Our story

This is not a moment, it’s a movement

Meet the team
FW0126_Pricingv2

Australia is home to one of the most highly educated female populations in the world, and yet women are underrepresented in paid work. When women can’t get back to work as quickly as they’d like, their skills lose relevance, retirement savings dwindle and confidence and connections erode. 

 

The impact is bigger than any individual. If we can increase women’s workforce participation in line with men’s, we can shrink gender gaps, alleviate skills shortages and boost productivity. That’s why FW exists, to help women find jobs and build careers, while making workplaces fairer for everyone. 

FW-WorkplaceGenderEqualityForum-290724--06375 Large

The beginning

FW - then ‘Future Women’ - was founded in 2018 by journalist and editor Helen McCabe. The original mission was ambitious yet simple: to help women connect, learn and lead. Offering professional memberships, development and networks, Future Women was designed as an inclusive space, where individual and collective ambition could coexist.  

 

In 2021, alongside gender equality advocate Jamila Rizvi, McCabe launched Jobs Academy, FW’s flagship pre-employment program. Jobs Academy offers a fully virtual, year-long suite of activities and resources to help women to clarify their career goals, build confidence and commence training or return to work. 

 

Jobs Academy was founded on the principle that if women are given flexible, quality and tailored pre-employment support, they will not only return to work faster and in greater numbers – but thrive when they get there. The program has supported more than 5000 women, including those who face complex and intersecting barriers.

 

Now a trusted and highly-regarded pathway back to work for Australian women, demand for Jobs Academy exceeds available places by more than 3:1. Evidence-based and designed with women’s real lives in mind, the FW approach to boosting women’s economic security through employment is practical, proven and scalable. It is a blueprint for future delivery of employment and pre-employment services.

 

The present

Today FW is a national platform that unites women - from first-time job seekers to executive leaders - along with employers and allies, as part of a connected ecosystem for gender equality. More than 7,000 women have accessed our professional development, events and memberships, and we’ve helped 200 employer partners build fairer, more inclusive places of work.

 

Our impact is enabled by a bespoke online platform, purpose-built to connect women, employers, and allies at scale. This digital infrastructure enables FW to reach women across Australia, wherever they are and whatever stage they're at in their careers. 

 

In 2024, FW became a B Corp, a rigorous certification only available to businesses that hold themselves accountable to the highest standards of social and environmental performance. FW has offices in Sydney and Melbourne, and our team of forty-five employees work flexibly, across locations in Australia and New Zealand.

FW-WorkplaceGenderEqualityForum-290724--06376
We partner with organisations to make work fair for everyone

Nurture talent and culture. Build employment pathways. Accelerate inclusion. Amplify your brand.

Partner with us

How we work

FW seeks to tackle gender inequity at work, from both sides of the equation.

 

We help women build the capability, confidence, and networks they need to enter and advance in paid work. And we partner with employers to improve hiring practices, disrupt structural biases, and create workplaces where women are genuinely included and supported to lead.

 

Our flagship pre-employment program, Jobs Academy, is delivered via a bespoke online platform. Digital access means participants can engage on their own timetable, without the impact of travel or childcare costs. 

 

Our pre-employment programs are embedded within a community of connection and care, enabling confidence and motivation to drive ongoing engagement. Community is the connective tissue of FW, nurturing a 300,000-strong ecosystem of members, participants, followers and subscribers who see gender equality as a movement, not a transaction. 

 

The good news is that progress is already happening. Australian women's workforce participation has now reached an all-time high of 62.6 percent. 55 percent of Australian employers reduced their gender pay gap in 2025. Promotions to middle management now happen at equal rates in many industries, and flexible work is rapidly becoming the norm, not the exception.

 

FW works directly with governments to address the systemic barriers that hold women back and advocate for policy changes that will enable fairer, more inclusive and productive workplaces. We do not ask women to bend to fit broken models. Instead, we are working to reshape the model - supporting women to progress, and helping employers to do better. 

 

At FW, we are ambitious for our members’ futures - and for our own.

Helen McCabe and Jamila Rizvi

Our impact

Meet the leadership team

FW_HelenMcCabe_02

Helen McCabe

Founder and Managing Director

Helen is the Founder and Managing Director of Future Women. She was formerly the Digital Content Director at Nine Entertainment Co and the Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Women’s Weekly. With a career spanning over two decades in media, Helen has held senior roles at The Sunday Telegraph, The Australian, and the Seven Network.

Practical people management offers hands-on strategies for effectively leading diverse teams, enhancing communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Participants will engage in interactive activities and real-world scenarios to develop skills in conflict resolution, motivation, and performance management.

This session will cover:

    • From mate to manager
    • Relationship management
    • Meaningful feedback
    • Resolving disputes
    • Difficult conversations
    • Diverse teams

This masterclass is delivered live, online and runs for 3.5 hours.

Book now

FW_JamilaRizvi_02_2025

Jamila Rizvi

Deputy Managing Director

Jamila is an author, podcaster, and diversity, equity, and inclusion expert. As Deputy Managing Director, she co-founded the FW Jobs Academy to support women in building their careers. She is a best-selling author of Not Just Lucky and Broken Brains, a regular columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and has been named one of the AFR's 100 Women of Influence.

