2025 LGPro Women's Forum & Dinner

The Women's Network Dinner will be held after the Women's Forum. Dinner guests are welcome to join us early at 6pm for the Pre Dinner Network Drinks. The Dinner will feature the presentation for the 2025 Sally Isaac Memorial Scholarship Fund Award, the presentation for the 2025 ALGWA Vic Bursary Award, as well as a guest speaker.

Date & Time
Thursday 23 October 2025
7pm - 11pm

Arriving early or straight from the Women's Forum? Join your colleagues for pre-Dinner networking drinks from 6PM.

Dress code
Business attire, neat causal.

Dinner guests are welcome to join us early at 6pm for the Pre Dinner Network Drinks.

Venue
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Level 8, Savoy Grand Ballroom
123 Collins Street, Melbourne
commencing 7pm - 11pm

www.hyatt.com

Proudly sponsored by

ALGWA Vic Bursary Award

ALGWA Vic is committed to encouraging women to advance their careers in the local government sector through study. That's why, in 1989 (under the leadership of then-President Pam Robinson AM), ALGWA Vic established an Annual Bursary Award to encourage and assist women in the local government sector to further their education.Since then, the prize has been awarded to over 30 women from member councils across metro and regional Victoria.

Proudly sponsored by

Sally Isaac Memorial Scholarship Fund Award

The Sally Isaac Memorial Scholarship Award fosters the professional development of emerging female leaders who commit themselves to the improvement of their communities and those they serve through a $10,000 educational scholarship.

The award is open to women 35 years and under who have demonstrated achievement and commitment to improving community life in Victoria through:

Local Government
Social Justice
Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation
Arts and music
Community health
Culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Urban planning
The environment

About Sally Isaac

Sally Elizabeth Isaac was an extraordinary woman and young leader in the Local Government sector who passed away in early 2009.

In 2006, at the age of 33, Sally was appointed Director of Community Programs at Yarra City Council where she was directly responsible for 342 professional staff working in aged care, child care, community planning, advocacy, the arts and library services.

Sally was exuberant and brave, bright and insightful, brilliant and engaging. She was focused and intelligent with an enduring commitment to making things better. She was also humble, loving and full of fun with wisdom beyond her years.

There was truly something special about Sally Isaac and for all who knew her she will remain an inspiration and close to their hearts. Soon after her death her family, friends and colleagues met to discuss ways to recognise the incredible impact that she had on people’s lives. They decided to establish the Sally Isaac Memorial in her honour.

Special Guest Speaker: Jelena Dokic

Former world no. top 4 tennis player, Jelena Dokic is a living testament to resilience, triumph, and the unyielding spirit of a true champion. Her journey on the court has been nothing short of awe-inspiring, marked by monumental victories and a fearless determination that defies all odds.

At a mere 16 years old, Jelena etched her name in tennis history by orchestrating one of the sport's most astounding upsets, dethroning the formidable Martina Hingis, the world number 1, at Wimbledon. This iconic victory propelled her to the tournament's quarter-finals, a precursor to her consecutive semi-final appearances the following year at just 17—a testament to her precocious talent and steely resolve.

However, beyond the world of the grand slams and the stadium lights lies a narrative of unparalleled courage and perseverance. A two-time refugee, Jelena bore the weight of adversity early in life, navigating a path fraught with bullying and racism. Yet, her most daunting battle unfolded within the confines of her own home—a harrowing ordeal of abuse endured at the hands of her father for over 15 agonizing years, starting at the tender age of 6.

The scars of this traumatic past manifested in the shadows of her success, casting a long, silent shadow on her mental health. It led her to the brink, where the darkness threatened to engulf her entirely. At 22, she stood at the precipice, grappling with the crushing weight of her experiences, contemplating a life teetering on the edge. Yet, it was this very darkness that ignited a resilient flame within her—a resolve to not only survive but to transcend and thrive.

Jelena emerged as a beacon of hope, bravely sharing her story through the pages of two bestselling books, 'Unbreakable' and 'Fearless.' These powerful narratives unmask the raw realities of her childhood abuse, the labyrinth of mental health struggles—diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD—and the profound journey of reclaiming one's voice and strength, unshackling from the chains of the past. Her words echo as a testament to the immense power of sharing our stories and finding the resilience within to soar beyond limitations.

Beyond the tennis court, Jelena has become an influential voice - a sought-after speaker, a compelling TEDx presenter, a revered commentator, and now with a number 1 documentary. She graces screens as a key figure in NINE’s coverage of the Australian Open and other grand slams, not merely as an expert in the sport but as a living testament to the triumph of the human spirit.

Jelena's story is a tapestry woven from threads of adversity, courage, and unwavering resilience—a testament to the unbreakable human spirit and the undying power of finding one's voice, transcending the past, and thriving against all odds.