MOVEMBER IS CALLING
WEXPO A NETWORKING SUCCESS
STAGE TO SPOTIFY
WHEN local singer Alyssa Delpopolo was crowned winner of The Voice last week, the cheers were louder in and around Stanhope Gardens than in the Channel 7 studio. Former St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens pupil Alyssa is a familiar face in the area, from greeting staff in Bunnings Rouse Hill to walking Milo, her beloved King Charles Cavalier, around the park. The eldest of three girls, Alyssa, 20, credits her success to her loving family, mum Richelle, dad, Adam, and lecturers at JMC Academy – where she is doing a Bachelor of Music. More: page 7.
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Gateway to North West to start
THE Federal and NSW Governments have hit the go button on the next major road project for North Western Sydney, awarding contracts for design and construction for the $744M upgrade of Richmond Road.
As one of the major gateways to Sydney’s North West, nearly four kilometres of Richmond Road will undergo a range of improvements including adding additional lanes, installing shared paths, boosting flood resilience and providing better access to growing suburbs.
Richmond Road already carries 70,000 cars per day and this is predicted to increase sharply in coming years.
With this upgrade and the construction of the M7 overpass, Transport for NSW expects to see a 21 per cent improvement in the AM peak and 34 per cent improvement in the PM peak for average travel times after the upgrades are complete.
The centrepiece of the upgrade will be a new flyover bridge from the M7 Motorway Rooty Hill Road North offramp to Richmond Road northbound which will address traffic congestion while boosting efficiency and safety.
Construction is due to start at the start of 2026.
The program of works includes three projects:
• $520M M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade.
• $150M Elara Boulevard to Heritage Road upgrade.
• $74M Richmond Road Planning project, which will investigate further investment opportunities along the corridor.
The M7 Motorway to Townson Road Upgrade will widen Richmond Road between Colebee and Marsden Park to ease congestion, improve safety and support future housing, development and connectivity of communities across
north-west. Around 2.2 kilometres will be upgraded from four lanes to six lanes, while a new concrete bridge over Bells Creek will include travel lanes as well as a path for pedestrians and cyclists.
TThe upgrade of the 1.6-kilometre stretch of Richmond Road between Elara Boulevard and Heritage Road will provide better access to the growing Marsden Park community and surrounding suburbs by delivering an improved connection to Blacktown.
This upgrade will widen Richmond Road from two lanes to a four-lane divided road with a wider central median for future expansion of the road to six lanes as required.
A new bus priority signalised intersection, an extended shared path connecting to Marsden Park and improved flood resilient facilities along this bustling corridor are included in the upgrades.
New traffic lights will ease congestion and reduce delays during peak periods, while dedicated bus priority lanes will help public transport services run more efficiently and shared paths will make cycling safer and easier.
Movember focus on men’s health
HIS Movember, the moustache is calling again, and it’s calling on locals for support.
From humble beginnings 22 years ago, Movember has grown into a global movement that has changed the face of men’s health.
rallying Australians, including local Mo Bros and Sisters in the North West to unite, grow and act for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer - with a renewed focus on supporting men in re -
who are facing the greatest risk. In NSW, the need to support these causes remains vital. Intentional self-harm (suicide) remains the highest underlying cause of death in males from 15-44 years old, with more than 290 men losing
vember has sparked billions of conversations, raised more than AUD $1.7B and funded more than 1,300 men’s health projects across the world
Sydney’s
Councils unite to save the cats
BLACKTOWN Council, Hills Council and Hawkesbury Council areas are among a group of 30 NSW councils included in a joint RSPCA / NSW Government program to promote responsible cat ownership.
The $6M program, Keeping Cats Safe at Home funded by the Environmental Trust, will help another 19 councils to curb the devastating impact cats have on our native wildlife, as well as help pet cats live longer, taking the total to 30 councils.
The program focuses on increasing rates of desexing, microchipping and lifetime registration while encouraging the uptake of voluntary containment of pet cats.
Domestic cats are estimated to kill many of our native animals each year, including an estimated 53 million reptiles, 61 million birds, and 67 million mammals.
We also know that two-in-three cat owners have lost a pet to a roaming-related accident, with a third of accidents
involving cars.
The Keeping Cats Safe at Home program has successfully demonstrated that bringing together councils, veterinarians, wildlife groups, and the
Tcommunity results in more households using responsible cat-care practices.
Results from the pilot program involving 11 councils include:
• Reducing free-roaming cats by
50% in the Blue Mountains, 35% in Campbelltown, and 25% in Tweed Shire council areas.
• Desexing more than 2,700 cats and microchipping more than 1,700 cats across 11 council areas.
Cutting cat-related nuisance complaints by more than 40% in seven council areas.
The expansion of the program will include a new statewide social marketing campaign to encourage communities to end cat homelessness and prevent domestic cats from roaming away from their home.
This will help keep cats out of shelters and improve animal welfare outcomes in NSW.
RSPCA NSW CEO, Mr Steven Coleman said the RSPCA is dedicated to improving the lives of all creatures great and small, and the Keeping Cats Safe At Home program delivers a win-win solution that benefits both pets and native wildlife.”
