Change is what calls us here
Amina is looking into the future and she might see more than she is sharing with us when she speaks at the Opening of the Women Deliver 2026 Conference.
The Opening Press Conference
Women Deliver 2026 — Key Insights & Moments At a time when the world feels increasingly fragile, many conversations at the conference were grounded in a shared reality: conflict is escalating across regions such as Lebanon and Iran, and it is women and girls who are most deeply affected. At the same time, in places like Bangladesh, economic pressures are forcing children out of school — a quiet crisis with long-term consequences. Amid these global challenges, one of the most powerful moments of the conference was the feeling of connection. This work can often feel isolating — many shared how easy it is to feel alone in their efforts. Being together in one space, with people who think and feel in similar ways, was deeply energising. Solidarity was not just a concept — it was something you could feel. And yet, a key insight emerged clearly: solidarity on its own is no longer enough. There was a strong collective call to move beyond connection into coordinated action. Governments, multilateral organisations, philanthropy, and civil society need to step forward — together. Not in silos, but as true partners shaping a shared path forward. At the same time, there was an honest reflection within the feminist and gender equality movement itself. The systems that have shaped the last 30–40 years were, in many ways, not originally built for women, girls, or gender-diverse people. This moment invites a rethinking of those systems — not abandoning progress, but evolving it. Because alongside the urgency, there was also a deep sense of acknowledgement and pride. Over the past decades, the movement has achieved what once felt impossible — from the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to the International Conference on Population and Development, and growing global recognition of LGBTQ+ rights. These milestones are proof: change is possible. One of the defining moments of the conference was the launch of the Melbourne Declaration — a feminist vision for the future, shaped by hundreds of voices worldwide. It signals a shift toward a more inclusive, responsive, and accountable approach to gender equality. A central idea echoed throughout: while global institutions play an important role, real change happens at the level of states and societies. Governments must take responsibility for rights and protections. Citizens must hold them accountable. And partnerships — across philanthropy, civil society, and institutions — can support this transformation. What emerged is a sense that the next chapter of gender equality will be defined by relationships — between people and power, between systems and lived realities. And perhaps one of the quiet truths of the conference: this shift may have been needed long ago — but this moment is here now.
Breaking Glass Ceilings and standing on concrete floors - Julia Gillard
Stories of Changemakers
As changemakers we need to stand up for the change we want to see
Meet Georgia Mathwes, Community Funds for Gender Equity
Georgia, after an impressive performance as MC on stage at he morning gathering of the Community Funds for Gender Equity shared her Story with me: She shares that her journey began with discovering feminism at a young age, which led her into the world of philanthropy—and eventually to community philanthropy, where she found her true civic and political home. She believes deeply that resources can flow into communities in more democratic, collective, and responsible ways. Her work is driven by strengthening community philanthropy so that communities don’t just receive resources, but actively govern them. Growing up in metropolitan Melbourne, she recognises her own privilege, while also speaking to her lived experience as a queer woman who has faced discrimination. This has shaped both her personal and professional purpose, which is centred on LGBTQ+ justice, feminist leadership, and more inclusive, community-led ways of working.
Meet Maxime Morrison
Philantrophy Manager, Trust and Foundations at the George Institute for Global Health. Maxime is standing up for women in a health system which is designed and facilitated by men." We improve women's health so we can reduce all death - Women's health is Global Health"
Meet Kia Babbra Etum
WEZESHA was established in 2020 to enhance access to basic needs, economic opportunities, and social protection services for women and girls. We work with Refugee and Host Community population in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement (Kikuube District), Women in Business in Hoima City, and the post conflict population of Northern Uganda in Oyam and Apac Districts.
