Celebrating Navitas women in leadership at the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium
As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at Navitas, our University Partnerships Australia division was proud to support women leaders at Women & Leadership Australia’s Women’s Leadership Symposium at locations across Australia. The events are dedicated to empowering, connecting and inspiring current and future women leaders.
The symposium wasn’t just a professional development opportunity for Navitas colleagues, it was a space for connection, reflection, and inspiration. With a mix of networking, personal growth sessions, and empowering conversations, it proved to be a standout experience for everyone involved.
Annie Wang, Marketing Manager at La Trobe University Sydney Campus, shares her experience of the valuable day:
“The symposium exceeded my expectations, offering far more interesting and valuable insights. I gained a deeper understanding of current industry trends, challenges, and the barriers and opportunities women face in the workplace.”
Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) is part of the Navitas group and is well-known for offering practical, high-impact leadership development programs for individuals, schools and organisations. WLA host a range of amazing events throughout the year that brings together women leaders from all over Australia to share, grow, and support one another.
“We know there are social, cultural, and economic benefits to embracing organisational diversity, including having more women in leadership roles”, said Karen Surmon, General Manager at WLA.
Founded in 2004, Women & Leadership Australia has supported more than 60,000 leaders through targeted programs and events. They combine deep expertise in leadership with a strong focus on equity, inclusion, and what it really takes to lead in today’s world.
Thu Thuy Nguyen, the Student Services Manager at Western Sydney University International College, also described her experience:
“It was truly amazing to listen to the guest speakers—women from diverse fields—sharing their experiences and offering support for other women. It was an open and honest conversation about the challenges many women face and how they overcome these obstacles.”
She also highlighted the powerful reminder that leadership is not just about titles, but about being a source of inspiration and lifting others up.
“True leadership is about building trust and leading beyond traditional boundaries.”
Michelle Barrington, Process Improvement Manager at UPA, reflected on the event and shared similar thoughts:
“The day was packed with opportunities to learn, share, celebrate and connect. The line-up of speakers took us on an amazing, and at times emotional journey through their own leadership experiences and gave us so many insights, lessons and practical tips to take back into both work and life.”
We are incredibly proud to be part of such an impactful initiative and thrilled to hear how it empowered so many of our team members.