2025 HSC exams come to an end
HE 2025 HSC exams have ended. Over the past 17 test days, close to 75,000 HSC students have sat more than 400,000 exam sessions in 123 different subjects, running across more than 750 exam
locations. This year’s exams included the assessment of new syllabuses in Geography, Software Engineering, and Computing – with the latter two examined online for the first time. Thousands of dedicated teachers,
Invitation for Registrations of Interest
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment
Riverstone West Precinct Development Project
Riverstone Parade Pty Ltd (RP) is proposing the development of the Riverstone West Precinct (within Lot 50 DP 1295449), located at 81 Riverstone Parade, Richards, NSW 2765. The Project is situated in the north corner of Ward 5, within the Blacktown LGA. EMM Consulting Pty Ltd (EMM) is undertaking an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment to inform the activity.
The proponent contact is: Paul Britt, Development ManagerDevelopment, Sakkara Pty Ltd (A: PO Box R544 Royal Exchange, NSW 1225; T: 02 8248 7900; E: paul.britt@sakkara.com.au)
EMM, on behalf of RP, invites Aboriginal individuals and organisations who hold cultural knowledge relevant to determining the signi cance of Aboriginal objects and/or places in the area, and who wish to be involved in the consultation process undertaken as part of the assessment to register their interests.
The purpose of Aboriginal community consultation is to assist Sakkara in: 1) assessing the Aboriginal heritage values of the area; 2) to assist NSW Government in the assessment of Aboriginal heritage reports prepared for this project; and 3) to support any future applications or approvals for the project sought under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and/or the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
Registrations of interest are to be provided by no later than 27 November 2025 to: Angus Lynch
E: alynch@emmconsulting.com.au
A: EMM Consulting, The Forum, Level 10/201 Paci c Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065
T: 02 9493 9500
principals, and support staff have been working behind the scenes during the HSC, ensuring exams run smoothly and deliver a fair outcome for students. Marking is well underway, with over 6,500 markers
assessing responses from more than 1.2 million exam papers. Students will receive their HSC results and ATAR on Thursday 18 December. The 2025 HSC enrolment snapshot can be found on the NESA website.
WE SUPPORT empowers individuals with disabilities, the aged and people of all ages in need of support to explore brighter future.
W WE SUPPORT delivers a comprehensive guide to providers working in Australia’s most dynamic and diverse region Greater Western Sydney and is published in four popular Western Sydney media brands each quarter.
WEXPO 2025 a networking success
WEXPO main event held at Sydney showground on October 22, has been rated a networking success by exhibitors.
This year’s main event attracted 62 exhibitors and despite heatwave conditions more than 240 people attended the event.
Feedback from exhibitors clarifies the value of events where businesses
can network directly with other businesses, as well as leverage community members attending.
The B2B success of this year’s WEXPO has led to WEXPO planning a series of boutique networking events for 2026 including the AI Summit.
WEXPO GM, Chris Pennisi said the feedback from exhibitors had been positive with many sharing the benefits that WEXPO provided.
This year WEXPO included four panels and three keynote speakers covering issues of business growth and improvement.
"WEXPO was an outstanding event! The energy, organisation, and diversity of exhibitors and speakers made it a fantastic platform for networking, learning, and exploring new opportunities." Said TAFE NSW.
"WEXPO provided fantastic net-
working opportunities for us to connect with other industry leaders and share insights. It was a well-organised and energising event, and we look forward to being part of future Wexpo experiences, " said Melanie from Attention Experts.
The Blacktown News is a media partner of Ther Blacktown News. Blacktown MP Stephen Bali is the event’s patron. Visit: www.wexpo.com.au
Scenes from the recent WEXPO event.
Rouse Hill welcomes Return and Earn
ROUSE Hill is now home to a new large-format Return and Earn depot designed to make recycling large numbers of bottles, cans and cartons easier than ever before.
The Rouse Hill Return and Earn Depot - the first depot in The Hills Shire –was officially opened with a community celebration recently.
The staffed depot features the latest self-service ‘tip and go’ technology which can process up to 100 containers a minute, making it ideal for returning 500 or more containers at a time without the need to pre-sort containers.
It also offers the extra convenience of a ‘tag and drop’ service, which lets recyclers receive a digital payout after dropping off their bagged containers to be counted by depot staff.
A Return and Earn machine is available onsite for recyclers with smaller amounts of drink containers.
Users can print a voucher for the refund amount, which can be redeemed at Coles for a discount on
their shopping or for cash, or opt for an e-voucher or payment directly into their bank or PayPal account using the Return and Earn app.
Locals can also donate their refund
to one of over 400 donation partners listed on the Return and Earn app. Donation partners include environmental organisations, schools, sporting clubs and animal welfare groups, supporting
the causes that matter to locals.
Return and Earn has become a key fundraising channel for many charities and community groups in NSW. Over $82 million has been raised for charities and not-for-profits from donations and fees from hosting return points since the scheme launched in 2017.
Riverstone MP Warren Kirby said Hills Shire residents are enthusiastic recyclers, having returned over 224 million eligible bottles, cans and cartons through local return points since the scheme began.
Statewide, more than 14.4 billion drink containers have been returned for recycling through the network of over 660 return points across NSW since Return and Earn began. This means over $1.4 billion in container refunds back in people’s pockets and over $82M has been donated to charities.
For more information on Return and Earn visit: www.returnandearn.org.au
More new homes for Cherrybrook
THE NSW Government is leading a rezoning to deliver 9,350 new homes in Cherrybrook close to transport, open space, shops and services.
The proposed state-led rezoning aims to transform the area into an urban community with a new town centre, library, community facilities, cafes and shops a short walk from the metro station.
