Join a powerful community of women and gender-diverse changemakers working with and across Victorian local government and Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (VGA) partners to strengthen leadership, influence and develop meaningful action across councils and communities.
This 2 day in-person leadership program, supported by online sessions, is designed to connect, equip and energise emerging and established leaders working across climate, environment, sustainability and community-focused roles with local government.
In partnership with the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action and Castlemaine Institute and supported by the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, WELA is supporting women and gender-diverse leaders to drive collaborative, cross-council solutions that advance environmental, social and community outcomes across Victoria.
Dates:
• WELA She Shapes History – Badass Women of Melbourne Tour: Wednesday 18 March 2026, 5.30 – 7.30pm
• In-person Intensive: Thursday 19 – Friday 20 March 2026
• Online Onboarding: Wednesday 11 March, 2:00pm – 3:30pm AEDT
• Online Integration: Wednesday 22 April 2026, 12:30–2:00pm AEDT
Location:
Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, central Melbourne. A fully accessible venue with rich feminist history, supporting women and gender-diverse leadership, with direct access to QV Melbourne.
Apply by:
Sunday 22 February 2026 — Midnight AEDT.
Queen Victoria Women’s Centre
Local government is on the frontline of climate action. Councils shape the places where people live, work, travel and belong – from climate adaptation and emissions reduction to community engagement, biodiversity protection, waste systems, disaster preparedness and urban planning.
Program aim
Mobilise, inspire and empower women and gender-diverse leaders across and within Victorian Local Government and Greenhouse Alliance partners to influence change, build climate ambition, deepen cross-council connections and drive community-focused climate actions.
Outcomes/skills:
The WELA Victorian Local Government Leadership Intensive, designed by and for women and gender-diverse changemakers, rises to meet this moment.
This program will help participants to:
1. Strengthen confidence & capability
Lead climate, environment and sustainability initiatives with influence, clarity and strategic insight.
2. Build cross-council networks
Connect with peers across metro, urban, regional and rural LGAs.
3. Turn commitments into action
Translate strategies, policies and targets into practical implementation.
4. Co-design solutions that can scale
Prototype collaborative responses and multi-council initiatives.
5. Lead with courage, care and systems awareness
Navigate complexity with grounded, relational and regenerative practice.
Featuring WELA Alumni, local-government innovators, First Nations knowledge holders and climate practitioners. Topics include:
• Leading in complexity
• Circular & regenerative communities
• Climate mitigation and adaptation
• Disinformation & community trust
• Emotional labour of sustainability roles
• Collaboration as climate leadership
• National Climate Risk Assessment implications
• How councils influence State, Federal & COP processes
Jodi Newcombe
Climate Innovation & Systems Change Specialist, Castlemaine Institute
Dr Cathy Oke OAM
Director Melbourne Centre for Cities,and Associate Professor / Melbourne Enterprise Principal Fellow in Informed Cities
Georgie Smith
Author, TEDx speaker, Training Specialist, Lifelong Sustainability Advocate and Public Servant
Pasanna Mutha-Merennege
WELA Policy & Advocacy Manager
Bernadette Thomas
Community Advocate and Councillor at Maribyrnong City Council, WELA Alum and Board Member
Kara Stuart
Innovation Advisor, City of Casey
Micaela Drieberg
CEO, GenVic
She Shapes History
Tour Guides
Hidden amongst Parliament House, the Princess Theatre, Chinatown, and Little Lon are the stories of women who shaped Melbourne.
Walk through the heart of the city where women built hospitals, launched movements, soundtracked our streets, and transformed culture – usually without any recognition. From the steps of Parliament to tucked-away laneways, you’ll meet artists, agitators, entrepreneurs and everyday rebels who dared to speak up and shape the city around them.
Come ready to see Melbourne differently, and to carry these stories with you into the 2-day Intensive. This tour will leave you feeling inspired, grounded, and ready to shape history together!
Participants collaborate to:
• Identify shared challenges
• Map systemic barriers
• Share collective wisdom
• Discuss collaborative solutions
• Design multi-LGA pilots
Small-group mentoring led by experienced VGA leaders and WELA alumni. Participants receive:
• Leadership guidance
• Career and pathway insight
• Strategies for influence and resilience
• Support navigating council systems
• Peer encouragement and reflection time
Learn and apply frameworks including:
• Systems thinking
• Leverage points for council action
• Values-aligned decision-making
• Influence mapping
• Emotional resilience and boundaries
• Climate storytelling
• First Nations knowledge integration
Participants explore:
• Leading change inside bureaucratic systems
• Working with councillors and executive teams
• Cross-department collaboration
• Navigating conflict, expectation, misinformation and disinformation
• Burnout and emotional labour
• Influence beyond role authority
• Climate risk, adaptation and evidence pathways
Women and gender-diverse people working for, or closely with, Victorian local government, including across:
We strongly encourage applications from:
• First Nations participants
• People of colour
• CALD communities
• People living with disability
• Neurodivergent leaders
• Small/regional/rural council officers
• Volunteers and under-represented communities
• LGBTQIA+ communities
Unsure if this is the right program for you? Contact programs@wela.org.au
Tiered to support participation across all councils:
• Tier 1: $1,250 + GST — Metro, large or well-resourced councils with annual revenue of $150m+
• Tier 2: $950 + GST — Regional and mid-size councils with annual revenue of $60–150m
• Tier 3: $750 + GST — Small or rural, lower-resourced councils with annual revenue under $60m
Includes:
• Welcome event
• Catering across both days
• Online onboarding + integration
• Program materials and tools
• Alumni network access + support
2 x Full Scholarships prioritised for:
• First Nations leaders
• Under-represented communities
• Rural/regional councils
• Volunteers
• People experiencing financial barriers
Sarah McKenzie
Learning Experience Designer & Facilitator, WELA
Carli Leimbach
Leaderships Program Director, Facilitator and Innovation Lead, WELA
Rena Zhu
Sustainability Manager, Kmart Australia Limited
Lexi Randall-L’Estrange
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Castlemaine Institute
Amy Gregoravich
Climate Action Coordinator, Yarra Ranges Council
Kara Stuart
Innovation Advisor, City of Casey
Caroline Kell
Founder and Managing Director of Blak Wattle
Deadline: Sunday 22 February 2026 — Midnight
Rolling acceptances will commence from 4 February, with all successful applicants notified and confirm participation by Wednesday 4 March, 2026.
In your application, tell us:
• Why you want to participate
• Your background and experience
• What you’re seeking
• Provide your input into the co-design by sharing the real challenges and opportunities facing Victorian councils
• How you’ll apply this learning in your council/community
Accessibility needs?
Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is deliberately set up to support accessibility needs (mobility aids, accessible bathrooms, lifts/ramps).
If you require a Word or phone application, please request via programs@wela.org.au