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WELA Conservation Leadership Intensive in South East Queensland

WELA Conservation Leadership Intensive in South East Queensland

Join a powerful community of women and gender-diverse changemakers driving environmental leadership across South East Queensland.

This immersive four-day retreat, supported by online sessions, is designed to energise, connect and equip emerging and established leaders to strengthen conservation and climate action in the region.

Dates:
 In-person Retreat: Tuesday 14 – Friday 17 October 2025
 Online Onboarding: Tuesday 7 October, 2:30–3:30pm
 Online Integration: Tuesday 28 October, 1:00–2:30pm

Location:
EcoView Retreat, Tallebudgera Valley on the lands of the Tulgigin, Kombumerri and Yugambeh people – 70 acres of bushland in the Gold Coast hinterland. Fully accessible facilities, nourishing meals, and nature-based spaces for reflection.

Apply by:
Tuesday 5 August 2025, 5.00pm – Applications for this program are now closed.

“This program helped me reconnect to my purpose, gave me a renewed sense of possibility, and surrounded me with a network of incredible women I now call friends.”

Cassandra Bennett, Operations Manager, Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) & 2024 WELA Alum

Our moment, our responsibility

We are living through an era of accelerating change. Climate disruption, biodiversity loss, rising inequality, and weakened democratic systems are converging in complex and compounding ways. This poly-crisis is not abstract – it’s here in our communities, coastlines, forests and waterways.

In South East Queensland, one of the most biologically rich and rapidly developing regions across the country, the need for courageous, connected, and collaborative conservation leadership has never been more urgent.

The WELA Conservation Leadership Intensive, designed by and for women and gender-diverse changemakers, rises to meet this moment.

In partnership with the City of Gold Coast (CoGC), Queensland Conservation Council (QCC), and made possible with the generous support of Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN), the Felicity Wishart Legacy Fund and private donors.
What to expect

This four day intensive will:

  • Reignite your inspiration and resilience, so you feel supported and sustained - not isolated - in your work.
  • Foster deep connections, creating a powerful network of conservation leaders who uplift and collaborate for long-term impact.
  • Strengthen regional environmental leadership, building bridges across communities, movements, and organisations to drive greater collective action.
  • Equip you with the tools, confidence, and influence to lead bold and effective conservation initiatives.

Join us to be part of a growing movement shaping the future of environmental leadership in South East Queensland.

Applications for this program are now closed.

Image credit: Amy Brown Photography
WELA's programs are designed to strengthen climate resilience through confident, connected and impactful leadership.

Leading through complexity, grounded in connection

In the face of ecological collapse, growing inequality, and the fraying of our social fabric, we know that incremental change is no longer enough. The challenges of our time call for a new kind of leadership – one that is courageous, collective, and deeply connected to place, people, and purpose.

Within every disruption lies the potential for transformation. This program is designed to support that transformation.

Image credit: Amy Brown Photography

The WELA Conservation Leadership Intensive in South East Queensland builds the capacity, confidence, and clarity of women and gender-diverse changemakers to meet this moment with strength, skill, and care.

Through this immersive program, you will experience:

  • Deepen your leadership skills and confidence to lead strategic conservation and climate action.
  • Gain tools to lead projects, campaigns, and initiatives with lasting impact.
  • Build cross-sector networks of collaboration.
  • Amplify diverse voices and lead with equity and inclusion.
  • Strengthen emotional resilience through nature, and art-based and somatic practices.
  • Centre First Nations knowledge systems and leadership.
  • Reconnect with purpose, community, and Country.

We are not here to control complexity—you will learn to move with it.

This program offers not just knowledge, but wisdom; not just leadership, but a deepening of what it means to lead in ways that regenerate, restore, and reimagine what’s possible for our region and beyond.

We’re calling in women and gender-diverse people who are:

  • Active in climate, conservation, or environmental justice (paid or volunteer roles).
  • Based in or working with communities in South East Queensland.
  • Ready to deepen their leadership for greater impact.

Whether you work in landcare, policy, local government, education, activism, or regeneration—this program is for you.

We strongly encourage applications from:

– First Nations women and gender-diverse people
– People of colour
– CALD communities
– Individuals of all abilities, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds

If you’re unsure whether the program is right for you, email us at programs@wela.org.au

Gallery

Thanks to generous partner support, this program is heavily subsidised.

Full Program Fee: $1,850 (includes retreat accommodation, meals, materials, and online sessions)

Scholarships: A limited number of full and half scholarships are available, prioritised for First Nations participants, unpaid volunteers, and people from marginalised backgrounds.

Payment is required upon acceptance to secure your place.

View the WELA payment and cancellation policy here.

"Since the intensive, I have seen many successes, both personal and professional, that have been the result of the confidence and leadership skills developed through the program."

Great Barrier Reef Intensive Alum, 2024
What's included
  • Transformational ContentTailored modules on systems change, First Nations leadership, relational and feminist leadership, community mobilisation, and more.
  • Facilitators & Thought Leaders Including Cherry Muddle, Kate MacMaster, Carli Leimbach, Kara Lena Virik and Emily Toner . Plus guest speakers and participant-led learning sessions.
  • Resources & Tools Access to books, toolkits, reflection prompts, storytelling, embodiment practices and ongoing peer support.
  • Retreat ExperienceAll meals, accommodation, and facilitated sessions across the four-day immersive program at EcoView Retreat.
  • Alumni NetworkLifelong connections through WELA’s national network of environmental changemakers.

Submit your application by Tuesday 5 August 2025 at 5.00pm.

We’ll notify successful applicants and confirm participation by 19 August 2025.

In your application, tell us:

– Why you would like to participate 
– Your background and experience 
– What you’re looking for from the program 
– How you plan to use the program to benefit your work and leadership, including your willingness to progress environmental action through your work or network following the intensive

If the online form is a barrier, contact us for a Word or hard copy form, or request a phone application.

Applications for this program are now closed.

“WELA’s leadership intensive was an incredibly layered and transformative experience. I found myself deeply inspired, both by the facilitators and their knowledge sharing and the other participant leaders."

Lutruwita Intensive Alum, 2025

Toolona Circuit Waterfall – Lamington National Park. Image Credit: Jimmy Cordwell

This year marks 10 years since the passing of Felicity “Flic” Wishart, one of Australia’s most influential conservation leaders. Her legacy—fierce, strategic, and inclusive—lives on through the changemakers she mentored and inspired. This program honours her spirit and dedication to empowering women and gender-diverse leaders.

Read more about Flic’s legacy here.

Contact Kasey Harris, WELA Program Coordinator at kasey@wela.org.au should you have any questions or require a follow-up call.

"Providing a platform, like the WELA leadership intensive, that nurtures and connects emerging leaders from all walks of life to protect and enhance our natural environment has never been more essential.”

Desiree McLean, Environment Partnership Advisor, City of Gold Coast

Image Credit: Amy Brown Photography