The Cherrybrook precinct will support the area’s growing and diverse population offering a range of homes with a minimum of 5 per cent of all new homes to be affordable housing, increasing to up to 10 per cent within the new town centre.
Artist impression of the new project.
The plan will focus larger apartment buildings in the town centre, with mid-rise apartments and terraces to be spread around green neighbourhoods. It will also feature new walkable streets, bike paths and connections between new local parks, making it
Neasier for residents to move around the precinct and access the metro station. Importantly the significant Blue
Gum High Forest indigenous vegetation found in the area will be preserved and the total tree canopy coverage will increase by 14 per cent thanks to development controls.
The Cherrybrook Precinct Rezoning Proposal is expected to create around 210 new jobs alongside the 9,350 new homes which will be delivered gradually over 36 years.
The vision for the precinct is another example of the Minns Labor Government giving people more choice in where they want to live, and in the types of homes they can build and buy.
The rezoning proposal is currently on exhibition for public feedback until Friday, 5 December 2025. To have your say on the Cherrybrook Precinct Rezoning Proposal, visit the NSW Planning Portal.
For more information visit: planning.nsw.gov. au/cherrybrook.
New strata laws provide relief
EW strata laws are now in place to provide relief for owners facing cost-of-living pressures. This includes new powers for NSW Fair Trading to ensure repairs and maintenance of common property aren’t neglected
Min a bid to prevent owners from being hit with expensive special levies.These world-leading rules form part of an extensive strata reform package implemented by the Minns Labor Government to help address the housing challeng -
es in NSW. The reforms have been designed to restore consumer confidence in strata living. More than 1.2 million people already live in strata, with that number set to rise under the Government’s strategic planning reforms. Compliance with
the reforms will be led by the Strata and Property Services Taskforce within NSW Fair Trading, which has dedicated inspectors and investigators who examine issues across the real estate industry including strata.
Blacktown in the green with grant
ORE quality green open space is on the way for Blacktown with a $300,000 investment from the state’s longest-running open space grants program. The latest round of the Metropolitan Greenspaces program will deliver funding for planning
and design work of a public art play space in Alpha Park. This is an investment in the future of Blacktown, delivering more outdoor places where people can gather, play, relax and exercise in their community. The NSW Government funding will be matched by Black-
town Council to deliver the $600,000 project. The Alpha Park project is one of 15 projects which received nearly $4M funding from the NSW Government. The projects are together worth more than $9 million thanks to council co-contributions.
Danielle Smalley Exchange for Change James Dorney CEO TOMRA Cleanaway Warren Kirby MP Rouse Hill Return and Earn Depot opening
STANHOPE SINGER ALYSSA DELPOPOLO’S STELLAR RISE THE VOICE winner reveals success secrets
BY RISHAM ZAIGHAM
WHEN local singer Alyssa Delpopolo was crowned winner of The Voice last week, the cheers were louder in and around Stanhope Gardens than in the
Former St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens pupil Alyssa is a familiar face in the area, from greeting staff in Bunnings Rouse Hill to walking Milo, her beloved King Charles Cavalier, around the park.
The eldest of three girls, Alyssa, 20, credits her success to her loving family,
mum Richelle, dad, Adam, and lecturers at JMC Academy – where she is doing a Bachelor of Music.
“I couldn’t have got through it without them all,” she adds. “Being shy, I’ve always found it hard to put myself ‘out there’ and struggled to believe I’d have a career in the music industry.”
Not that she needed to worry; her show-stopping duet of Selena Gomez’s Lose You to Love Me with Voice coach Kate Miller-Heidke sealed her win last weekend, drawing praise from fans across Australia.
Now, with $100k prize money in her pocket, Alyssa is living every young artist’s dream.
About to drop debut single Cruel, on December 5, and hit the road on her first tour – she’s getting a crash course in music industry hustle due to her rapid rise to fame.
Navigating singing with studying, streaming, and strategies around socials and self-promotion, she’s being guided by her JMC “family”, including Performance Coach Ana Kypreo, Vocal Coach Chrissy Moy, and Producer Paul Aiden.
“Singing is the easy bit!” she laughs. “It’s the business side that’s trickier, but JMC has given me a really good foundation. Now, I’m putting into practice
what I’ve been learning.
“Paul’s helping me with things like branding, social media strategy, and setting up my artist profiles on Spotify and other streaming platforms – which are a bit of a jungle.”
Producer/songwriter Paul has over two decades in the global music industry – with accolades spanning chart-toppers, over 250 million streams and collaborations with the likes of Ministry of Sound.
He’s confident Alyssa is set for success, explaining, “My focus is helping students understand that being a professional musician today means much more than playing or singing.
“It means owning your process, knowing your market and mobilising your network.”
Alyssa hopes her journey from shy schoolgirl to household name will inspire others to follow their dreams, adding, “Mum got me into singing lessons at ten to bring me out of my shell.
“I’m so grateful now as it made me ‘be me’. Winning The Voice is amazing, but it’s just the start.
“If I can inspire even one shy kid like me to believe in themselves – that’s the real victory.”
Alyssa & Kate: The Voice coach Kate Miller-Heidke has been a huge supporter of Alyssa from day one when she plucked her out of the audience and encouraged her to audition. Good job!
Channel 7 studio.
Alyssa, pictured with JMC Academy’s singer and songwriter Paul Aiden, says she’s now “putting into practice” what she’s been learning during her Bachelor of Music.
