# Event Details - **Event Name**: Melbourne Inspired Conversations - The Leaders We Need - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 22 Jul, 2026 at 05:30 pm – Wed, 22 Jul, 2026 at 07:30 pm - **Event Description**: The Leaders We Need brings together leaders and practitioners to explore the intersection of technology, AI, leadership, and gender equity.About this EventThe Leaders We NeedHosted by EY MelbourneThe conversation about workforce strategy in most organisations is happening at the top: AI roadmaps, workforce restructuring, automation investment. But women hold just 24.4% of managerial roles globally, and only 12.2% of C-suite positions in STEM-related fields. That means women are largely absent from the rooms where the biggest decisions about the future of work, especially regarding AI, are being made.This is not a future problem. It is happening now. And the consequences will shape careers, industries, and economies for the next decade.The Leaders We Need brings together senior leaders and practitioners to explore the intersection of technology, AI, leadership, and gender equity. This panel will challenge the narrative that the future of work is simply a matter of technical upskilling, and instead position it as a leadership opportunity that women must own, shape, and drive.Meet our panel:Suma Shivalingaiah, CIO at Eastern HealthDamian Beltrami - CIO at Toll GroupGlenda Birch - Regional Vice President, Alliances & Channels ANZ at SalesforceJennifer Rebeiro — Executive General Manager - Enterprise Transformation at Transport Accident CommissionFacilitated by Katherine Boiciuc, Chief Technology Officer Oceania at EYKey Themes1. Stepping into leadership, not waiting for permissionThe women who will advance in the next three years are the ones stepping up to own AI strategy in their teams and organisations. This is not about waiting to be reskilled. It is about claiming a seat at the decision-making table and shaping how AI is adopted, governed, and deployed. The panel will explore how women can position themselves as the leaders their organisations need right now.2. Structural barriers in professional developmentToo many upskilling programmes are overwhelmingly optional, self-paced, and conducted outside working hours. These formats structurally disadvantage those balancing unpaid care responsibilities, which disproportionately falls on women. If upskilling pathways are not redesigned with inclusion at their core, women will continue to be excluded from the AI-ready workforce.3. From motivation to momentum: the role of targeted skills planningWorkers are motivated to upskill, but without targeted skills planning and clear career development pathways that account for the changing skills required during the current AI impact, this motivation finds no productive outlet. Organisations need to move beyond generic training catalogues and build intentional development pathways that connect emerging capability with career progression.Why This MattersWomen represent just 24.4% of managerial roles globally and only 12.2% of C-suite positions in STEM. AI decisions are being made without women in the room.The design of most AI and professional development upskilling programmes excludes those with greater unpaid care responsibilities, entrenching existing gaps rather than closing them.Organisations that fail to include diverse perspectives in strategic planning, risk building systems that reflect narrow viewpoints, with consequences for customers, communities, and workforces.The window to act is now. The leadership gap in AI decision-making will only widen unless intentional action is taken.What Attendees Will Walk Away WithA clear understanding of why strategic leadership, not just technical and AI literacy, is the critical capability for the next decadePractical strategies to advocate for inclusive professional development and upskilling within their organisationsConfidence to step into strategy conversations and decision-making rolesEvent details:Location: EY Melbourne, 8 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000Date: Wednesday 22 July, 5.30pm to 7.30pmInclusions: Networking & panel and light refreshmentsGeneral Admission: $30 + Fees & GST (non-members)WID Members: Free (members-only)** This discount is available to all Women in Digital Members who have an active membership with Women in Digital. You can learn more about our .Event format:5:15pm Doors open5:30pm Networking6:00pm Panel commences7:00pm Audience Q&A7:30pm Event close? Have a question, feedback or suggestion for our future meetups? Send us an email at hi@womenindigital.orgWe welcome all champions of diversity, manbassadors included!If you're looking to connect with like-minded diversity-championing humans, expand your network and learn from other professionals in the digital industry, this is the place to be! - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/melbourne/melbourne-inspired-conversations-the-leaders-we-need/100001991327238375 - **Event Categories**: workshops, meetups, exhibitions, health-wellness, contests - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 1 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 2 hours - Location: EY - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 35.24, currency: AUD ## Event venue details - **city**: Melbourne - **state**: VI - **country**: Australia - **location**: EY - **lat**: -37.8155258 - **long**: 144.9725558 - **full address**: EY, 8 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Australia ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Melbourne Inspired Conversations - The Leaders We Need - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/07346b5621e9172209e965d6e8b65061a3d01c607f28ccd563c4738a6b05473a-rimg-w1200-h600-dc1a2736-gmir.jpg?v=1781070926 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Melbourne Inspired Conversations - The Leaders We Need being held? - **A:** Melbourne Inspired Conversations - The Leaders We Need takes place on Wed, 22 Jul, 2026 at 05:30 pm to Wed, 22 Jul, 2026 at 07:30 pm at EY, 8 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Australia. - **Q**: Who is organizing Melbourne Inspired Conversations - The Leaders We Need? - **A:** Melbourne Inspired Conversations - The Leaders We Need is organized by Women in Digital. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Melbourne Inspired Conversations - The Leaders We Need is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Melbourne, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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Being driven by this purpose, we have become a cornerstone of the Australian tech community over the last 8 years with the key focus of improving gender diversity in the industry.We connect humans in the industry through quarterly networking and panel events. We educate each other through telling the stories and sharing the careers of women in digital. And, we empower people and companies through our industry-leading annual awards program, the WIDAwards.To learn more about Women in Digital,click here.To read our Founding Story,click here.Sometimes though, it’s nice to talk to an actual human as well (hey, that’s why we built this organisation). If you are wanting to connect with the Women in Digital team directly,contact us here." } ] } ] ```