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 Future Women

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 Medicine

Gabrielle 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 Presenter

Shelley 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 Team

Abbey 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 LanzaJet

Renee 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 Commission

Sue-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.