New Rouse Hill Hospital unveiled
THE NSW Government has today unveiled new designs showcasing the $910M Rouse Hill Hospital, with the community invited to view and provide feedback.
The artist’s impressions of the stateof-the-art health facility include the main entry of the hospital, a new internal access road, drop off and pick up area, and green spaces. The design also showcases the ‘care arcade’, which will house retail and caf? spaces and other services for consumers, families and visitors.
The Rouse Hill Hospital will cater for the growing healthcare needs of northwest Sydney communities now and into the future.
The State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for main works construction of the new Rouse Hill Hospital is now on public exhibition, and the community is invited to have their say on the project.
Community consultation will happen over coming weeks.
The SSDA is available to view here: http://planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/newrouse-hill-hospital Feedback can be provided until 11.59pm on Wednesday, December 10.
The final scope for the new $910M Rouse Hill Hospital development delivered by the Labor Government is expected to include:
• An Emergency Department and primary access clinic.
• Comprehensive birthing services including birthing rooms and a maternity inpatient unit.
• Inpatient beds and day surgery services.
• Short stay medical assessment services.
• Pathology, pharmacy and medical imaging services.
• Outpatient and ambulatory care services including paediatrics and renal dialysis.
• Virtual care and hospital in the home services.
• Prehabilitation, rehabilitation and lifestyle medicine.
TThe new hospital design, which includes a multi-storey car park, has been carefully future proofed allowing for the growth and delivery of future health services.
Planning and design for new hospital is being guided by ongoing community feedback, including new comprehensive birthing and maternity services boosted by an additional $210 million committed to the project by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
An early works contractor is expected to be appointed in the coming months, and these works will be carried out to prepare the site for construction
of the new hospital.
For more information on the Rouse Hill Hospital project, visit: http://nsw. gov.au/rouse-hill-hospital Attorney-General and Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland said: “I am delighted that families in North West Sydney are now one step closer to having the high-quality public hospital they deserve, close to home.
“I look forward to the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments continuing to work together to deliver the best quality health services to support our growing community.”
Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said: “Having the SSDA on public exhibition is a clear indication the Minns Labor Government is going to deliver the Rouse Hill Hospital after more than a decade of false promises and fake sod turnings under the Liberals which did nothing more than make our community frustrated and cynical.
“This is a tangible step forward for the Rouse Hill Hospital an a clear sign the Minns Labor Government will live up to our promise to build the Rouse Hill hospital.
“Approval of the SSDA is the final step towards getting construction underway for the Rouse Hill hospital. I congratulate the Minister for Health for his commitment to provide Sydney’s North West Growth area with a healthcare facility designed to meet the needs of our growing population”.
Shaping the future of Riverstone
HE North West Business Chamber’s Keystone Forum has been hailed as a major success, uniting more than 70 local businesses, community leaders, and government representatives to explore the exciting future of Riverstone and the greater north-west region.
Hosted at Riverstone Business Park and proudly sponsored by the Riverstone Business Park team, the event marked the third stage in the Chamber’s visionary journey — following Foundation Stone and Future Forum, symbolising the unifying “keystone” that locks the region’s shared vision into place.
The forum was attended by State Member for Riverstone, Warren Kirby, along with Blacktown City Councillors Moninder Singh and Alan Green, Council staff, and a strong representation of local business owners and developers, all committed to shaping the next chapter of Riverstone’s story.
President of the North West Business Chamber, Suzanne Lawrence, opened the event with a powerful address reflecting on the Chamber’s journey - from the early Riverstone in Review and Too Big to Ignore campaigns through to its ongoing advocacy for infrastructure, local jobs, and business growth.
“The Keystone Forum represents the moment our ideas, partnerships, and purpose come together, locking into place like the keystone of an arch,” said Suzanne. “Riverstone is on the brink of transformation, and it’s the strength and unity of this community that’s driving it forward.”
A highlight of the day was a presentation from Richards Masterplanning - internationally recognised urban planners from Denmark - showcasing an inspiring vision for the birth of a new suburb in Riv-
erstone. Their masterplan integrates world-leading design principles with local values to create a thriving, connected, and sustainable community.
“Having a Danish masterplanner working alongside our region is a game changer,” said Ms Lawrence. “Richards brings global expertise, innovative thinking, and a deep respect for local identity. Their vision will help reinvigorate Riverstone’s economy and bring world-class design to our doorstep.”
The forum also reinforced the Chamber’s ongoing advocacy for Richards, a key precinct holding the potential to unlock critical infrastructure such as the long-awaited spine road bypass and to generate local jobs that will breathe life back into Riverstone’s community and economy.
“Our Chamber members are some of the most resilient, innovative, and passionate business people anywhere,” Ms Lawrence added. “We are fearlessly authentic, proud of our roots, and ready to be part of the change ahead. The Keystone Forum proved what’s possible when vision and collaboration come together.”
With record attendance, strong local engagement, and a renewed sense of purpose, the Keystone Forum stands as a defining moment in Riverstone’s ongoing growth — one that’s building ideas and shaping futures together.
• Logos
• Business cards
• Letter heads
• With Compliment Slips
• Presentation folders
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• Promotional cards
• Posters
• Pull Up Banners
• I nfographics
• Brochures
• Catalogues
• Annual repor ts
• Newsletters
• M agazines
• Adver tisements
• Social media tiles
• Web banners
HAWKESBURY LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS
Simply, an unforgetable evening
THIS year’s Hawkesbury Local Business Awards was a sensa tional spectacular that provid ed a fitting finale to the annual event.
