Turn the Tide
Entrepreneurship and Leadership Program
WISA is a not for-profit, independent, productive organisation and network.
This innovative online and in person program will build seafood women’s entrepreneurship and leadership skills and capabilities.
The Turn the Tide Entrepreneurship and Leadership program is designed to train women in entrepreneurial and leadership thinking to solve key issues facing women in seafood workplaces and communities.
We take participants through a journey of shared problem identification, and collectively developing practical and measurable actions and tools to address the problem.
The highly regarded Affectus will guide you through all parts of the program with a line up of experts to help you on the way.
Key outcomes for participants to take into their work and personal lives are:
- Entrepreneurial and leadership thinking and skills
- A process for collective action
- A new support network and relationships with a diverse group of women in seafood
- Connections to industry leaders and influencers
This 6 month program is online and in person and is free to WISA members (including travel and accommodation).
We work together online for 6 months and then the final part of this annual feast of women’s brilliance is a ‘Round Table’ in person gathering in Canberra where women participating in the program come together. You will hear about the amazing work done to address the five burning issues, be motivated by some awesome speakers and influencers, connect with industry leaders, deepen your network, work with Affectus building more leadership and entrepreneurship knowledge, and genuinely have a fabulous time!
We encourage anyone in the Australian seafood community to apply to be involved.
Applications are now open.
If you missed the online introduction watch the session here!
About the Program
There are 2 ways to participate in the program:
1. Facilitator training
You will receive training to build skills to provide leadership to a group through facilitating discussions. These sessions will be very practical.
You will have the chance to test your new skills by helping the Turn the Tide team facilitate the Leadership and Entrepreneurship small group program by shadowing and co-facilitating.
The expectation is that you will be able to transfer these skills to your role in the seafood industry.
Time commitment to the program
- As per action group program with 15mins pre meeting and 45mins post group meeting for facilitator catch up with Affectus
- Additional 2 x 3hr facilitator training sessions pre program (9 Apr, 7 May 2025)
2. Action group
You will work online in small groups over six months, to develop and action your personal plan to achieve your entrepreneurial and leadership goals, based on a shared group issue.
The Affectus team (and facilitators above) will guide you and experts will help you throughout.
Time commitment to the program
- 5 x 3hr online sessions (28 May, 18 Jun, 9 Jul, 13 Aug, 1 Oct 2025
- In person Round Table 3 day event in Canberra (26-28 Nov 2025)
- Working online with your group in between online sessions as required
Overview of the program
You will work in small groups of 5-8 women. Groups form around shared topics participants are most interested in actioning.
In 2024 the action groups chose the following issues:
- Building a career while juggling the “women’s work” of family and caring responsibilities
- Navigating the network: Overcoming exclusion and isolation from the existing network to break through the “glass ceiling”
- Who does she think she is? Developing your voice to overcome unconscious bias, undermining behaviours and backlash
- Growing deeper and stronger connections, teams, and networks among seafood women to build resilience and opportunity
- Influencing industry to listen to women: Building allies to champion grass roots cultural change
During the six months, in online meetings groups will discuss, decide, action plan and take action on their shared issue – supporting and working together to make change in the industry on issues that matter to you.
Affectus will also provide you with skills along the way to help you build your entrepreneurial and leadership thinking.
The final part of this annual feast of women’s brilliance will be a ‘Round Table’ in person gathering where women participating in the Turn the Tide project will come together.
You will hear about the amazing work done to address the five burning issues in the action groups, be motivated by some awesome speakers, and work with Affectus and WISA to build greater leadership and entrepreneurship knowledge.
Key dates
| Entrepreneurship and Leadership program Introductory workshop | 12 February 2025 12:00-1:30 AEDT |
| Applications for E&L program open | 12 February 2025 1:30 AEDT |
| Applications for E&L program close | 18 April 2025 5:00pm AEST |
| Facilitator Training Workshop 1
Facilitator Training Workshop 2 |
9 Apr 12.00pm – 2.30pm AEST
7 May 12.00pm – 2.30pm AEST |
| E&L Action Group Training Workshop 1 |
Facilitators 28 May 9.30am – 2.30pm AEST Action Groups 28 May 10.00am – 2.00pm AEST |
| E&L Action Group Training Workshop 2 |
Facilitators 18 June 9.30am – 2.30pm AEST Action Groups 18 June 10.00am – 2.00pm AEST |
| E&L Action Group Training Workshop 3 |
Facilitators 9 Jul 9.30am – 2.30pm AEST Action Groups 9 Jul 10.00am – 2.00pm AEST |
| E&L Action Group Training Workshop 4 |
Facilitators 13 Aug 9.30am – 2.30pm AEST Action Groups 13 Aug 10.00am – 2.00pm AEST |
| E&L Action Group Training Workshop 5 |
Facilitators 1 Oct 9.30am – 2.30pm AEST Action Groups 1 Oct 10.00am – 2.00pm AEST |
| Annual Round Table | 26 – 28 November 2025 (Canberra) |
Resources
Contact us
Jane Cowan - WISA Executive Officer
Email: eo@womeninseafood.org.au
Phone: 0450 523 199