**More tickets available on Eventbrite due to backend tech issue here on Humanitix**

Formidable Voices creates powerful events, experiences, speaking and teaching opportunities, coaching, courses, programs and a dedicated membership platform for Womxn of Colour and non-BIWOC accomplices.

Formidable Voices events deliver, highlight, enhance, elevate and uplift incredible, underrepresented voices and leaders of colour across coaching, creative, tech and online business, activism and social justice including speakers, writers, coaches, podcasters, published authors and healing modality practitioners and pioneers.

Formidable Voices is also for womxn, identifying as women, trans and non-binary people. Formidable Voices welcomes accomplices, that is, non-BIWOC to be a part of our movement to centre BIWOC at the forefront. Accomplices are people who are dismantling white supremacy and doing the transformative inner work to be forces of good in the world.

I am a microcosm of all the possible justice, liberation, pleasure and honesty in the universe, and I act accordingly. - Adrienne Marie Brown

We are excited to host our first event at Events by Kinfolk, a Kinfolk business supporting Kinfolk’s unique volunteer program and 100% of the profit is distributed to our charity partners - 100% of our surplus is distributed to our charity partners - The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Cathy Freeman Foundation.

Who is this event for?

We welcome everyone who would like to attend the first Formidable Voices event.

Our global events and membership community includes:

Leaders

Entrepreneurs

Activists

Advocates

Consultants

Life Coaches

Business Coaches

Authors

Writers

Speakers

Teachers

Trainers

Small business owners

Professionals of all kinds

Creatives

Artists

Makers

Publishers

Graphic Illustrators

Healing and Spiritual practitioners

Priestesses

Sacred Circle Leaders

Astrologers

Brujas

Psychics

Counsellors

Therapists

Beauty Experts

Yoga Instructors

Our Why

Womxn of Colour have powerful stories and immense presence, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at who is featured in speaker lineups and summit events, in media, in leadership positions and on the screen.

When was the last time you attended a speaking event or conference, and the keynote speakers and the entire line up were Black, Indigenous and Womxn of Colour? I'm 42, and I've never had the pleasure in the places I've lived in Australia. I'm creating this platform and space because we are limitless in talent, and it's time inclusive leadership, voices, spirit and stories come forward. The speaker lineups in entrepreneurial spaces lack diversity and inclusion.

What expertise, experience, nuances and wisdom are you missing out on? There's a WEALTH of incredible humans with fantastic work that you just aren't getting exposed to because of the same old, same old ways and leadership.

How many times have you been to an event and heard the same message delivered slightly differently by the same people who get continuously invited?

Formidable Voices bridges the gap to bring front and centre Womxn of Colour visionaries, entrepreneurs, small business owners, storytellers and magic makers.

Learn from our expert speakers and panelists at the forthcoming in-person event in Melbourne, Australia. This event showcases womxn of colour speaker talks, panel discussion, and networking for all participants to engage in sisterhood and community.

Meet our speakers and panelists

Jade McKenzie, Founder of Event Head, SHE/CADEMY, Reawakened Women and Beautiful Business Builders, is a 5 x internationally award-winning business coach and event professional with over 15 years’ experience in event management and business development in the corporate, not for profit and entrepreneurial sectors.

Yolanda, a proud Yorta Yorta, African-American and Greek woman is a holistic life coach, consultant, facilitator and reiki practitioner who is passionate about facilitating a soul-transforming shift for Black, Indigenous & People of colour to open up to their personal power, higher purpose and potential. Yolanda’s practice honours identity, culture, personal sovereignty and sacred healing.

Sora Surya No is a sacred space holder, strategy alchemist, transformative business coach, corporate leadership consultant, powerful medicine woman, business healer, international retreat leader, inspirational speaker, fire igniter, heart whisperer, and world traveler. She is the producer of Sacred Business Podcast, a co-producer of Priestess TV and the author of the Stay Sacred Journal which you can purchase on Amazon.

Anna Stassen is the co-creator of Love is Your Compass, based in Melbourne, Australia. As an Artist, Reiki Master and Soul Medicine channel, Anna co-creates wearable physical talismans that remind people to tune in to their inner world and honour their unique soul essence + magic.As a jewellery-maker with over 13 years’ experience, Anna creates and hand-makes intentional jewellery for people to weave the sacred into their everyday lives.

LJ Sparrey is the co-creator of Melbourne-based sacred intentional jewellery brand Love is Your Compass. As a Reiki practitioner, trained Holistic Counsellor and Soul Medicine Channel, LJ co-creates powerful tools + talismans that support people to tune in to their inner world and honour their unique gifts. As an empath and introvert, she knows the importance of daily self-care rituals to tune in, connect and ground and embraces her sensitivity as her gift.

Sonali Fiske (she/her) is a Sri Lankan-American leadership consultant to black indigenous, womxn of color, a TEDx Speaker, Revolutionary Voices radio show host, and founder of Pick Your Platform & Raise Your Voice.

Her recent online masterclass on "Dismantling White Dominance in Women's Entrepreneurship" went viral, and centered the stories and lived experiences of BIWOC who are countering the current narrative in leadership, influence and social justice.

Sonali is also currently a council member of the International Council of Interfaith & Indigenous Women.

Sharyn Holmes is the creatrix of Gutsy Girl, Founder of Formidable Voices, is a speaker, consultant, holistic coach, artist and writer. Her work dives deep into social justice, spirituality and personal sovereignty. Sharyn works as a consultant to clients in leadership across the spiritual, online business, coaching, creative and wellness industries on anti-racism identity & conscious business strategy and brings 23 years corporate experience in legal and defence contracting, publishing and communications industries.

This event will sell out so don't delay purchasing your ticket!

For further information, please visit: www.gutsygirl.com.au

Event guests will receive a gift bag valued at over $100 with goodies provided by our lovely sponsors. There's also some beautiful lucky door prizes up for grabs.

Thank you to our sponsors

The Institute for Intuitive Intelligence
Tracey Pattison
Rare Seed Agency
Justice Denim
Zea Relief
Bopo Women
Alyssum Alchemy
Skyhigh and Believe
Gentle Business Mastermind
Love Is Your Compass
Naomi Arnold
Lilac and the Cat
Soul Medicine Academy

FAQs

Accessibility

If you require wheelchair access, please be aware the venue is in a heritage-listed building. Access through the lift doors is only wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs narrower than 65cms. Please notify hello@gutsygirl.com.au and we will ensure arrangements are made for you to access the lift. The venue also provides a wheelchair which can be used to assist disabled guests in and out of the lift.

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Events by Kinfolk is located at 673 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000.

What can I bring into the event?

You're welcome to bring a journal and pen to take notes, a water bottle and something to eat. This is not a catered event, so please make sure you bring something to nibble on.

What's the refund policy?

No refunds are possible. You can transfer your ticket to another person if you are unable to attend. If transferring your ticket to another person, please notify us via hello@gutsygirl.com.au so that we may update our guest list. Thanks.