This year’s winners exchanged hugs while cheers filled the room as they made their way to the stage on Monday, November 3. Awards founder and Precedent Productions Man aging Director Steve Loe said the evening was an exciting culmination to a successful awards program.
“The Local Business Awards recognise the vital role business people play in the lives of their communities,” he said. “The presentation evening not only sees the announcement of the category winners but is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of all the finalists.
“We had a sell-out crowd that included our finalists, their families and staff, as well as our partners and local dignitaries who helped to present awards to the winners.”
Excitement filled the room as the finalists in each category were announced, complete with images on the big screen, followed by applause as the winners’ names were read out and they took to the stage to claim their trophies.
“The winners’ speeches are always heartfelt and emotional,” Mr Loe said. “This year was no exception.”
“Of course, the awards are only possibly with the ongoing support of our Present ing Partner:
Commonwealth Bank, Major Partners: NOVA Employment and Richmond Marketplace and Support Partners: White Key Mar keting, media partner North West News and Hawkesbury City Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Loe said, “their involvement proves their com mitment to their community and the businesses that thrive there.”
Mr Loe also thanked Windsor Function Centre for the high quality food and service it provided.
“Thanks to them it was a five-star occasion,” he said.
“I would also like to acknowledge the remarkable talent who provided
TechnologY
AI’S FALSE REVOLUTION Study buddy or smoke and mirrors?
Billions spent, minds dulled, and little to show for it – we need to keep control of our thinking in the age of artificial intelligence, writes CQUniversity’s Head of Educational Neuroscience, Professor Ken Purnell.
BILLIONS of dollars are being poured into artificial intelligence systems that promise to change how we learn and work. Yet, according to one major 2025 MIT study, 95 per cent of corporate AI investments have so far generated zero return.
This sobering statistic reveals an uncomfortable truth: the AI revolution isn’t delivering the transformation many expected. Instead, we’re witnessing a widening gap between the dream of a tireless digital study buddy – one that helps us think, write and solve problems – and the reality of fragile, energy-hungry technology that often costs more than it contributes.
Brains on autopilot
In education, AI’s potential is both exciting and perilous. Imagine a world where everyone has a personal study companion – endlessly patient, lightning-fast and always available. Today’s most advanced large language models can already explain complex ideas, edit essays and offer creative inspiration.
But neuroscience tells a different story. When people outsource their thinking to AI, brain connectivity and learning capacity actually weaken. Genuine learning depends on active engagement: questioning, refining and extending what AI suggests.
As I often remind students, you must lead the thinking – AI can only follow.
The real power comes from collaboration, not delegation. Don’t outsource your brain.
Mirage of returns
In the corporate world, the “AI revolution” looks much the same.
Most projects stall before showing measurable results. Only a small fraction – roughly five per cent – achieve lasting impact, and those are the ones that embed AI strategically and focus on targeted, solvable problems.
The rest find themselves caught in what I call the “prestige loop”: investing in AI for status, not strategy. In too many cases, “AI” becomes a convenient scapegoat for layoffs or underperformance. But technology isn’t making these decisions – leaders are. It’s time to
question the mantra that “AI did it”.
The hidden environmental bill
Meanwhile, hidden environmental costs are mounting. Every AI prompt draws on vast, energy-hungry data centres that consume staggering amounts of electricity and water. By the late 2020s, AI-specific electricity use could rival a quarter of household power consumption in developed nations, and in some regions, pushing data centres toward 15 per cent of national energy loads. The convenience of instant answers comes with real-world costs and these – costs we no longer can afford to ignore.
A fragile partnership
The most valuable AI isn’t one that runs on autopilot. It’s one used critically as a partner that challenges our thinking, reveals blind spots, and helps us see problems differently. It isn’t about automation – it’s augmentation.
The danger lies in passivity. Overreliance on AI breeds cognitive laziness and dulls expertise. When people accept AI’s output uncritically, they lose the
Topportunity to think deeply or creatively themselves.
As institutions chase the next big thing, success will belong to those who pair human judgment with technological capability, not those who surrender one to the other. The best outcomes happen when we stay in the driver’s seat – not when we hand over the wheel.
Counting the real costs
Whether in classrooms or boardrooms, the myth of effortless AI progress has collided with hard reality. Real returns are rare, sustainability costs are rising, and unchecked reliance threatens the very skills society needs most: creativity, critical thinking and ethical judgment.
If AI is to be truly revolutionary, it must remain under human command – a critical friend rather than a replacement.
The true measure of progress won’t be how intelligent our machines become, but whether we stay smarter than the tools we create.
So, don’t outsource your brain – lead, question and use AI critically.
Land iQ system expands planning
HE NSW Government will invest a further $20M in its world-first Land iQ system to expand the land-use technology tool for a broader range of planning uses by governments, universities, consultants and private enterprise.
The funding boost is part of the Government’s commitment to build a faster fairer and modern planning process, with the world-first Land iQ system already paying dividends.
It has been at the forefront of the Government’s land audit, which has helped assess sites capable of delivering more than 10,000 homes across the state.
The $20M funding will make Land iQ more effective, accessible and affordable, including:
• expanding its use across government to identify land for open space, employment and industrial use,
as well as environmentally sensitive land needing protection.
