Beneath crystal chandeliers at Brisbane’s magnificent Victoria Park Marquee, something magical unfolded on Saturday 7 March – an afternoon of elegance, inspiration, and unmistakable purpose.
The occasion? International Women’s Day 2026 – themed Balance the Scales and hosted by TV personality Kim Skubris.
With tables decked in soft florals, sunny yellow, pale pastels, and vibrant fuchsia touches, the room spritzed energy from the moment guests arrived. Our valued sponsor, Italiquore, added sophistication and bubbles with imported Italian prosecco.
STYLE AS STORYTELLING
One of the event’s most anticipated highlights, the fashion parade hosted by Laura Churchill from Brisbane Fashion Month, brought the theme to vivid life. A diverse and dazzling cast of models swept down the runway in looks that celebrated femininity in all its forms – bold and architectural, soft and flowing, powerful and playful. Each look told a story of a woman owning her identity, her ambition, her space. Applause rippled through the crowd with each turn, each stride, each moment of pure, unapologetic confidence.
A VOICE WORTH SAVOURING
Following a fashion parade that ignited the room, one of Queensland’s most beloved culinary voices – guest speaker Dominique Rizzo, set it ablaze with warmth, wisdom, and wit.
Food advocate, television presenter, and chef whose passion for authentic, nourishing food has made her a household name across the state and beyond, wove together stories of her Italian heritage, her career journey, and the power of sharing a table.
Speaking of resilience built in kitchens across generations, through the quiet, radical act of feeding people well, Dominique vowed that “Food is love made visible. And when women cook, we don’t just nourish bodies – we nourish communities.”
A ROOM FULL OF TRAILBLAZERS
The gathering was graced by some of Queensland’s most distinguished women in public life: Minister for Women and Women’s Economic Security, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Multiculturalism Hon. Fiona Simpson MP, Lady Mayoress of Brisbane Nina Schrinner, Councillor for Central Ward Cr. Vicki Howard, Consul of Italy for QLD and NT Dott.ssa Luna Angelina Marinucci, and Co.As.It. CEO Tanina Softa.
Each shared a message of hope and resilience – women who carry the weight of public responsibility with grace, showing the next generation exactly what leadership looks like.
FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD
Every great celebration deserves a moment of pure joy – and this year it was delivered with the draw of a splendid $2,000 travel voucher. Raffle prizes donated by community members and local businesses made the room erupt in cheers for every winner, wholly happy for someone else’s good fortune – a perfect metaphor for the day: lifting each other up.
BEYOND THE CELEBRATION
Beneath the glitter and the applause, a deeply important cause beat at the heart of the event. Proceeds support Co.As.It.’s Mind Wellness Services, a vital lifeline for individuals and families navigating dementia and other mental health challenges. By weaving this purpose into the fabric of the celebration, every ticket purchased and every glass raised carried a meaning far greater than the moment itself.
Balance the Scales was not simply a theme. It was a promise – that the empowerment in that room would find its way to those who needed it most, tipping the scales in their favour.
As farewells were exchanged, the spirit of the day lingered, every guest carried home by every measure, a triumph of community, courage, and the enduring, unstoppable power of women who refuse to let the scales tip in any direction but upwards.
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