Women in Local Government Conference 2026

The Women in Local Government Conference was developed to support women in the local government sector.  The conference aims to empower women through exploration of leadership and discussion of techniques to address common barriers and challenges.  In identifying and discussing workplace cultures that value the contribution of women in all aspects and levels of the organisation, this event seeks to improve workplaces across Queensland councils. 

By connecting women across the local government sector, we aim to provide officers with valuable insights, effective real-world strategies from experiences officers and plenty of opportunities to network, collaborate and share ideas.  

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global event celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. 

Dates: Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March 2026

Venue: Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane - 23 Leichardt Street, Spring Hill Q 4000  

Conference Times: 08.30am - 4.00pm (coffee and registration from 08.00-08.30am)

Networking Event: Wednesday 4 March from 4.00-6.00pm - drinks and finger food will be served

Brochure: Here 

Keynote Presenters:

Gemma Munro - The courage to shine

Dr Gemma Munro is an uplifting and award-winning speaker, facilitator and writer, with a PhD in performance psychology and a knack of sparking rapid and easeful change. Known as the Alchemist at Work, Gemma specialises in the science and art of courage, transformation and the creation of impossible dreams.

Gemma has ignited change in workplaces across the planet and inspired over 72,000 people worldwide. She has spoken to global and national audiences at Google, Amazon, Qantas, Vodafone, PayPal and the NHS in London, and her keynote at Google headquarters in Silicon Valley was live streamed to every Google office on the planet.

As a classically trained singer, Gemma has performed in Westminster Abbey, Radio City Music Hall and somewhat heart-stopping, to 53,000 screaming fans as a backing vocalist for the Rolling Stones.

Audience members call Gemma ‘a human alarm-clock’, ‘a lightning bolt of love’ and ‘a witch who gets in people’s heads and makes them think anything is possible’. She is known as a catalyst for immediate and sustained shifts in mindset, behaviours and results. She provokes laughter, a-ha moments and gentle wake-up calls that motivate people to make the changes they want to make (even if they’re scared of change, tired of uncertainty and gold-medal-winning procrastinators).

Gemma was the founder of a business known for its work across Australia, Asia and the UK in rapidly lifting the percentage of women at leadership level. Before that she was a tremendously serious management consultant and a recovering academic, having completed her PhD at a relatively young and impressionable age.

Gemma is passionate about forging a wild new way of working - where work feels like play, life feels in flow and exhaustion and overwhelm are things of the past. She lives on five acres in the Adelaide Hills with her fiancé Ben Barnett and their exceptionally loving, sometimes exhausting and usually hungry blended tribe of three children, forty kookaburras and a farm dog called Lucie.

Alison Nancye is an Australian Author, Counsellor, Coach, and Transformation specialist, passionate about helping people make positive change.

An accredited Counsellor and member of the Australian Counselling Association and accredited EFT & TFT Practitioner, Alison is the author of 10 books and two meditation albums and has been featured on television, in print, on radio and online.  Alison writes about self-care, self-development, transformation, healthy living, positive psychology, creative living, life purpose, resilience and overcoming life’s obstacles to live a life you love.

Alison has an academic background is in Counselling, Communications and Creativity and has worked in the field of "helping people" and “transforming lives” for 30 years.  She is an expert meditator of 25 years and has written over 1,000 meditations to help people stress-less and relax-more.  Her courses, counselling, coaching, books, blogs, podcast, talks and meditations, inspire and support people worldwide to live a life they love and overcome the road blocks so many of us face along the wild ride that is life.

Alison's latest book Get Curious was released in mid-2023 along with her new wellbeing App called Wow, Feel good now.

Tracy Hall is an author, keynote speaker and senior marketing executive.  Over the last 25 years, Tracy has had extensive exposure to start-ups, large corporations and global tech brands including Virgin Mobile, eBay, GoDaddy, Block and Afterpay.  She volunteers as a teen mentor for The Raise Foundation and is a Board Director for the men’s mental health charity – Mongrels Men.

In 2019, Tracy became known as Hamish McLaren’s famous last victim, thanks to her role in the Australian’s hit podcast, Who the Hell is Hamish?  Today, Tracy is an advocate for financial wellness writing and speaking publicly about intimate fraud, scams, financial empowerment, victim mindsets, resilience, rebuilding and our need to rethink how we trust.

Programme topics: The 2026 Women in Local Government Programme will feature:

• Balancing act - so much to do so little time - building a career and satisfying life
• Leading in times of change
• Strategic Relationships: cynicism or sincerity
• Diamonds are forged under pressure: CEO Panel
• Stepping into the spotlight
• Local Government through our eyes
• Find your tribe workshop
• Note to self
• Empowered