Images by Amy Brown Photography
Last week on Palawa Country, WELA hosted the Conservation Leadership Intensive – Lutruwita (Tasmania), bringing together 18 women from government, not-for-profits, business, and grassroots campaigns. Held over four transformative days at Spring Bay Mill in Triabunna, the group explored leadership, connection to Country, and the power of collective action in the face of ecological crisis.
As Jessie Bodor from Tasmanian Land Conservancy reflected: “This intensive also offered a chance to gain insight into the work of other women in Tasmania’s environmental movement. There’s often a sense of fragmentation and disconnection in this space—few forums exist for women to share and learn from each other’s experiences and impact. This gathering was critical in addressing that gap.”
In a region often marked by division, the intensive helped bridge those divides – bringing renewed energy, shared purpose, and a sense of solidarity to Lutruwita / Tasmania’s conservation movement.
Co-facilitator and founder of Nayri Niara, Ruth Langford, guided the group into a space of deep listening to Country, helping shape a space of profound reflection. It created a rare and valuable space for these women to connect not only with each other but also with themselves. She shared, “One particularly moving moment was sitting around the fire under a bright blue sky as four wedge-tailed eagles danced above us. The parents teaching their young the twists and turns of flight—it felt deeply symbolic of the leadership journey we were on.”
Many women found themselves deeply moved – challenged and changed by what they discovered about themselves, each other and the broader system they’re part of. For many, it marked a real turning point in both their personal and professional journeys.
From forest protection and cultural fire, to climate action and advocacy, the intensive affirmed a powerful truth: when women connect, lead, and act together, real systems change is possible.
This leadership intensive was delivered in partnership with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) and made possible with the generous support of the Graeme Wood Foundation and private donors.
