'No Small Thing' - hosted by the NRCF Women's Giving Circle
Description
'No Small Thing'
An evening to think bigger, connect locally, and reckon with our future. Thursday 2 July 2026, The Regent Theatre, Murwillumbah, on Bundjalung Country.
We talk about climate, gender, media and democracy as if they're separate problems. They never were. And the forces shaping them are more coordinated than most of us realise.
When optimism is hard to find, and conversations of hope can feel like we're being gaslit, it's essential to hear from the people making progress. History tells us that effective change-making starts small — the local, the grassroots. Sometimes we only need to look in our own backyard.
On 2 July, the Northern Rivers Community Foundation and the Women's Giving Circle bring together women leading change across the global environmental movement, engaging the next generation in politics, connecting Australians to First Nations culture, and improving health for Aboriginal mothers locally — for an evening of systems thinking, challenging conversation, and a sprinkling of hope.
Who you'll hear from:
Hannah Ferguson - Founder of one of Australia's fastest-growing independent media platforms, Hannah is one of the sharpest voices on attention, media and power in Australia right now.
And a panel with:
Isabelle Reinecke - Founder of Grata Fund, using strategic litigation and media to drive systemic reform.
Evie Wood - Co-founder and CEO of Coolamon Community, the Northern Rivers charity supporting Aboriginal mothers and babies through Aboriginal Health Services across NSW, the Kimberley and the NT.
Robyn James - Formerly Global Director of Gender Equity at The Nature Conservancy, with two decades of experience at the intersection of gender, climate and conservation.
Mindy Woods - Chef, author, and proud Widjabul Wia-bal woman of the Bundjalung Nation, opening the evening with a Welcome to Country.
What to expect:
A Welcome to Country, a keynote from Hannah Ferguson of Cheek Media, a moderated panel with four women working at the frontline of change, audience Q&A, and time to connect and mingle.
Less doomscrolling. More IRL inspiration.
The problems shaping women's and girls' lives are vast, connected, and easy to feel powerless against. But the most powerful place to shift them might also be the smallest: the local, the grassroots, the room you're sitting in.
Event details and schedule:
Thursday 2 July, 2026 | The Regent Theatre, Murwillumbah NSW
5:00pm - Doors open, catering and drinks will be available for purchase
6:30pm - Speaker event begins
8:00pm - Event concludes
9:00pm - Doors close
Ticket Options:
Early Bird prices end on 19 June: $49 Single ticket | $89 Double pass
General Admission prices apply from 20 June through show date: $59 Single ticket | $99 Double pass
About the Women's Giving Circle
The NRCF Women's Giving Circle is a growing collective of women across the Northern Rivers, pooling their resources to fund grassroots projects in the region — trauma recovery in Kyogle, cultural mentoring with Bundjalung girls in Byron Shire, the work Evie does at Coolamon. Members contribute $1,000 a year, or $20 a week. Each year, they vote together on where the funds go.
The 2 July panel is one of the most direct ways to find out what the Circle is about. Learn more about the Women's Giving Circle.
Event Speakers
Hannah Ferguson
Hannah Ferguson is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cheek Media Co, an independent news commentary platform that reaches millions of Australians every month. Hannah is also a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, and the co-host of news and culture podcast, Big Small Talk. She has written two bestselling books: Bite Back (2023) and Taboo (2024). Hannah holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Master of Writing, Editing and Publishing from The University of Queensland.
Isabelle Reinecke
Isabelle Reinecke is the founder and Executive Director of Grata Fund, a leading not-for-profit based at the University of New South Wales that leverages targeted funding of litigation alongside campaign strategies and advocates for robust democracy to build a country where everyone can thrive, including in the high profile Australian Climate Case currently underway. Isabelle is an expert in the intersection of the law, politics and power who leads collaborations with some of the nation’s top legal minds, civil society organisations and community advocates to advance and protect rights and freedoms. She is the author of Courting Power: Law Democracy and the Public Interest in Australia.
Evie Wood
Evie Wood is the co-founder and CEO of Coolamon Community where she works to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal mothers and babies via culturally safe, community-led models of care. Her work sits at the intersection of health, equity, and systems change, with a focus on building practical, scalable solutions that restore trust in healthcare services, elevating their impact. Drawing on her legal and academic background Evie brings a systems lens to social impact, bridging responsive frontline delivery with a vision for sustainable structural change.
Robyn James
Robyn James, PhD, is a passionate environmental leader dedicated to ensuring women and gender-diverse people have an equal voice in protecting our planet. With over 25 years of experience, she has championed community-led conservation and climate action across more than 17 countries, focusing deeply on Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Dr James has served as the Global Director for Gender Equity at The Nature Conservancy and is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland. Her groundbreaking research exposes the unfair systems that hold women back in environmental careers, and she actively works with numerous global organizations to build fairer, more inclusive solutions to the climate crisis.
Mindy Woods
Mindy Woods is a proud Bundjalung woman, chef, and cultural leader reshaping how Australia understands native food. In 2025, she became the first Australian to be named Champion of Change at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, recognised internationally for connecting food, culture, and Country. Mindy is the first Aboriginal female chef awarded a Good Food Guide Chef Hat for her Byron Bay restaurant, Karkalla, where she uses food as a vehicle for cultural storytelling and connection.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
