This year’s Women in Real Estate (WIRE) conference took place on Tuesday, marking a successful start to the year with REINSW’s first live, large-scale event at Doltone House in Pyrmont. This year’s event reflected the energy and passion that attendees brought, with over 250 industry leaders and professionals coming together for insightful discussions, knowledge-sharing, and invaluable networking opportunities.
Set against the elegant backdrop of one of Sydney’s premier venues, the event inspired fresh ideas, fostered collaboration, and reinforced a shared commitment to advancing the real estate sector.
Host Leanne Pilkington, President of REIA and CEO of Laing+Simmons, opened the event by discussing the importance of standing in your truth. She shared her belief that this year’s theme, Stand in your truth, would be central to the event.
Leanne encouraged attendees to reframe rejection, encouraging them to reframe the word "no" as an opportunity for growth, “Instead of dwelling on rejection, we simply move forward to the next opportunity, strengthening our resilience with each step," Ms. Pilkington said. “Every character skill we need in life can be developed. We can strengthen our resilience, build our persistence, and refine everything that truly matters. But it starts with reflection—holding up a mirror and being honest about what we need to work on."
She continued to inspire with her reflections on character development, emphasising that our individual strengths—like perseverance, honesty, and leadership—are muscles we can strengthen through intentional, small changes.
“Ultimately, the power is in what we do next," she said. "We must own our responses and shape our outcomes, regardless of what’s happened before.”
The day was filled with an inspiring and emotionally charged lineup of speakers, who took the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions—combining heartfelt confessions, tears, positive body language, and moments of true connection. Jelena Dokic, former world number 4 tennis player, shared her powerful and emotional story of resilience and determination, which deeply moved the audience.
Aviation pioneer Deborah Lawrie AM captivated the room with her journey, showing the strength and perseverance needed to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries. Business leader and co-founder of The Daily Aus, Zara Seidler, discussed the importance of authenticity in leadership, connecting deeply with the audience through her relatable experiences.
Humanitarian and international best-selling author Michael Crossland brought both laughter and tears with his emotionally moving talk about overcoming adversity. His candid sharing of personal struggles and triumphs left the audience deeply inspired and uplifted. Meanwhile, Josh Horner encouraged everyone to take bold moves, aligning perfectly with the theme of Standing in your truth. And to wrap up his hilarious presentation, he had us all standing in the flamingo pose, a reminder to us all to stand tall, stay balanced and embrace our unique strength.
Throughout the event, the speakers’ genuine vulnerability and openness created an environment of shared experiences that fueled personal reflection and growth. The combination of emotional highs and lows reinforced the power of authenticity, strength, and community that was so central to this year’s theme.
REINSW Deputy President Amanda Gould reflected on how WIRE helped her find her tribe and highlights the power of support and connection in the industry.
“I remember my first WIRE event when I was starting out in the industry,” she said. “I thought, Wow, this is amazing—a space for women, with a few men in the room, where we lift each other up and offer support through the ups and downs. That’s where I found my tribe, and I’ve stayed connected with them ever since. I love WIRE—it’s my favorite event!"
Sandy Warburton, also Deputy President at REINSW, highlighted the importance of transparency in leadership and why more men should attend WIRE to gain valuable workplace insights.
“Leadership is about transparency—sharing the ‘warts and all’ with your team,” he said. “Leaders who do this create a safe space where employees feel they can be vulnerable too knowing that ‘If my boss is willing to be open, then I can talk about what really matters to me."
"This is my third WIRE, and while I’ve been in the minority as a man, there’s so much to gain from it. It’s not a ‘women’s event’—it’s a learning event about the workplace as a whole. More men should come; they’d gain valuable insight into how our female colleagues experience the industry—and maybe even walk away a little kinder."
As the conference wrapped up, attendees departed with a reinvigorated sense of purpose, a newfound drive for change, and practical takeaways to fuel their next bold steps in both their careers and personal journeys. The energy, emotional depth, and enthusiasm displayed were a testament to the vibrant, forward-thinking community that the WIRE conference continues to foster.
Additionally, the event raised $2,200 for Youth Off The Streets, further supporting the cause of empowering young people to overcome adversity and build a brighter future.
Find out more information about this year’s WIRE conference.
Testimonials
Lucy White, Sales Manager, Morton Real Estate
Michael Crossland was incredibly inspiring—reminding us to be grateful for what we have and to never give up. I also loved the panel; it was refreshing to see people openly share their challenges and lessons learned.
Dr. Louise was both entertaining and insightful, offering perspectives I’d never considered before. I highly recommend WIRE! This was my first time attending, and I’m disappointed I hadn’t been before.
I’ll be back next year—and I’ll be bringing a big group from Morton with me!
Stephanie Glendinning, Laing+Simmons Northern Beaches
My biggest takeaway from today is that it’s okay to be vulnerable and to stand in your truth. Self-worth is so important. Jelena Dokic was my favorite speaker—I knew nothing about her before, but I was so inspired that I bought both of her books and had them signed.
Rachel Savio, Domain Group
I’ve enjoyed every speaker this morning and taken something valuable from each one. Michael Crossland stood out for his storytelling, and Dr. Louise Mahler was absolutely amazing—I loved her! If I had to pick two standouts, they’d be it, but every speaker has been so fantastic.
The biggest takeaway for me, beyond standing in my truth, is to be inspired and never stop believing that anything is possible.
This is my first year at WIRE, and I’ll absolutely recommend it. I’ll definitely be back next year! We’re proud to sponsor this event—it’s exactly the kind of initiative we want to be aligned with.