• allowing users to subscribe to the parts of Land iQ they need, making it more cost effective for a range of users, including tertiary educators,
councils and land councils.
• providing access to Land iQ for users of the Giraffe mapping, modelling and analytics software to enhance its capabilities. enabling users to access Land iQ data for integrated use with other programs to provide enhanced functionality.
• delivering additional features, including site feasibility analysis tools that enable integration of individual user data with Land iQ data.
Land iQ is a digital platform that helps planning and property professionals make faster and smarter decisions about land use, including identifying land for new homes across NSW.
The platform combines government and external data in an interactive 3D map interface, enabling users to visualise and analyse land, run land-
use scenarios, collaborate with property professionals in real time and optimise land-use plans.
Since March, private sector organisations have been able to secure licences for Land iQ and its modules. The platform draws on a library of more than 200 data sources and 75 land-use data types to deliver insights for property and planning decisions.
The platform played a critical role in identifying suitable land for emergency housing following the NSW Northern Rivers floods. Land iQ is now being used by the government and local councils to more effectively and proactively plan and respond to future natural disaster events.
Property and Development NSW has been working with technology partners WSP, Giraffe, and Aerometrex since 2021 to develop and expand the Land iQ platform.
CommenT
with Michelle Rowland
AGE LIMITS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCESS
Keeping our kids safe online
MICHELLLE ROWLAND
EVERY Australian child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, whether at home, school, or online.
Social media has become a normal part of life. While it can connect us with family and friends, educate, and entertain, it can also cause tremendous harm.
Almost two-thirds of 14-to-17-yearold Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online, including drug abuse, suicide self-harm, and violent material.
As a parent myself, I know just how hard it can be to raise children in the digital age.
I share the concerns of so many in our community about the amount of time our children are glued to their screens, and the harmful content they could be exposed to.
That’s why, from 10 December this year, social media platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account.
This will give young people time to build real-world connections and digital literacy before joining global platforms.
The Albanese Government is
committed to ensuring children have a childhood. I was proud last year, as the then Minister for Communications, to introduce legislation establishing our world-leading minimum age limits for social media.
Importantly, these age limits put the onus on social media platforms, not parents or young people, to take reasonable steps to ensure users are 16 years or older.
This is about protecting children, not isolating or punishing them. Under 16s will still be able to access messaging services, online gaming, professional networking and development services that are used for the primary purpose of education and health support.
In the lead-up to these world-first changes next month, I encourage parents to have a conversation with your children.
The eSafety Commissioner has helpful guides on preparing for this change, including how to download data from existing accounts before access is lost.
If a young person in your life is having difficulties dealing with the change, support services such as Kids Helpline and Headspace are also readily available.
As parents, families and a community, we are all united in wanting our kids to grow up safe, happy and healthy.
These age limits will help make this a reality and ensure that social media is not the defining feature of growing up in Australia.
Resources:
• eSafety Commissioner: Social media age restrictions | eSafety Commissioner
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au
• Headspace: 1800 650 890 or www. eheadspace.org.au
Michelle Rowland MP is the Federal Member for Greenway and Attorney-General of Australia. If you need assistance with any Federal issue, you can contact Michelle by phone on 02 9671 4780 or by email at Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au
Raising Child Health and Wellbeing in Western Sydney
More than 90 per cent of a child’s brain development happens during the first 5 years of their lives. During this time, parents, caregivers, general practitioners and anyone in a child’s life play a critical role in setting the foundation for future growth and development.
Regular Well-Child checks with your general practitioner or paediatrician from birth help to keep track of immunisation and developmental progress. They also ensure children are meeting their milestones as needed. The My Personal Health Record (the Blue Book) is a great way of tracking your child’s growth and developmental progress.
The Blue Book
The Blue Book is given to new parents or caregivers at birth and is available in English and 18 other languages. Inside the Blue Book, you’ll find pages for recording your child’s milestones, visits to the doctor and immunisation records. By using this book, you can easily monitor your child’s health and ensure they are on track with their development. It also serves as a helpful resource to share with health care providers during check-ups.
Find out more about the Blue Book here
The Importance of Immunisation
Immunisation is a key part of keeping your child healthy and protecting them from serious diseases. Vaccines help build your child’s immunity, which is their body’s defence against illness. The Blue Book contains information about which vaccines your child needs and when to get them. There are several resources available for parents on the NSW Health First five years webpage
Healthy Western Sydney is delivered by WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network.
The Immunisation Bike Competition in Western Sydney
Do you have a 12-month, 18-month or fouryear-old who is due for their immunisations? The 2025 Immunisation Bike Competition is now open and will run until 31 January 2026.
Children who are immunised at a participating practice can enter the annual prize draw to win a bike and helmet.
A list of participating practices and the competition entry form are available on the WentWest website. Please immunise your child at a participating practice and complete the competition entry form to join.
T&Cs apply.
Learn more about the Immunisation Bike Competition here
TraveL
with Emma Wilson
CITY DESTINATION FOR A ROMANTIC GETAWAY Summer fun at Adina Town Hall
HEADS to Sydney’s CBD during the warmer weather, there’s so much ‘summer fun’ to be had. Do absolutely nothing, laze around the beautiful private pool and simply dine in, you’ll leave feeling refreshed and recharged at Adina Town Hall. My husband and I stayed in a one bedroom apartment and spent the afternoon enjoying the sunshine - reading, sunbathing and swimming in the lovely pool. Then we bar-hopped around a couple of rooftop pool bars. We didn’t venture beyond 2 or 3 streets from the hotel, by choice and were tucked up in bed by 10pm, no Ubers required.
