Dear ,
There’s nothing quite like sitting through the chaos of a cyclone.
Growing up in Far North Queensland, summer was punctuated by tropical storms, monsoonal troughs and frequent flooding.
The scariest moment came in 2006, as I watched hundreds of trees rise from the ground behind my childhood home and fly into the air, as if a giant invisible hand plucked them from the top of a birthday cake.
If you’ve lived through a natural disaster, you likely know the feeling.
You’re afraid, sure. But also terribly aware that things are out of your control. That there’s only so much you can do - while you hope for the best.
That feeling resurfaced in 2020 when my work contract expired. I was unemployed in the middle of the biggest employment crisis of my lifetime.
So what do you do in the eye of a storm? Who do you rely on?
Well, if you were to ask former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh AC, she might tell you to look to your community.
In 2011, amid weeks of devastating flooding and cyclones in the Sunshine State, she gave a speech that lifted the spirit of many Queenslanders.
‘This weather may break our hearts… but it will not break our will. When an event like this happens, you see the best come out in people and we've seen it already - people out there helping their neighbours and doing everything they can.’
In a crisis, people need leadership. They need to be seen.
That’s what the former Premier gave the whole state - compassion, and a sense of purpose.
It’s one of many moments of true, empathetic leadership that make us so proud to announce that Anna Bligh AC will be joining us as a keynote speaker at the Future Women Leadership Summit next year.
Joining her on the agenda is Dr Steven Kennedy, Secretary to the Australian Treasury - a dedicated public servant and economist with hands-on experience in steering a ship through a storm.
In 2020, as I and a million other Australians reckoned with having no job and no income in lockdown, it was Steven Kennedy who advised the Morrison Government on JobKeeper - a policy move that kept countless businesses and workers afloat in a very tough year.
We have so many more speakers to announce - but there’s one thing I can absolutely assure you of: they’re all leaders and innovators. The kind of people that are unafraid to speak up for what is right, try something new and own their missteps.
The kind of people that make teams, businesses and communities better.
Which is why I’m hoping to see you all next March at the Summit.
Whether you join us live in Sydney or Melbourne, or from the comfort of your homes via livestream - this is two days of panels, speeches and storytelling you do not want to miss.
Early bird tickets are now on sale. Get yours at the button below and take advantage of a handy little members-only discount while you’re at it.
Can’t wait to see you there,
Bojana Kos
Senior Content Producer, Future Women
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