B2B leadership events company, producing conferences, summits, and masterclasses annually across government, corporate, health, aged care, and social services sectors. Founded in 2020, The Hatchery’s mission is to connect people with knowledge to inspire change.