Great deal: Guests can enjoy a late checkout of 1pm if a stay is booked by 30th November, 2025.
Things to do in the Area
Adina Town Hall, recently renovated, is in Sydney’s Kent Street, across the road from Town Hall and close to China Town. It’s centrally located, smack-bang in the middle of so many activities, a 2 minute walk downhill to Darling Harbour, a block from great shopping at the Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street Mall and just a few minutes walk to the Capitol Theatre, currently showing the Book of Mormon then The Great Gatsby from February.
We’re frequent travellers but had never stayed in an Adina Hotel before, have you? Adina Town Hall, Sydney has a fresh, light feel throughout the hotel, including the foyer and business meeting area, it’s a perfect hotel for sunny days, you feel you’re part of the weather and not escaping it, as as hotels can sometimes feel if you disappear into dark, hotel gloom. Adina’s 144 rooms have so many different room configurations, great for couples or families, ranging from King Studio to King 2 bedroom apartments, kitchens are stylish and modern, our apartment kitchen had a stylish black sink and benchtop and overlooked the streetscape below. Our loungeroom was spacious and welcoming, we gravitated here before heading out, then again after breakfast to read and relax.
Rooftop Bar Hopping
Chase the good weather all the way till the sun goes down, we headed to the Vibe Hotel in Sussex Street, across from Adina Town Hall and took the lift to Above 319, for margaritas during happy hour (4.30pm-6.30pm Wed-Fri $15 cocktails and $10
house wines and house beer). The Vibe Hotel has a stunning rooftop pool that many gorgeous sunbathers were taking advantage of. A low-key hen’s celebration was in full swing here, the location deliberately chosen for lovely decor, oversized floral arrangements hugely popular with young people, and all very instagrammable
A few minutes walk is the lovely Harper Rooftop Bar, with Mediterranean bites available from fresh Aussie produce, Sydney Rock Oysters and Kingfish Ceviche or more substantial poolside fare of burgers or antipasto adding to the holiday vibe. This is a hugely popular (yet underrated) destination to enjoy Aperol Spritz and DJ tunes 4-7pm Fri and Sat (note happy hour days are Wed, Thurs and Sunday 5-7pm).
Sunny mornings and Dining San Marzano style
Back to the Adina Hotel pool to wake up properly with a swim greeting another great weather day. Then, a real treat: an incredible Italian breakfast downstairs on the ground floor in the San Marzano cafe. This is an authentic Italian retro dining experience serving breakfast
and lunch all day. My husband and I chose a comfy booth (love a booth) and ordered Honey Butter Crust Brioche Toast, Scrambled Egg Carbonara and fresh juices, eyeing off each other’s selection. Both choices were hand-crafted deliciousness. Other selections like oversized croissants (plain and almond) looked amazing, this is a great CBD brunch spot for another day.
We walked off our hearty breakfasts with a lap around Darling Harbour, prolonging the brilliant weather before checking out. Both super-impressed with this Adina Hotel, we’d recommend it as a great staycation, an alternative warm weather option to Bali or Fiji, it’s just an hour from where so many of us live, enjoying great poolside weather and dining options so locally, there’s so much to love about this. It’s on the train line at Town Hall station and one block from Garigal Metro Station, so easy, you won’t need a car but if you do, there is onsite parking.
Current deals include: Save up to 20% when you stay 3 nights or more at any Adina around the world and earn Double Qantas Points at Adina Hotels across Australia and New Zealand when you book and stay by 30 November 2025. Address is 511 Kent Street Sydney
The Hotel
TraveL
with Emma Wilson
YOUR STYLISH CANBERRA BUSINESS STAY A By Adina offers simple style
IT’S easy to get hotel accommodation wrong in Canberra, the city is more spread out than it appears on a map and everything can feel far away or difficult if you book something random online and think everything is walkable.
The 130 room A by Adina hotel at 1 Constitution Place is an easy stay when you’re in Canberra for business and very centrally located if on foot.
Right next door to the Canberra theatre, just a couple of minutes away on foot to the mall and surrounded by restaurants and cafes, you can duck out easily if you forgot something or feel like a coffee, a glass of wine or need to head to the mall to buy a gift or get a blow dry from the Saloon blowdry bar closeby.
Hotel Rooms
Simple, stylish and fresh with views all the way to the hills beyond Canberra, enjoy a lovely sitting room with dining table and kitchenette with kettle, toaster and microwave. The bed is very comfortable accompanied by stylish ensuite (with particularly lovely tiling) in a variety of configurations from studios to 2 bedroom apartments and family rooms. Baby cots and high chairs available upon request.
Constitution Place
Inspired by Walter Burley Griffin’s design for Australia’s capital city, this 12-level precinct is home to the ACT Government, commercial institutions and some of Canberra’s best dining and retail options and is a 5-star NABERS energy rated building, with 200kw roof-mounted solar and one of the first WELL-rated buildings in Canberra.
The Hotel Vibe
A good mix of low-key and style, this neutral toned hotel foyer has separate lounge areas to meet in, or do some work on a laptop with windows views looking to Canberra’s distant hills.
Redbrick Caf? next door has delicious breakfast fare, including avocado on sourdough, a nourish bowl with edamame and poached egg, Chilli scram, burgers, soup and a kids menu. Open
7am to 3pm during the week or 8am to 2pm on weekends.
