Women of Diversity Dinner
8.30am – 9.30am
Registration & 'Meet & Mingle' Brekky (Foyer)
Meet & Mingle, Pick 'n' Mix Breakfast
Pick up a new friend and your ‘Embracing New Beginnings’ seedling
9:30am-10:00am
Ice Breaker: Welcome to WOW! Planting New Beginnings (Auditorium)
Start your day by planting a symbol of hope. In this light, creative icebreaker, you’ll choose a seedling that reflects where you are—or where you’re growing. Each plant represents a unique quality or intention, from confidence to calm, fresh starts to bold steps. You’ll take it home as a living reminder of your journey. There’s no right or wrong choice—just a moment to reflect, connect, and share (only if you wish). Let this be a gentle beginning, rooted in possibility.
10:15am-11:05am
A Fireside Talk and Q&A: Gifts Wrapped in Sandpaper: Embracing Life's Messy Moments (Sanctuary)
In a raw and powerful talk, life coach, counsellor, and psychotherapist Hayley Mayer invites us to confront life's inevitable losses - whether it's the end of a marriage, the shift of retirement, the heartbreak of menopause, or the quiet grief of lost dreams. With unflinching honesty, she shares her story with us to show that while pain is part of being human, we don't have to stay stuck in it. Hayley will guide you to catch your negative thoughts, practice self-compassion, and build daily habits of gratitude and growth. This is a chance to lean into both the good and the bad, find courage in wholehearted acceptance, and emerge feeling alive, resilient and deeply appreciative of life's gifts, no matter how roughly they're wrapped.
11:15am-12:15pm
In Conversation: Navigating Change with Love, Strength & Purpose (Sanctuary)
Three experts in their fields will discuss how we can navigate life’s changes with strength and grace - in personal relationships, physical wellbeing and finding continual purpose. These three inspiring women will share their unique perspectives on embracing change in each area, discovering how to nurture meaningful connections, support your body through transitions, and find grounding through acts of giving. Whether you're facing a new season or seeking fresh perspective, this session offers insight, inspiration, and practical tools to help you grow, give, and thrive—in mind, body and spirit.
12:30pm-1:15pm
Lunch (Auditorium)
Enjoy a casual lunch catching up with new and old friends
.
1:30pm-2:25pm
Restoring Strength Through Style (Auditorium)
In a compassionate and empowering session, three remarkable women are invited to reconnect with themselves through the language of style. Guided by stylist Nava Cardo and supported by the Great Synagogue community, each woman will step gently into a space of care and renewal. Whether navigating body changes, living through personal loss, or rebuilding after hardship, this experience offers more than a makeover — it is a reminder that every woman deserves to feel seen, supported, and beautiful. Through thoughtful styling and genuine connection, we honour their resilience and help restore a sense of dignity, pride, and self-worth.
2:30pm-2:50pm
Afternoon Tea (Mezzanine)
Grab something sweet and a glass of sparkling wine ready for your next session.
3:00pm-3:55pm
Writing for Resilience: Words that Heal and Connect (Auditorium)
Acclaimed authors Kerri Sackville (The Secret Life of You) and Lee Kofman (Split; The Writer Laid Bare) reveal how writing can be a powerful tool for healing, connection and growth. From journaling for self-discovery to writing letters that mend relationships, and stories that leave a legacy for future generations, they'll share how words can comfort us and others through life's hardest moments. Lee will explore how creative writing can help us process pain and build strength while Kerri will discuss how writing can help us know and befriend ourselves. Together, they'll inspire you to pick up your pen as a daily practice to nurture resilience, express your truth, and rediscover joy, even when the world feels heavy.
4:00pm-4:30pm
Step Into Joy: Israeli Dance & Connection (Auditorium)
Immerse yourself, with Nina Rassaby, in the exhilarating spirit of Israeli dance – a vibrant art form born from the journeys of Jewish immigrants as they crafted new lives and a shared culture in Israel. Embracing steps and rhythms from Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, Israeli dance embodies the essence of new beginnings in motion.
In this joyful and inviting session, Nina Rassaby will lead you through inspiring and precise choreography that unites people across generations and continents. Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced dancer, step into the circle and experience the powerful fusion of movement, music, and community.
In this joyful and inviting session, Nina Rassaby will lead you through inspiring and precise choreography that unites people across generations and continents. Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced dancer, step into the circle and experience the powerful fusion of movement, music, and community.
4:30pm-4:45pm
Wrap up - Thank Yous and Group Photo (Auditorium)
WOW Weekend 2020
Fri, 25 July 2025 29 Tammuz 5785