In the Clarence Valley, much of what keeps our community moving forward happens quietly. It happens in small businesses opened early and closed late, in volunteer roles taken on without fuss, in families where the mental load is carried without recognition, and in leadership that rarely seeks the spotlight. It is steady, often unseen work, and it is most often carried by women.
Over time, that quiet work accumulates. It shapes our towns, our services, and our sense of belonging, yet it is rarely paused to be acknowledged or properly supported. At the same time, the challenges facing regional communities have grown more complex. Conversations around safety, wellbeing, inclusion, and leadership can no longer sit on the sidelines or be left to one group to solve. They require shared responsibility and spaces where honesty is not only welcomed, but expected.
It is from this place that the Amplify Our Voices Changemakers Business Lunch and Podcast Series were created. Not as a symbolic gesture, and not as a one off event, but as a response to what many people across the Clarence Valley have been feeling for a long time. A need for connection that goes deeper than networking. A need for leadership that reflects lived experience. A need for conversations that lead somewhere, and for action that creates real change.
The Changemakers Business Lunch, taking place on Friday 6 March from 11:00am to 2:30pm at the Simplicity Function Room in Maclean, has been designed as a space where local voices are centred and respected. It is not about titles or polished success stories. It is about real people, real experiences, and leadership grounded in everyday life. The event brings together local businesswomen, men, and community leaders for two live panel discussions, meaningful conversation, and an interactive workshop focused on turning awareness into action.
Alongside the lunch, the Amplify Our Voices Podcast Series acts as the ongoing thread. Launching in the lead up to the event, the podcast captures honest stories from women across the Clarence Valley. Stories of leadership, resilience, challenge, and the everyday grit it takes to keep showing up. These are not highlight reels or carefully curated narratives. They are real stories, and they deserve space to be heard.
Holding the event during International Women’s Day and NSW Women’s Week is a deliberate choice. These moments are about more than recognition. They are a reminder that progress requires participation. By grounding the event in this broader context, the Clarence Valley is contributing its own voice to a wider movement while remaining firmly connected to local realities.
The impact sought extends well beyond the lunch itself. Conversations around safety in shared spaces, unpaid labour, mental health, inclusive leadership, and collective responsibility are not abstract ideas. They are lived experiences. This event creates room for those conversations to happen openly and constructively, with the intention that they continue long after the room clears.
Importantly, this is not a conversation where women are expected to carry the emotional or cultural load alone. Men are strongly encouraged to attend and be part of the discussion. Cultural change requires shared ownership, accountability, and a willingness to listen and lead differently. This event creates space for that to happen.
Those attending can expect a welcoming and thoughtful experience. A curated two course lunch, including a grazing platter and main, is designed to slow the pace and allow genuine connection. Ticket prices have been intentionally kept accessible at $35 per person, with tables of eight available for $240. This has been made possible through the support of local sponsors, making it easier to attend with colleagues, friends, or teams.
This event marks the beginning of something ongoing. Amplify Our Voices is envisioned as a growing platform shaped by community engagement and response. Future podcast seasons, live events, workshops, and connection spaces are all possible. Whatever form it takes, the purpose will remain the same. Real voices. Real leadership. Real community driven change.
If you have ever felt that your voice mattered but were unsure where to use it, this space is for you. If you have carried more than your share and stayed quiet, this space is for you too. And if you care about building a more connected, accountable, and supportive Clarence Valley, you belong in the room. You do not need a title to lead. You simply need to show up.
Tickets for the Changemakers Business Lunch are now on sale, with sales closing on 27 February to allow for catering. Places are limited. Sometimes change starts with a conversation. And sometimes, it starts by sitting down together over lunch.
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