On Saturday 15 November, Surf Life Saving Queensland proudly hosted the first workshop of the Advancing Women in Leadership Program at The Sebel Brisbane — a full-day event designed to empower, connect, and inspire women across the lifesaving movement.

The program, which aims to increase the participation of women and girls in community leadership roles, focuses on building business, emotional, and social intelligence to strengthen leadership capability across clubs and branches.

A Vision for the Future

The day opened with a warm welcome and an address from SLSQ Board Director Mel Cowlishaw, who spoke about the importance of visibility, mentorship, and representation in shaping the future of lifesaving leadership.
Mel encouraged participants to “set their vision high” — not only for themselves, but for the generations of women who will follow in their footsteps.

Exploring Leadership from Every Angle

The morning sessions, The Current State of Play and The Missing Link, introduced participants to The Leadership Compass — a practical framework built around Business (BQ), Emotional (EQ), and Social Intelligence (SQ). These sessions challenged traditional ideas of leadership, prompting attendees to reflect on how self-awareness, collaboration, and strategic thinking intersect to drive success.

Building Business Intelligence

In The Business of Lifesaving, attendees explored how business intelligence underpins strong decision-making and sustainable growth within clubs and branches. Discussions focused on how leaders can balance community purpose with professional practice — ensuring lifesaving organisations remain adaptive, financially sound, and member-focused.

Mindset Shifts for Modern Leadership

The afternoon’s session, Leadership Mindset and Skill Shifts, invited participants to identify the mindset and capability changes required to thrive in leadership roles. Using The Leadership Compass as a guide, attendees reflected on how to strengthen confidence, credibility, and influence — both in the surf lifesaving environment and beyond.

What’s Next

As the first of a series of workshops, Setting the Vision laid the groundwork for ongoing development through the Advancing Women in Leadership Program. Over the next 5 months sessions will continue to build on key themes of capability, confidence, and connection, supporting women at all stages of their leadership journey.

For those interested in the next program intake in 2026-27 email [email protected]