A New Era of Women’s Empowerment
We’re entering an exciting new chapter at The Hive Collective. After six incredible years, co-founders Linda Karlsson and Annie Gatenby are stepping into advisory roles, ready to mentor the next generation of Hivers.
Linda and Annie will be handing over the reins to Amelia White, taking over as Chair, and Erica Jolly as Vice-Chair. This leadership transition marks a pivotal moment for The Hive, and we’re confident that with Amelia, Erica, and the new team in place, we’ll continue to work towards our vision of making Tasmania the best place to work for women.
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Reflecting on The Hive’s Growth and Impact
So, how did we get here? This year’s AGM gave us a moment to reflect on everything we’ve built over the last six years—the events we’ve hosted, the formation and growth of our board, and, of course, our incredible members. In 2023, The Hive made the strategic decision to focus on impact - channelling our energy into delivering our very first conference in 2024 and laying the groundwork for a renewed strategic vision.
International Women’s Day 2024
A standout moment this year was our inaugural conference on International Women’s Day at the Moonah Arts Centre. Bringing together over 70 women, the event was a celebration of connection, learning, and growth. Our speakers were nothing short of inspirational, with Cricket Tasmania’s General Manager of High Performance Salliann Beams and cricket star Molly Strano sharing their insights on building a high-performance culture. Danielle O'Hara from Folket Consultancy delivered an empowering workshop on how to "articulate your awesome," and Kitana Mansell, a proud palawa woman, left us moved with her keynote on storytelling and culture.
The vibe of the day was spot-on, with DJ Track & Field setting the tone, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of St Lukes as our key sponsor and the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s International Women’s Day Small Grants program. We even made headlines in The Mercury for the second year in a row!
New Leadership and New Voices
In 2024, we’re all about nurturing new voices and leadership. We were thrilled to welcome two new board interns, Dionie Lippis and Suwani Dona, who’ve already contributed their fresh perspectives and expertise. Their involvement has been invaluable, and at this year’s AGM, we’re delighted to have them join as elected board members—Dionie as Treasurer and Suwani as Director of Events.
Of course this means, our resident Excel-whiz, Rishini Dias is stepping into the new challenge of Director of Grants and Fundraising. A role we know she will shine in!
In August, we opened applications for Erica’s previous role as Director of Communications and Marketing and two board internships. We were truly overwhelmed by the number of applications received. After a series of interviews, The Hive is thrilled to welcome Samantha Sullivan to the board to fill Erica’s role. Samantha brings a wealth of experience, having served on the boards of Tasmanian Women in Agriculture and Just Like Jack. Perhaps most exciting of all, she is the first Hive board member to be based in the state's north, opening new and exciting opportunities for our growth.
Planning for the Future: Membership 2.0
Looking ahead, one of our key focuses is a refreshed membership offering. In May, we held our annual strategy day—a two-day workshop that resulted in an updated strategic plan and a clear roadmap for the year ahead. We’ve formed a sub-committee that’s working hard to enhance the value we bring to our members. With this, Nikia Cole will take the new board role of—Director of Membership Engagement—to make sure we’re delivering on our promise.
What’s Next?
The Hive Collective is buzzing with potential as we step into this new era. With a solid plan, a dedicated board, and a community that’s stronger than ever, we’re excited to continue building a space where women across Tasmania can connect, support each other, and make meaningful change in their lives, workplaces, and communities.
2024 The Hive Collective Board of Directors:
Chair - Amelia White
Vice-Chair - Erica Jolly
Secretary - Luisa Strano
Treasurer (not in picture) - Dionie Lippis
Director of Events - Suwani Dona
Director of Membership Engagement - Nikia Cole
Director of Grants and Fundraising - Rishini Dias
Director of Communications and Marketing - Samantha Sullivan
FY 24/25 Board Interns - in recruitment, to be announced.
The Hive Advisory Board
Linda Karlsson
Annie Gatenby
