Canterbury Regional Conference 2026

Join us for a chance to connect, learn and spend time together with women from across the region. The day will feature two inspiring guest speakers and there will also be time to catch up, share ideas and enjoy lunch together. All members and non-members are welcome and warmly encouraged to attend. Enquiries to curd@xtra.co.nz

Tickets for Rural Women NZ members are subsidised. If you're not already a member of Rural Women NZ, membership is $50 per year! You can find out more about becoming a member and what we offer here.

Guest Speakers:

Lindy Nelson (MNZM) will share insights on The Importance of Belonging, Lindy is a Farmer, AWDT Founder, Researcher, Podcaster and ardent supporter of women. Lindy uses influence and follows her heart to create positive change in NZ Primary Industries. Her current mission is to transform how we keep our family, team and communities safe on farm, as the Safer Farms as their Farm Without Harm Ambassador. She believes in the power of women to influence and lead change.

Lou James MNZM from and an internationally recognised leader in oncology rehabilitation, founder and CEO of the Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation (Pinc & Steel) will speak about cancer rehabilitation and the work they do to support recovery and wellbeing. For more than 20 years, Lou has championed a simple but powerful belief: cancer care must be about more than survival - people want their lives back. Under her leadership, the Foundation has helped build cancer rehabilitation into oncology care pathways across New Zealand, invested over $5 million to fund access for those most in need, and developed an education academy supporting physiotherapists in 24 countries. Appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017 for services to people with cancer, Lou is deeply committed to helping people reclaim the strength, confidence, and quality of life they deserve after cancer.