Join us at the next SBW Hub as we discuss successful female leadership, community and conscious values with a panel of local leading women.

Thinking outside the square, taking an active role in sharing an educated viewpoint on change, challenge and conscious business is something these incredibly inspiring women all have in common.

Learning from their individual journeys, our three local female leaders explore community, communication and leadership with a generosity of spirit that guides them through business and life.

Guest Speakers:

Zenith Virago - 2021 Byron Citizen of the year, EO and founding member of the Natural Death Care Centre Charity and co author of the Intimacy of Death and Dying.
Alison Crook AO - Founding Chair of Enova Community Energy Ltd a social enterprise that is Australia’s first community-owned energy retailer.
Lissie Turner - Writer, Speaker, Consultant, Teacher, Therapist, Mother, Wife, Friend and hopefully a decent Global Citizen.

About Zenith Virago:

2021 Byron Citizen of the year
EO and founding member of the Natural Death Care Centre Charity.
Maverick and respected pioneer, for over 25 years, teaching both nationally and Internationally, her work is best described as assisting people to die well, and for families and friends to have a healthier bereavement, especially involving sudden death or trauma.
Dyke, Feminist, Elder, Community Resource
Creator of the Vagina Conversations, a successful annual fundraiser. Byron women telling their own stories.
Committed to cultural change, educating and empowering individuals and communities.
Co-author of The Intimacy of Death and Dying, and subject of Zen & the Art of Dying, and patron of the Good Funeral Guide, UK.

About Alison Crook AO:

BA(Hons), MBA, Dip Lib, DipEd, Hon D Univ, Hon D Litt, FALIA, FAICD, FIPAA

Alison is the founding Chair of Enova Community Energy Ltd a social enterprise that is Australia’s first community-owned energy retailer.

She has had a varied career including such diverse roles as: Philosophy tutor at Flinders University; Australian Volunteer International in PNG; community liaison officer at Gunpowder, Qld; NSW State Librarian; NSW Director General State and Regional Development, Executive Director Serco Asia Pacific and Managing Director Serco Transport Services, and Deputy Vice Chancellor Resources, Monash University.

Alison is a past Australian Business Woman of the Year, and Australian Business Leader of the Year. She has been awarded an AO for services to public administration and a Centenary Medal for services to business. She has served on numerous Boards in both the public and private sectors including IBM Australia, Lend Lease Corporate Financial Services, St James Ethics Centre and Australian Volunteers International.

About Lissie Turner:

In the year 2000, when I was still known as Mel Bampton, I sat down in front of a microphone at triple j and started talking to musicians about music, scientists about science and with listeners about life. In interviewing others, is where I found my place.

For 3 years I sat as host of drive along with Charlie Pickering (The Project/The Weekly) followed by three years as ‘Mel in the Morning’. During this time I had the immense privilege of breaking bread with many of the Gods and monsters of modern music and behind the scenes my love for yoga kept me swimming during many heady years. The yoga to unhealthy-life-choices ratio was askew but yoga was the thread that would become my lifeline, when life demanded I take a rather large lateral step.

In 2004 I started Like a Version. A segment that has become one of the most popular in triple j history, spawning a dozen compilations, enjoyed by millions and earning a place on the station’s breakfast program. – where it lives happily to this day.

In my role as National Media Manager for Soundwave Festival for 5 years, under immensely stressful and addictively gratifying conditions, I experienced the festivals record-breaking year in 2013 as the biggest touring music festival in Australia’s history as well as survive tours with Marilyn Manson, Iron Maiden, Pennywise, Slayer, Nine Inch Nails, TOOL and hundreds more.

As the extent of this journey deepened, the tearing desire to be more the Mother I knew I could be to my young son and my daughter, was becoming a deafening roar. Courtesy of a liver that decided it would not accept another drink, along with the absolute necessity to be what was soon to be asked of me for a child who was about to experience the nightmare of being a young woman in a world where predatory behaviour not only exists but is supported far too often with a dominantly-biased system, I turned a 22-year drinking career into sobriety and a twenty-year practice of yoga into my foundational focus of life as a Writer, Speaker, Consultant, Teacher, Therapist, Mother, Wife, Friend and hopefully a decent Global Citizen.

The Yoga Shack is where I host many of my favourite events, the sacred women’s sharing space 'Stories from the Sisterhood', ‘Communicating with Courage’, ‘Living Hormoniously™ - Workshops for Women’ and ‘Dissolving Patterns’. As a therapist, the bulk of my clinic work tends to fall into the categories of ‘deeply seated’ problems - cancer, autoimmune, endocrine issues, addiction and many other pathologies. I currently sit on the board of Australasian Association of Yoga Therapists.

As a writer, speaker and educator, I specialise in finding the immense power of the moderate path to cut through even the most polarizing of conversations. It is always my intent to be a steady and compassionate advocate for change.

About SBW Hubs:

SBW Hubs occur the first Wednesday of every month. It's an opportunity to come together as women in business in the Northern Rivers to learn, network, collaborate and be inspired.

SBW Monthly Hub - Wed 5 May 4.45pm - 6.30pm