Meet Alex van Bell
from the Bell Family Foundation. Alex links spaces as in the Inbetween is where change can happen. "My heart is what leads me into spaces , gut instincts enables risk taking and intuitive knowing keeps me here, this is where I am meant to be" The Bell Family Foundation is an Australian private ancillary fund (DGR endorsed) led by Leonie Bell that supports women-led organisations globally, focusing on trust-based philanthropy, gender equality, and long-term, multi-year funding. It has evolved from a small to a medium-sized foundation, focusing on strategic, high-impact giving.
Meet Hayley Jones, Director at McCabe the Center for Law & Cancer
Hayley grew up in a single-parent household with her mother, while also maintaining a good relationship with her father. Because money was often limited, she saw early on how difficult it can be for single women to get by, even in a country like Australia with social support systems.
This experience shaped her strong sense of social justice and her desire to make sure people do not have to struggle to access the support they need. After doing well at school and completing a law degree, she wanted to use her legal skills for a positive purpose — to help change systems and create more equality. She first worked in the corporate sector to build and refine her skills, but always knew she wanted to move into meaningful, purpose-driven work. This led her into the non-profit space, focusing on access to justice initiatives, equality, and now also global work, including using law to help prevent and respond to coercive control and cancer-related challenges.
Meet Wendy J. Teleki, Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative
Wendy has spent most of her career inside the multilateral development system, particularly with the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, while always bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to the work. Rather than following the traditional path of promotions and climbing the organisational ladder, she focused on creating new roles, building new programs, and pushing large development institutions to do more, innovate more, and create greater impact. She describes herself as someone who has often worked “at the edge” of these organisations — helping them move beyond rigid rules and outdated systems while still valuing their resources, expertise, and high professional standards. Her drive comes partly from growing up with entrepreneurial parents, who taught her to focus on purpose and meaningful work. Looking back, she feels that the smaller career decisions — choosing purpose over convention — have led her to a more fulfilling and impactful path.
Meet elena Haba, Investment Lead at 2xglobal.
Elena’s journey begins with a single moment that quietly reshaped everything: a plane ride from Romania to Canada when she was seven years old. At the time, it was just a move—something guided by her parents, without fully understanding its weight. But looking back as an adult, she can now see that this transition changed the entire trajectory of her life. Growing up in Canada opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed—especially access to education and opportunity. Her parents weren’t wealthy, yet that shift in environment gave her the foundation to grow into who she is today. With that awareness has come a deep sense of perspective. Elena now recognises the privilege embedded in that moment—and it has become a quiet compass in her life. It guides her work and her purpose: to help create pathways so others, too, can access the kinds of opportunities that once transformed her own future. Elena is now Investment Lead at 2xglobal. She has extensive experience in impact investing, and designing and deploying innovative finance solutions for development. She is passionate about enabling the private sector to become an effective vehicle for impact. Elena is specialised in the cycle of early stage finance and has worn different hats along this cycle: from coaching entrepreneurs to become investment ready, investing directly in SMEs and startups, all the way to designing and deploying fund of funds and coaching programs focused on emerging fund managers. She is a reformed lawyer and an avid cheese and dance enthusiast.
Stories of Earrings
The Stories of Earrings are fundamental because they create an immediate human connection. A pair of earrings may seem small, but it can carry memory, culture, identity, belonging, courage, beauty, grief, joy or home. By asking women about their earrings, we open a gentle doorway into the deeper story: who they are, what they carry, and why they came to Women Deliver. It is not really about jewellery. t is about connection. And connection is where every meaningful story begins.
Quotes
"We are the backbones" Cherie Heslington - Aarnja "We have to look back to look forward" Jane Sloane - UNSW "Women are respected, valued and welcomed" Cherie Heslington - Aarnja
Storytelling to move people into action - by care.org
Sparks of Imagination
Story Yawning, Feminist Dreaming, the power of knowledge-making, place of imagination and action , co created with joy over rage, we created ambition and hope, care is the ground of everything, care treated like infrastructure, care is not sacrificing, shadows of silence, joy and rage as political tools
Film Impressions
Change is what Calls us here
Credits:
Bettina Pfaendner