From 4–6 March 2026, funded partners of the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation came together in Newcastle for a powerful and inspiring gathering in recognition of the incredible women we work with this International Women’s Day. The conference brought together women who, while working on different projects and initiatives, share a common passion for strengthening their communities and creating meaningful change.
For some attendees, the conference was a chance to reconnect with colleagues and collaborators. For many others, it was the beginning of new relationships and conversations with partners whose work, while different in focus, is equally inspiring and deeply connected through a shared commitment to community.
The conference began with welcome drinks at the beautiful Newcastle Art Gallery, providing a relaxed and welcoming space for partners to meet, reconnect and begin conversations ahead of the formal program. The evening opened with a heartfelt Welcome to Country by Aunty Theresa Dargin, grounding the gathering in respect for Country and the deep cultural knowledge that continues to guide community connections.
Guests were then treated to a moving moment as Blossom Pitt from the Native Grains Project shared a beautiful poem she had written about women and their connection to Country. Her words resonated deeply with those in the room, setting a reflective and meaningful tone for the conference ahead. As part of this special moment, Blossom also presented a coolamon to Coralie and Tracy, a thoughtful and symbolic gift acknowledging the importance of gathering, nurturing and carrying knowledge forward together.
The evening set the tone for the days ahead—open dialogue, curiosity and genuine connection between organisations working across diverse communities and projects.
The conference program was held at the stunning Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, where an incredible lineup of speakers and panels shared their experiences, expertise and reflections from their work. Throughout the sessions, attendees were captivated by the depth of insight and honesty shared. The feedback from participants highlighted just how engaging and impactful each presentation was, with many noting how inspiring it was to hear the stories, challenges and successes of others working with the same passion for community.
When reflecting on her first panel facilitation role, Casey said – “It was such a lovely experience to build connection with panel participants and to grow my own personal confidence. It was an empowering experience to talk about such an important topic and have so many amazing women give such positive productive feedback about the session, it’s topic (lived experience) and how they might move forward in the future with the information we shared. I’m very grateful for the experience.”
Across the conference, the diversity of projects represented by the Foundation’s funded partners became a true strength of the gathering. While the work being undertaken across organisations may look different in practice, the shared values of dedication, collaboration and community empowerment created powerful moments of connection and learning throughout the program.
The conference dinner brought everyone together once again at Soul Hub, offering a meaningful evening of connection, reflection and continued conversation. Alongside our funded partners, a number of valued allies from the community were also in attendance, further strengthening the sense of shared purpose and collaboration that has become such a defining feature of the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation network.
Guests were treated to a wonderful discussion between Coralie and Tracy, reflecting on the experiences, milestones and growth of the Foundation over the past five years. Their fantastic banter and perfectly timed comedic insights had the room both laughing and reflecting, as they shared stories and highlights from the journey so far.
The dinner itself was phenomenal, generously prepared by the incredible team at Soul Hub. A huge thank you to Sue, Ross and the entire team for the care and generosity they put into the evening, helping to create such a warm and memorable experience for everyone attending.
When asked about their highlight of the conference, one guest said “I loved the insight into the range of projects that ISNF have funded, and I also loved listening to the banter between Coralie and Tracy at the dinner and through the conference. Their openness and authenticity was a great invitation to the rest of us to be our authentic selves too, and holds consistent with their invitation for us to share the highlights and lowlights of our projects, and work on the challenges together. So inspiring!”
Events like this are made possible through the dedication of many people working behind the scenes. Our sincere thanks go to Mychelle, the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation and Embrace People & Place teams for their support throughout the conference and their commitment to creating space for reflection, discussion and meaningful networking opportunities between partners.
A special thank you must also go to our wonderful student team Samira, Maeen and Sitota. The feedback received about their attentiveness, professionalism and thoughtful contributions to conversations across the conference was overwhelmingly positive. Their insights and engagement added a valuable perspective to the discussions.
“As my first ISNF event and first Women’s Day conference being a student at placement, I loved everything about the opportunity; needless to say, the speakers and hospitality were exceptional. I hope to come again” – Maeen, Embrace People & Place Student Placement Program
We are also deeply grateful to our incredible MCs, Lauretta, Deann and Coralie, who guided the conference with warmth and professionalism, helping to create a welcoming and engaging environment for all participants.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Tracy. Her vision and dedication to bringing people together made this conference possible and created a space where partners could share knowledge, learn from one another and celebrate the incredible work being done across the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation network.
The Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation International Women’s Day Conference 2026 was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when passionate people come together sharing ideas, listening deeply and strengthening the collective commitment to community.
