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The Women in Finance Summit is returning on Friday, 13 November 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Sydney, featuring a refreshed focus on deliberate, high-value networking and practical career growth strategies.
Designed for female leaders across banking, broking, lending, financial advice, accounting, fintech and professional services, the summit brings together professionals from across the financial services sector to strengthen business performance, enhance leadership skills and build meaningful professional networks.
Reshaped around four core pillars of resilience, leadership, growth and partnership, the 2026 program moves away from heavy theory in favour of candid conversations about navigating industry shifts, making tough operational decisions, backing yourself and expanding your footprint across Australia’s financial ecosystem.
In conversation with ASIC commissioner Kate O’Rourke
A major highlight of this year’s summit is a dedicated fireside chat featuring Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commissioner Kate O’Rourke, titled The future of financial services.
O’Rourke brings more than 25 years of legal and regulatory expertise across government, top-tier international law and corporate regulation.
Since commencing her five-year term as an ASIC commissioner in September 2023 following senior executive roles at the Australian Treasury and a career in global law with Sullivan & Cromwell in Sydney and New York, she has bridged high-level policy reform with practical regulatory oversight.
In conversation with Momentum Media’s managing editor of mortgages, Annie Kane, O’Rourke will explore the economic, commercial and technological shifts reshaping how financial services businesses operate, compete and scale.
She will break down critical regulatory priorities, separate market noise from genuine opportunity and share leadership lessons from over two decades at the intersection of government, law and market regulation.
Turia Pitt to speak on resilience
O’Rourke will join the outstanding keynote line-up for 2026, which also includes best-selling author, coach and athlete Turia Pitt, who will deliver an opening address focused on the core theme of resilience.
After surviving severe burns to 65 per cent of her body during an ultramarathon, Pitt has gone on to coach over 40,000 people through her digital programs, author three bestselling books, complete the Ironman World Championship, and sail around French Polynesia.
Drawing on her personal journey and her signature Mana Framework, Pitt will explore mindset strategies for overcoming extreme adversity, adapting when plans change, and developing the courage, self-compassion and support networks needed to navigate high-pressure environments.
Later in the morning, Emperor Champagne CEO and presenter Kyla Kirkpatrick will deliver a keynote address on growth, titled “What’s next?”.
Kirkpatrick will share her story of how she pivoted from a corporate banking career to launch one of the world’s first dedicated champagne retailers, unpacking insights on making bold career leaps, building a business in a male-dominated space, and driving business growth.
Lessons in leadership
The morning proceedings will also feature a panel discussion, titled What I wish I knew then, bringing together Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia CEO Anja Pannek and AAA Mortgages managing director Melissa Ashcroft.
Moderated by Annie Kane, the discussion will explore the moments that actually mattered in their careers, including taking risks, making hard decisions, learning from setbacks and the key insights they wish someone had shared with them a decade ago.
Covering the themes of partnership and growth, Finance Brokers Association of Australia chief development officer Joanna James will guide delegates on building a personal board of directors.
James, who leads initiatives through the Artemis Forum to drive education and advocacy for women in finance, brings experience as an entrepreneur, architect and builder recognised for creating high-growth enterprises like the Mortgage Ezy Group.
In her session, James will outline how delegates can audit their skill sets, differentiate between mentors and coaches, and assemble a high-impact advisory team of informal mentors and strategic allies to accelerate their career trajectories.
The afternoon concludes with a closing keynote on leadership from award-winning speaker Colleen Callander, founder of Mentor Me Women and former CEO of Sportsgirl and Sussan. Callander will reflect on her 30-year career journey from starting as a 16-year-old retail worker to corporate CEO, offering practical perspectives on leading with confidence, building authentic cultures and navigating career-defining burnout.
Delegates will put the personal board concept into practice during the debut of the Business Exchange Network, a tailored hands-on networking session at the end of the day.
Bypassing forced small talk, the structured session connects attendees with potential clients, referral partners, collaborators and mentors from across complementary areas of financial services.
The Women in Finance Summit 2026 will be followed that evening by the black-tie Women in Finance Awards 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Sydney, celebrating the top-performing individuals and businesses across Australia’s financial ecosystem.
To learn more about the summit, including the speakers and agenda – and how to buy tickets – click here.
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