Women Leaders by the Circle

Ledership Reimagined

Women Leaders by the Circle

Women Leaders by the Circle (WLbtC) is a movement. A living, breathing community built on connection, courage, and purpose. We bring together women from across industries, generations, and geographies to grow, to lead, and to reimagine what’s possible as intentional, engaged leaders. At the heart of everything we do is proximity — to real issues, to changemakers, and most importantly, to each other. Through immersive study tours and intimate leadership circles, women come face-to-face with the world as it truly is — raw, complex, inspiring — and are invited to lead with empathy, insight, and action.

Immersive. Insightful. Transformational.

Our Study Tours

The Women Leaders Study Tours are our signature experiences. They are deep, unfiltered journeys into places of profound relevance — from remote First Nations communities to global innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, India, Israel, and Japan. In Australia, we connect with Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs, community builders, and policy shapers. Internationally, we open doors to social enterprise networks, cybersecurity corridors, and bold experiments in leadership. No two tours are ever the same — each one shaped by context, curiosity, and the energy of the women who travel together.

Where the Magic Happens

The Cohort Experience

What makes WLbtC truly unique is the calibre and connection of our cohorts. Each group is a rich mix of experience, ambition, and heart. Women arrive as strangers and leave as a sisterhood bonded by shared discovery, bold conversations, and the courage to show up fully. These connections often evolve into professional collaborations, life-long friendships, and an enduring circle of support. We welcome women at every stage of their journey, from established executives to those in career transition — creating a safe, ego-free space for growth and reinvention.

Inspiring Leadership

Led by Trailblazers

Our Study Tours are guided by extraordinary women who lead with authenticity and generosity who walk beside the cohort, sharing insights, listening deeply, and holding space for others to rise. We are proud to have been led by some of the most respected and inspiring women across AU & NZ, including Christine Holgate, Debra Hazelton, Elizabeth Broderick AO, Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, Ann Sherry AO, Sam Mostyn AC, Naomi Simpson, Antonia Watson, and Pip Marlow — each of whom has brought their whole selves to the journey and left a lasting legacy of presence, courage, and transformational leadership.

Women Leaders by the Circle is pleased to announce our 2026 Global Technology Immersion to South Korea, from Thursday 5 November to Friday 13 November 2026. This immersive leadership experience will bring together around 35 senior women leaders from Australia and New Zealand to explore one of the world’s most advanced innovation ecosystems and the technologies shaping the digital economy.

The programme will be led by Stevie-Ann Dovico, Chief Technology Officer at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, and Vannessa Van Beek, Global Chief Information Security Officer at Fortescue. Together, they bring deep expertise in technology, cyber security, enterprise transformation and leadership, guiding a programme focused on global insight, leadership reflection and peer dialogue.

South Korea is a global leader in digital innovation, with strengths in artificial intelligence, cyber resilience, semiconductors, digital government and enterprise transformation. This study tour will connect delegates with leading companies, institutions and innovation hubs across Seoul and Busan, exploring Korea’s leadership in AI, data platforms, cyber security, semiconductor manufacturing, digital infrastructure and national data systems.

Delegates will also experience Korea’s cultural and economic context through curated cultural experiences in Seoul and Busan, alongside ongoing peer reflection. The programme will cover key themes including AI and enterprise transformation, cyber resilience, semiconductors, digital infrastructure and digital government, with visits to major technology clusters such as Pangyo Tech Valley.

Designed for senior women leaders in technology, cyber security, data, AI and digital transformation, this flagship immersion offers a high-trust environment for cross-sector learning, strategic insight and meaningful peer connection.

This is a rare opportunity to engage directly with one of the world’s most influential digital economies and explore the future of AI, cyber security, digital transformation and leadership for Australia, New Zealand and the wider region.

Gladys Berejiklian

South Australia, 2026

Sangeeta Venkatesan

India, 2025

Christine Holgate

Western Australia, 2025

Debra Hazleton

Japan, 2024

Elizabeth Broderick AO

Queensland, 2024

Dame Patsy Reddy

New Zealand, 2024

Ann Sherry AO

Uluru, Sydney, Canberra, 2023

Sam Mostyn AC

Victoria, 2022

Naomi Simson

New South Wales, 2021

Antonia Watson

New Zealand, 2020

Pip Marlow

Silicon Valley, 2019

2025 | India

India Unleashed

The Women Leaders Executive Leadership Study Tour: India Unleashed 2025 brought together an exceptional cohort of senior women leaders from Australia and New Zealand for a twelve-day immersion into India’s most influential institutions, thinkers, innovators, cultural landmarks and community champions.

View Tour Report

2025 | Western Australia

Led by Pip Marlow, this Silicon Valley tour immersed senior women leaders in the heart of global innovation, from top tech companies to universities, exploring leadership, technology and the strategic vision needed to shape the future.

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View Tour Report

We look forward to warmly welcoming you