Building Business Together

Building Business Together
Workshop 
Thursday 10 September
3.00-5.00pm
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Registrations require, limited places

If you own a business, are starting a business, or want to grow your business for the future, register to join a conversation with successful Queensland women entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors, to share ideas and opportunities for navigating the world of enterprise development together. Numbers will be limited and special guests will be announced in the lead up to the event.

Registration will also give you entry to early evening session Women Investing in Women.  An interactive workshop discussing ideas for sustainable business growth for FNQ women entrepreneurs and business leaders including special guests with expertise in business investment and enterprise development.

To Register your interest email info@wowaustralia.com.au

This event is made possible through support from Morgans and the Morgans Cairns team and WOELF - Women Only Enterprise Loan Fund

Speakers

Cathy Hunt

Cathy Hunt AM is a mission-driven leader and change-maker in the cultural, creative, and community sectors. She champions cultural expression as key to solving societal challenges, innovating to deliver impact and has extensive international experience in cultural project management, planning and policy development. Cathy co-founded the WOW movement in Australia and has initiated 10 WOW Festivals across the Country including directly producing 8 in Queensland. Cathy has always had a focus on the economic security of artists and women, developing initiatives like the QuickstART microloan fund and investing in women led businesses. Recognised with an AM for services to arts, culture, and women, she is committed to equity and inclusion and serves on various governance boards including Screen Queensland.

Carol Vale

Carol Vale is a Dunghutti entrepreneur, visionary leader, and Co-founder of Murawin, a professional advisory consultancy she established with her late husband, Greg McKenzie, 12 years ago. Murawin helps organisations work better with First Nations communities through culturally grounded strategy, research and engagement. Carol is also the Founder of Tiddas in Business and the 2024 Supply Nation Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year. With more than 40 years’ experience, Carol has worked extensively across government, corporate and major infrastructure sectors, bringing integrity, professionalism and influence to complex environments while remaining grounded in her values. Through her leadership at Murawin, Carol supports organisations to deepen their understanding of, and engagement with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture and Country—ensuring Indigenous voices, knowledge and aspirations are genuinely represented, respected and realised.

Carol is also a highly sought-after national and international speaker, and a passionate advocate for First Nations women’s economic empowerment. Through Tiddas in Business, she has created a powerful platform that strengthens the capability of Indigenous women entrepreneurs—sharing skills, knowledge and lived experience to support business growth, self-determination and economic independence for women, their families and communities.

Mary-Anne Anderson

Mary-Anne Anderson has been a small business operator since the 80’s and some years of experience as a solo-founder.  The entrepreneurship journey is not unfamiliar. Joining the global SheEO community (now Coralus) in 2018 as an Activator and discovering the still persistent obstacles women face in accessing capital to grow their enterprises, rather than sitting complaining about the finance industry, she decided to dive in and do something about it. It all started with one small commercial loan to a woman founder.  The experience was powerful, transformative for both the business owner receiving the funding and for Mary-Anne herself.  It started her on a mission to not only do more commercial loans, but to contribute towards shifting the system – one that is entrenched in power and control,  blocking women routinely from accessing capital.Amali Capital was created. 

Amali is experimental finance working with women in the Coralus community.  It is intended to be supportive, catalytic, non-dilutive, non-extractive, low documentation and flexible, to work with the capital requirements of founders and their enterprises, in partnerships towards systems shifts. A group of those early SheEO Activators now work together as WOELF (Women Owned Enterprises Loan Fund), forging ahead with advocacy to government, corporates and philanthropists, seeking out partnerships to undertake pilot loan funds and shift outcomes for women in small business.