INTERNATIONAL
PROUDLY PRESENTED BY
Celebrate International Women’s Day with us!
“Give To Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise. ”
– International Women’s Day
#GivetoGain
INCREASE MOMENTUM - TAKE ACTION
9
MARCH
2026
11:30am Registration | 12:00pm Event start | 2:30pm Event end
Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre (GECC)
56 Goondoon Street, Gladstone Central, QLD 4680
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Rio Tinto Gladstone
Across Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), Yarwun Refinery, and Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) Rio Tinto proudly employs over 3,000 people, providing stable, skilled work that supports regional prosperity.
Part of the Gladstone community for over 60 years, we are committed to investing in a strong local future.
We aim for a diverse workplace – not just because diverse teams perform better, but because it is the right thing to do.
We are not where we want to be on gender diversity, so we have established clear targets to improve the number of women in our organisation, at all levels, and we remain committed to our goal of increasing our diversity year on year.
We have inclusive, gender-neutral parental leave in all countries in which we operate, and our policy on respect, inclusion and diversity reinforces our expectations around behaviours and personal accountability to do a great job with care, courage and curiosity.
Rio Tinto is proud to support events which celebrate and amplify the achievements of Gladstone women, driving change and opportunity across our industry.
Waitlist bookings only
Please contact GEA to make a waitlist reservation
Luncheon Tickets
Thank you to everyone who booked tickets to our International Women's Day Luncheon – we are SOLD OUT and excited to celebrate IWD 2026
SOLD OUT
speakers
MC
Shona Markham
General Manager, Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL)Shona is a trusted leader with more than 21 years of experience across Rio Tinto’s Aluminium business. From starting as a graduate engineer at Bell Bay Aluminium smelter to leading operations across Tasmania, Weipa and Gladstone, Shona brings deep operational expertise with a strong focus on safety and reliability, and a genuine passion for people – supporting her teams, engaging with communities, and advocating for the Gladstone region.
SPEAKER
Cr Leanne Patrick
Councillor for Gladstone Regional CouncilGrowing up in Brisbane, Councillor Leanne Patrick always felt a deep connection to regional Queensland, where her roots trace back through generations. In 1997, Cr Patrick married her childhood sweetheart, Nathan. Together, they welcomed their sons, William and Harrison, in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
For more than two decades, Cr Patrick dedicated herself to dentistry, even venturing abroad to study and work at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. In 2013, the Patricks seized the opportunity to own and operate McDonald’s in Boyne Island. Their commitment to the region grew further with the addition of Kirkwood McDonald’s, which they now also proudly own and operate.
Relocating to Tannum Sands, Cr Patrick found herself immersed in the serene beauty of the Gladstone Region. Her profound love for the region and its people ignited a passion for community involvement, leading her to advocate for and volunteer at multiple organisations, clubs, and industry-based companies. Cr Patrick’s journey, including her participation in the QUT Pathways to Politics for Women program, led her to pursue a career in local government.
Cr Patrick is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), further strengthening her leadership and governance capabilities.
Fuelled by her commitment to prioritising the needs of the community, Cr Patrick ran for office with a simple yet powerful pledge: to champion a ‘Community First’ approach, ensuring the Gladstone Region thrives as a place where every individual can contribute and succeed.
For more than two decades, Cr Patrick dedicated herself to dentistry, even venturing abroad to study and work at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. In 2013, the Patricks seized the opportunity to own and operate McDonald’s in Boyne Island. Their commitment to the region grew further with the addition of Kirkwood McDonald’s, which they now also proudly own and operate.
Relocating to Tannum Sands, Cr Patrick found herself immersed in the serene beauty of the Gladstone Region. Her profound love for the region and its people ignited a passion for community involvement, leading her to advocate for and volunteer at multiple organisations, clubs, and industry-based companies. Cr Patrick’s journey, including her participation in the QUT Pathways to Politics for Women program, led her to pursue a career in local government.
Cr Patrick is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), further strengthening her leadership and governance capabilities.
Fuelled by her commitment to prioritising the needs of the community, Cr Patrick ran for office with a simple yet powerful pledge: to champion a ‘Community First’ approach, ensuring the Gladstone Region thrives as a place where every individual can contribute and succeed.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Candice Harvey
Team Performance Coach • Speaker • Author • Workshop FacilitatorCandice Harvey is the woman you call when your people, leaders, or entire organisation need a serious shake up — the good kind. The kind that wakes you up, gets you thinking differently, and reminds you exactly what you’re capable of.
Through Performance Coaching, Leadership Mentoring and Corporate Workshops, Candice has helped hundreds of people and businesses get clear on what matters most — and then works right alongside them to make it actually happen.
With over 15 years’ experience in Human Resources across Australia, the UK and the USA — plus the past five years running her own Performance Coaching business — Candice understands human behaviour inside out: why people do what they do… and even more importantly, why they don’t do what they know they should.
Personal and team development don’t need to be boring or awkward — not with Candice. No death-by-PowerPoint, no forced role play, no awkward intros. Just real, meaningful work people actually enjoy.
Candice brings fun, energy and honesty to every session — because when people enjoy themselves, they’re open to real change. So get ready — on International Women’s Day, we’re not just celebrating women… we’re shaking things up to think differently, behave differently, and create different results for 2026.
Through Performance Coaching, Leadership Mentoring and Corporate Workshops, Candice has helped hundreds of people and businesses get clear on what matters most — and then works right alongside them to make it actually happen.
With over 15 years’ experience in Human Resources across Australia, the UK and the USA — plus the past five years running her own Performance Coaching business — Candice understands human behaviour inside out: why people do what they do… and even more importantly, why they don’t do what they know they should.
Personal and team development don’t need to be boring or awkward — not with Candice. No death-by-PowerPoint, no forced role play, no awkward intros. Just real, meaningful work people actually enjoy.
Candice brings fun, energy and honesty to every session — because when people enjoy themselves, they’re open to real change. So get ready — on International Women’s Day, we’re not just celebrating women… we’re shaking things up to think differently, behave differently, and create different results for 2026.
EVENT SPONSORS
Aussie Helpers
Sponsor
VE Group
Centrepiece Sponsor
COMPANY NAME
Cookie Sponsor
COMPANY NAME
Bag Sponsor
EVENT SUPPORTERS
*Please note that you will need to be double vaccinated against COVID to participate in this event. You will be required to adhere to the venue’s COVID requirements as well as the regulations placed by the Queensland Government, including showing evidence of your vaccination status.”