I often start the week with the conversations about how my weekend was. There are many times when I actually have to sit down and think about what I did over that 48-hour period. It just seems to come and go so quickly with distressing monotony. Each Monday I find myself asking, what did I achieve with my time off? Surely I did more than hang around and get coffee?

There is something about being intentional with your time and achieving outcomes in your downtime. I like rest too, don’t get me wrong, but I like the feeling of accomplishing things. Even if it is to improve myself or grow in some way.

The best part of my job is meeting with some of the most amazing people. In my time with Opportunity International so far, I have been amazed at the calibre of people who are supporting us as part of the Opportunity family. So much so, that I go out of my way to spend as much time with them as they will let me…before it becomes awkward.

People have so much to offer, experience, wisdom, insight, passion, energy.

Late in 2016 it struck me that it was a shame that I couldn’t bring people that I knew with me to meet with these incredible people, ‘I could sell tickets’, I thought. Little did I know that this was the birth of the Women4Women Conference – instead of taking people with me, I decided to arrange for us all to meet in one place, with more space than a café or an office board room.

That is what we have done. We have invited Suzzanne Laidlaw, Rabia Siddique and Kirstin Bouse to be our speakers on Saturday 13 May. All three are inspirational leaders and mothers.

Suzzanne is one of the most recognised and successful business coaches in Australia with more than 10 years’ experience coaching individuals, business coaches, managers and CEOs, as well as having 25 years’ experience within key business management roles. She is an Opportunity Ambassador and has a strong passion for inspiring people to turn their dreams and ambitions into reality through business re-education. Suzzanne is driven to live an authentic, fulfilled life that motivates others to do the same. In 2016, Suzzanne was nominated as one of WA’s most inspiring women, having her story published in the book 16 Inspirational Women by Creatavision Publishing.

Rabia is an Australian human rights and criminal lawyer, former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor and retired British Army officer. She’s also an international humanitarian, hostage survivor, professional speaker, coach and published author. Having undertaken human rights and community aid work in the Middle East, South America, United Kingdom and Australia, Rabia received a Queen’s commendation in 2006 and was also named one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence and an Australia Business Woman of the Year Finalist. Rabia is committed to peace, gender equality, inclusion and education. She is a mother to young triplet boys.

Kirstin is a clinical and forensic psychologist with 20 years’ experience. She is the owner of Life Resolutions Morley and Wembley and leads a team of six psychologists who work across both practices. Kirstin also owns The Conscious Mother, a heart-centred business supporting women at all stages of their motherhood journey, whether they are experiencing difficulties or not. Kirstin has authored The Conscious Mother: A simple guide to mothering with self-awareness, authenticity, confidence and connectedness, and has recently launched her online program #motherhoodonline. She also facilitates four-day The Conscious Mother retreats in Perth and on the East Coast to give mothers the opportunity to connect with one another and grow in ways they never expected.

Having these three women in one place at the same time is a phenomenon. This day will be significant and will change your life. Both men and women are invited, so be intentional about Saturday 13 May at Lifestreams Christian Church from 9am. You can get tickets here: Women4Women Conference