Empowered Women Empower Communities

– Our May Long Lunch at Hotel West End

In May 2024, the Ladies Who Long Lunch community came together once again for an afternoon of inspiration, connection, and celebration—this time at the beautifully restored Hotel West End in South Brisbane.

Our theme for this gathering was Empowered Women Empowering Communities, and what better way to honour that than by spotlighting the incredible achievements of women in business. Our Empowerment Panel of Guest Speakers—Kerri-Anne Dooley, Gerry Blackwell, and Ronnie Benbow OAM—lit up the room with their stories, passions, and the powerful message of giving back.

These women exemplify the strength, resilience and heart of our community. Their journeys have taken them through clinical nursing wards, youth training centres, and carer wellness retreats—but at the core of all their work is a desire to uplift others.

Empowerment Panel.

Kerri-Anne Dooley – Gerry Blackwell – Ronnie Benbow OAM

LWLL Hosts – Jo Stevens & Kirsty Fields

Meet Our Empowerment Panel

Gerry Blackwell, the visionary founder of Youth Development Foundation (YDF), has spent decades supporting disengaged and at-risk youth. Through training and employment programs, she empowers young people to believe in their potential and rewrite their future. Her passion is contagious, her compassion boundless—and her impact immeasurable.

Ronnie Benbow OAM, the heart and soul behind The Carers Foundation Australia, shared how her life experience as a nurse and family carer led her to create Australia’s only wellness program dedicated to supporting unpaid carers of all ages. From teenagers thrust into caregiving roles, to exhausted parents, Ronnie offers a lifeline through healing retreats and wellness programs. In 2023, she was recognised with an OAM for her unwavering service to the community.

Kerri-Anne Dooley, a passionate health care advocate and the Founding Director of My Care Enterprises, is known for her compassionate end-of-life care services in North Brisbane and Moreton Bay. Her impressive career spans clinical practice, education, palliative care, and mental health innovation. Since our May event, Kerri-Anne has taken on a new role—now proudly serving her community as the State Member for Redcliffe.

Giving Back: The Backbone of Our Community

At the heart of our May Long Lunch was the shared belief that giving back isn’t just a kind gesture—it’s the foundation of a thriving community. Each of our guest speakers reminded us that whether we’re mentoring others, building services to meet community needs, or simply offering a helping hand, impact happens when we show up for each other.

Their stories illustrated that leadership isn’t always about having the loudest voice in the room—it’s about using your voice to lift others up.

Why Ladies Who Long Lunch Matters

If you’ve never attended a Ladies Who Long Lunch event, here’s what you need to know: these gatherings aren’t just about business cards and elevator pitches. They’re about connection. They’re about finding your people—women who get you, support you, and cheer you on through all of life’s seasons.

Whether you’re running a business, changing careers, raising a family, or rediscovering yourself—there’s a seat at the table for you. Our community celebrates success and vulnerability in equal measure, reminding us all that you don’t have to do it alone.

LWLL is for every woman who values genuine connection, real conversations, and empowering experiences.

About Ladies Who Long Lunch:

Created by Kirsty Fields the Creative Director of Social Ocean and Jo Stevens the Founder of Quirky Habits, the Ladies Who Long Lunch concept is for you if you a woman:

who needs friendships and connections,
who needs to take time out of the business for themselves,
who is looking to make genuine connections in business.

These events are not just for women still active in the work force or running an empire. They’re also for woman who recognise the importance of self-care and the social impact of spending time with others who inspire, support, and fill your cup.

Your Hosts Kirsty and Jo both run business networking groups in Brisbane and Redcliffe and are passionate about helping women to take time for themselves to create connections both socially and professionally with other like-minded business women.

Learn more about Ladies Who Long Lunch

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