Women Deliver has announced the first wave of speakers for its 2026 global conference, setting the tone for one of the most consequential gatherings on gender equality in recent years.
The Women Deliver 2026 Conference (WD2026) which will take place from 27 – 30 April 2026 in Narrm (Melbourne) marks the first time the conference is regionally hosted, with the Oceanic Pacific shaping the agenda. The conference will convene governments, civil society, researchers, funders and community leaders to assess progress and confront the structural barriers slowing change.
Women Deliver Chief Executive Officer, Dr Maliha Khan said, “We are convening at a time when hard-won gains for women and girls are under sustained pressure. WD2026 is about moving beyond rhetoric to accountability. It is about shifting power, resources and decision-making so that women and girls, particularly those from historically marginalised communities, are not just included but leading.
“Progress will not be accidental. It requires political will, feminist solidarity and sustained investment. WD2026 is where we align those forces,” Khan said.
Bringing senior national leadership to the programme is Australia’s Federal Minister for Finance, Women, the Public Service and Government Services, Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher. A long-standing advocate for gender-responsive governance, Gallagher’s participation underscores the role of public policy in advancing economic security and essential services for women.
Joining her are Kiribati’s Minister for Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs and Political Champion for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion at the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon. Ruth Cross Kwansing and Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, Hon. Michelle O’Byrne, who leads Australia’s efforts to advance women’s leadership across the Indo-Pacific.
Global leadership will also be represented by First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), Dr Fatima Maada Bio, expected to spotlight global action to prevent and respond to child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence, an issue that continues to undermine the rights and futures of millions of girls.
More than a decade after her internationally recognised speech confronting misogyny in politics, Australia’s 27th Prime Minister and the first and to date only woman to hold the office, Hon. Julia Gillard AC, will return to the global stage at WD2026. Her presence reflects what organisers describe as the “unfinished business” of dismantling gendered power structures in leadership and public life.
Women Deliver board members Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; and Tulika Srivastava will also take part. Their combined experience spans sustainable development, human rights, youth development, climate justice and navigating shrinking civic spaces.
Regional voices are central to the 2026 line-up. CEO of Djirra and a proud First Nations woman born in Wurundjeri Country, Antoinette Braybrook AM, , will bring lived experience and community-driven solutions to discussions on ending violence against Aboriginal women. “Aboriginal-led solutions are not optional; they are essential,” Braybrook has consistently maintained in her advocacy, emphasising self-determination and accountability as non-negotiable pillars of justice.
Executive Director of DIVA for Equality in Fiji and Co-Chair of the WD2026 Oceanic Pacific Regional Steering Committee, Noelene Nabulivou, will contribute decades of Pacific feminist organising to the programme. Founder and Chair of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute and a proud Bunuba woman, Dr June Oscar AO, will centre culture, healing and gender justice in conversations on systemic reform.
Multilateral engagement will be strengthened by United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr Diene Keita, whose work on sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence in humanitarian contexts aligns closely with the conference’s focus on bodily autonomy and adolescent girls’ rights.
President of Gender Equality at the Gates Foundation, Dr Anita Zaidi, will bring an evidence-driven lens to investment and impact. Her portfolio spans health, education and economic opportunity, with a focus on embedding gender equality into how resources are allocated and outcomes measured.
