CELEBRATING FIRST NATIONS WOMEN
Honouring the Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy
This NAIDOC Week, we proudly stood alongside gender-equality advocates FW to
host a meaningful lunch on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 centred around this year’s
theme: "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy".
The event brought together five remarkable First Nations women, whose voices
reflected the depth, resilience, and leadership of their communities. Through
powerful conversation, they shared how the next generation can honour cultural
legacy while carving bold new paths forward.
Witchery was honoured to dress each speaker, celebrating their individuality and
strength through considered style, reinforcing our continued commitment to
visibility, representation, and the empowerment of First Nations women.
Our journey is one of listening, learning, and walking alongside those shaping
change. Because championing equality isn’t a moment, it’s a movement.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Artwork by proud Samsep woman, Alysha Menzel (@alyshamenzel)
Photography by Joshua Scott
The Inspiring Speakers
Here are the women whose voices had the stage, and whose illuminating knowledge and continuous work paves the way for much needed change in Australia.
Gabrielle Ebsworth
Project Lead, Indigenous Health Australasian College for Emergency MedicineGabrielle Ebsworth is a proud Wangkumara–Barkindji woman raised on Wiradjuri Country. Returning as host for a second consecutive year, Ebsworth is celebrated AIEF alumna and the recipient of the 2021 Telstra Health’s inaugural Brilliant Women in Digital Health Award. With a deep passion and knowledge of Indigenous health and education, Ebsworth brought her deep connection to community, culture, and Country to the stage.
SHELLEY WARE
EDUCATION CONSULTANT AND MEDIA PRESENTERShelley Ware is a proud Yankunytjatjara, Wirangu and Kookatha woman. Her professional experience is broad, including working as an education consultant, media presenter, former teacher, and AFL broadcaster. Since 2019, Ware has co-developed the national NAIDOC curriculum resources in partnership with the SBS Learn team
Abbey Wright
PROJECT OFFICER WITH THE ABORIGINAL STRATEGY POLICY AND ENGAGEMENT TEAMAbbey Wright is a proud Kamilaroi woman raised on Wiradjuri Country. As Learning and Development Coordinator at the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, she is deeply passionate about governance and empowering youth in this space.
RENEE WOOTTON TOMLIN
DIRECTOR OF NEW MARKET DEVELOPMENT AT LANZAJETRenee Wootton Tomlin, a proud Tharawal woman, is Director of New Market Development at LanzaJet, where she leads sustainable aviation fuel innovation. An aerospace engineer, commercial pilot, and STEM advocate, she champions greater diversity in the field.
SUE-ANNE HUNTER
DEPUTY CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER OF YOORROOK JUSTICE COMMISIONSue-Anne Hunter is a proud Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman. She is the Deputy Chair and Commissioner of Australia’s first truth telling process the Yoorrook Justice Commission, an Adjunct Professor of Global Engagement at Federation University and a member of the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Advisory Board.
Witchery acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this event took place, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Artwork by proud Samsep woman, Alysha Menzel (@alyshamenzel)