Practical people management offers hands-on strategies for effectively leading diverse teams, enhancing communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Participants will engage in interactive activities and real-world scenarios to develop skills in conflict resolution, motivation, and performance management.

This session will cover:

    • From mate to manager
    • Relationship management
    • Meaningful feedback
    • Resolving disputes
    • Difficult conversations
    • Diverse teams

This masterclass is delivered live, online and runs for 3.5 hours.

Book now

FW_DJScott

Dymphna James Scott

Director of Commercial

Dymphna is recognised for her extensive partnership and commercial expertise. With a background in media strategy and business development, she leads strategic alliances to deliver value to corporate and government partners. She specialises in shaping large-scale sponsorships and translating partnership strategy into measurable outcomes.

FW_MeishaHill

Meisha Hill

Acting Director of Jobs Academy

Meisha oversees the day-to-day relationships with key funding partners and stakeholders for the Jobs Academy program. Her background is in media operations and management in both Australia and the US, having previously held General Manager roles at The New York Times and oOh! Media, where she specialised in business transition and leading teams through change.

FW_MaevaDedy

Maeva Dedy

Director of Finance, Monitoring and Evaluation

Maeva is a finance and commercial strategy leader with extensive experience across the construction and early learning sectors. Known for her analytical, collaborative, and innovative approach, she is passionate about helping teams make sense of data and upskilling emerging leaders. Outside of the office, Maeva is an avid reader, podcast listener, and photographer who enjoys capturing candid moments during beachside walks or connecting with people over live music and a good meal.

Practical people management offers hands-on strategies for effectively leading diverse teams, enhancing communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Participants will engage in interactive activities and real-world scenarios to develop skills in conflict resolution, motivation, and performance management.

This session will cover:

  • From mate to manager
  • Relationship management
  • Meaningful feedback
  • Resolving disputes
  • Difficult conversations
  • Diverse teams

This masterclass is delivered live, online and runs for 3.5 hours.

Book now

FW_LucyHoult

Lucy Hoult

Director of Digital

Lucy has devoted 15 years to product, striving to create experiences that customers love. Her career highlights include working at Electronic Arts, Air New Zealand and TVNZ. Outside of work she enjoys exploring the beautiful outdoors and sharing food with family and friends.

FW_RubyLeahyGatfield

Ruby Leahy Gatfield

Director of Policy and Impact

Ruby is a respected thought leader in gender equity with a passion for data and research. She oversees the monitoring and evaluation of FW's national programs, including Jobs Academy. She also leads FW’s Change Makers program, supporting over 500 male leaders across the country since 2021 to champion gender equity in their work. Previously, she was a senior adviser to the federal Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Ruby brings deep insights into the trends, risks and research in Australian workplaces and boardrooms today.

FW_AstridEdwards

Astrid Edwards

Director of Business Solutions

Astrid is a teacher, interviewer, and critic who leads business solutions strategy. Beyond her corporate role, she hosts The Garret, a podcast exploring the Australian publishing industry, and is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne. She is the former Chair of the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Practical people management offers hands-on strategies for effectively leading diverse teams, enhancing communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Participants will engage in interactive activities and real-world scenarios to develop skills in conflict resolution, motivation, and performance management.

This session will cover:

    • From mate to manager
    • Relationship management
    • Meaningful feedback
    • Resolving disputes
    • Difficult conversations
    • Diverse teams

This masterclass is delivered live, online and runs for 3.5 hours.

Book now

FW_RumaliKularatne2025_

Rumali Kularatne

Director of Learning Programs

Rumali specialises in community management and program delivery. She has a strong focus on cultural identity and community building, having been heavily involved with the Australian South Asian Centre (ASAC) before stepping into leadership roles within FW's learning and development initiatives.

FW_PattiAndrews2025

Patti Andrews

Director of Brand and Memberships

Patti is known for her unique combination of logic and creativity, which she brings to FW and the Jobs Academy’s branding and content strategy. Passionate about connecting with the audience, Patti excels at creating both written and visual content that resonates emotionally but is also clear and concise. Patti sits on the Board of Directors at Health Voyage, an NFP dedicated to the health and mental health of women and young people.

Practical people management offers hands-on strategies for effectively leading diverse teams, enhancing communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Participants will engage in interactive activities and real-world scenarios to develop skills in conflict resolution, motivation, and performance management.

This session will cover:

  • From mate to manager
  • Relationship management
  • Meaningful feedback
  • Resolving disputes
  • Difficult conversations
  • Diverse teams

This masterclass is delivered live, online and runs for 3.5 hours.

Book now

Don’t career alone.

$149/year. Less than a single coaching session. The women ahead of you are already in the room, the question is whether you'll join us there.

Become a member
FW0326_Pricing

Frequently asked questions

FWSUMMIT2026-EVOLVE-DAY2--00208

Have you got more questions?

We'd like to help. Contact us at [email protected]

Stay tuned

Stay up to date with our events, programs and the latest in gender news.