A day of unstoppable energy!

On Friday 27 March, the Women in Business event at Maitland Town Hall came to life in the most vibrant and memorable way. From the moment guests stepped into the Maitland City Council foyer, they were welcomed with a touch of glamour. Pink carpet, champagne in hand, and plenty of laughter as Magnetic Shots captured happy moments to take home.

The atmosphere only built from there. The stunning soprano vocals of Kirsten Busby floated through the foyer, setting the tone before guests moved into a main hall transformed; washed in pink, buzzing with energy, and filled with women (and men) showing up as their most confident, colourful selves. It was a room alive with connection, excitement and genuine celebration.

Beautiful touches were everywhere. From the Stars of the Hunter artwork featured for the Cancer Council online auction, to the pink goodie bags, pom-poms and glowing lights that added a little something to the event.

We were honoured to begin the day with our Major Sponsors Mai-Wel. Belinda McNab and Jenny Cappellacci shared the incredible impact their organisation is having across our community. It was a call to action – to break barriers to create opportunity that is intentional. Their passion and purpose set a meaningful foundation for the day ahead.

Guiding us through it all was our wonderful MC, Jamie Canavan, whose warmth, and insight perfectly captured why we had all come together; connection, growth, and the shared excitement of what’s ahead, particularly the launch of our Women’s Mentorship Program.

And then came the powerhouse that is Kim Payne, bringing BIG pink energy, pink pom poms, and just the right amount of glitter, paired with an utterly unique ability to connect with every single person in the room.

With honesty, humour and unstoppable spirit, Kim took us on a journey through her life – sharing the challenges, the lessons, and the moments that shaped her. Her message was clear and powerful: courage is a choice, and it’s one we must make again and again. Drawing on themes from her book Courageous Me, she reminded us that everything starts with us – that we only get this one opportunity, and it’s up to us to listen to our intuition, trust it, and take the leap.

One of the most powerful moments of the day came when Kim invited us all to pause, close our eyes, and reflect on the past five years. It was a simple yet deeply moving exercise and one that left many in the room with a renewed sense of pride, perspective, and possibility.

Her message echoed throughout the day: just start. Don’t get overwhelmed by the end goal! Start where you are, take the first step, and momentum will follow.

That spirit carried beautifully into the launch of our Women’s Mentorship Program, Courage in Action : Mentorship in Motion. A moment we’ve been building toward and are incredibly proud to share with our community. With twenty-seven applications already received, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We know there is more to be done, particularly as we work to address the gap between our region and national averages in female leadership, but this is a powerful step forward.

We are now calling on our community to help bring this to life, seeking mentors, mentees, and sponsors to support and grow the program. The selection process is about to begin, and we invite you to be part of something truly meaningful for Maitland.

Throughout the day, guests also enjoyed a beautifully curated high tea by Sprout, complemented by bubbles from Boydell’s, creating space not just for inspiration, but for connection and conversation.  To close the event, Josh Lawlor from the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation and Ali Cook from the Cancer Council joined us to draw the lucky door prize, bringing a joyful end to the formalities. Ali also shared the inspiring journey of our Executive Officer, Belinda O’Bryan and her Stars of the Hunter campaign, encouraging everyone to get involved through the ongoing online raffle, rolling art auction and sponsorship and to join the community on 30 May for the big dance off! Read more

As the day came to a close, one thing was clear, we didn’t just attend an event, we experienced something special.

It was a day of connection, empowerment, and positivity. A day that reminded us of our strength, our courage, and what is possible when we come together. And most importantly, it left us all with a sense of momentum. Ready for what’s next, both as individuals and as a community.

Because isn’t that, what it’s all about!

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