Women in Sustainability Summit 2025: Influence, imagination and the power of culture

Future Focus attended the Women in Sustainability Summit in Melbourne on 11–12 November, where a clear theme cut through the program: sustainability succeeds when people feel part of it. Across panels and keynotes, speakers returned to culture, language and storytelling as the real engines of behaviour change.

Creativity emerged as one of the strongest levers. Cate Harris showed how she uses imaginative tools, from Alice in Wonderland–themed presentations to gamified training, to turn complex issues into experiences people want to engage with. Her message was simple: information alone rarely shifts mindsets.

Victoria Whitaker reinforced that change can’t be forced. “We can’t change people’s minds; they have to change their own,” she said, framing sustainability as the world’s largest change program and urging leaders to work with, not against, human motivations.

Other speakers highlighted psychological safety and transparency. Kate Dundas shared the story of a CSO who set up an anonymous “phone a friend” line for sustainability questions, creating space for curiosity without judgement. Her survey findings revealed a telling gap: while nearly all executives are holding or increasing sustainability efforts, only half speak about it publicly, underscoring growing greenhushing pressures.

Language surfaced again and again as a critical tool. Kylie Porter spoke about adapting vocabulary to the audience, using terms like “improving soil health” instead of “regenerative agriculture” to ensure concepts resonate. She encouraged reframing compliance and reporting as opportunities, not burdens, and involving the entire business in identifying risks and opportunities.

Jacqueline Fox described the need for “two languages” in sustainability: one for technical strategy, and another grounded in customer stories that make the work tangible across the business.

Community and symbolism also played key roles. Sarah Clarke shared how a voluntary, hierarchy-free sustainability network unlocked participation from across her organisation. Melbourne’s Chief Heat Officer, Krista Milne, illustrated how job titles themselves can become tools for storytelling and empathy.

Future Focus’ Ellie M joined the speaker lineup on a panel exploring practical allyship in sustainability. The discussion emphasised that influence is built not just on expertise but on trust, inclusion and making room for diverse voices.

The Summit continued with Kylie Hargreaves’ reminder that sustainability careers don’t need to follow linear paths when the systems we’re changing aren’t linear at all. Across the two days, one message stood firm: progress depends not only on facts and frameworks but on imagination, authenticity and the ways we invite people into the story.