Within the same precinct, enjoy dining at Club Lime, Fuel (from the same owners as Farmers Daughter in Yarralumla), Hero Sushi, Meat and Wine Co, Mu Omakase, Ramen Bar and Cicada Bar.
BYO Bicycle
This is a town of bicycle riders and the building walks the walk with lock-
ers, bike storage and bathroom facilities known as ‘ end-of-trip facilities’ (have a shower, get changed, attend your meeting). Constitution Place is amongst Canberra’s comprehensive bike lane system which has been integrated into bike paths that weave across the city. Ride around the lake after your meeting, enjoy Canberra’s great outdoors.
Parking
Constitution Place has 560 basement parking bays below the hotel, 225 of which are for public access. Uber to the airport or train station and back is just 13 minutes away by car and easy to drive to and from and not a hassle to park. And under 9 minutes walk to the light rail, if it’s further outside the centre of Canberra you need to go.
Artwork
Around the hotel enjoy large artworks of various mediums. Outside Redbrick Caf? enjoy ‘Andrew Inglis Clark’, a sculpture by April Pine depicts the architect of the Australian Constitution, materials are natural dark-toned metal linking the bronze facade and the sculpture, giving it robust and high weathering properties pre-rusted for longevity and minimal maintenance. Duck down to the National Gallery, whilst in Canberra, it’s open 10am to 5pm and admission is free.
The Cocktail Enthusiast Package
Enjoy one night's accommodation at A by Adina with a complimentary room upgrade, a $25 beverage per person credit for Karl or Cicada Bar, and an exclusive and exquisite Omakase dining experience at Mu Omakase if booked by December 31st, 2025. This package is priced from $249.
with Emma Wilson
Guide to dog friendly stays
HATE the thought of leaving your doggo at home? Prefer a dog-friendly outing or holiday?
The list of dog-friendly eats and stays is expanding so here are a few
picks around town…
The Golden Sheaf, Double Bay ‘The Sheaf’ in Double Bay has a dog-friendly courtyard and treats dogs
as guests welcoming dogs in the beer garden till late. Most recently The Sheaf hosted its Pound Paws Dog Day event, raising awareness for pet adoption.
Public House Petersham
After just undergoing an extensive revitalisation, PHP is the inner west’s favourite dog friendly venue. They even have dog friendly menu items such as the Pup Cake and the Poochy Bowl and provide water bowls and treats behind the bar.
Kimpton Margot
A beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco building, this dog-friendly hotel blends heritage charm with contemporary luxury with a rooftop bar. Centrally located, you can order a special dog menu from room service, it’s not far for a little walk around Hyde Park.
Hotel Indigo Sydney (and Hotel Indigo, Brisbane!)
This Sydney contemporary hotel sits behind the famous Coca-Cola sign and is Neon nightlife themed. It’s Brisbane cousin is a boutique hotel centrally located in the city and decorated with hand painted artworks and sculptures. Both welcome dogs and is a great way to pound the pavement with your pup before bed or for a morning walk.
Need info about ski trips
Are you trying to work out where to go? Snow Action is your go-to resource for choosing new skis or ski boots and checking out gear reviews. It’s a deep dive on snow travel destinations around the world. From Spain, Japan, Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia, this print magazine and website is where you find everything you need. Snow Action is the official snow travel magazine at the Sydney and Melbourne Snow Travel Expo in May each year.
Snow Action has info for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers
and snowboarders about ski camps, women's ski weeks, family travel, senior travel, long haul air travel with babies, toddlers, young kids, accessible travel for travellers with disabilities and much more.
Some of the most popular articles on the www.snowaction.com.au website during 2025 are:
• A Beginners Guide to Skiing at Perisher - where to go, what to do.
• Big White’s Got the Goods, Terrain for Every Snowboarder and Skier - Canada’s affordable family snow destination.
• Inclusive Overseas Adventures, How are We Travelling? A look at issues surrounding international travel for disabled people.
• Getting Back on the Slopes - how to have a ski holiday after having a baby
• New Zealand South Island Food Guide - A foodies guide to New Zealand’s South Island.
LOVE THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES?
Don’t miss these Snow Action topics:
• Breanna Walker, Australia’s Bobsled Star Chasing Gold
• How is Olympic Ice made and so many more to come in the lead up to Milano-Cortina 2026.
with Emma Wilson
BOOK OF MORMAN IS NOW ON Pre-theatre dining at Luke's Kitchen
SPRING and Summer theatre is in full swing with the award winning, The Book of Mormon now on at the Capitol Theatre, followed by The Great Gatsby from February 2026.
Where do you dine pre-theatre? There are a plethora of choices but it has to be somewhere nearby to ensure a smooth dinner-to-theatre transition and no last-minute dashes or lock outs. Have you been to the nearby heritage-listed, Art Deco Kimpton Margot Sydney lately? Harper Rooftop Bar on level 7 is Sydney’s best kept secret with extensive bar and light Mediterranean dining options next to a lovely rooftop pool. Take advantage of the ‘buy two spritzes get one free deal’ ending at the end of October and extended dining hours throughout spring and summer (Wednesday, Thursday 4pm-10pm, Friday, Saturday 12pm-8pm.
Luke’s Kitchen
This ground floor restaurant Luke’s Kitchen is a glamorous spot, run by Australian celebrity chef and restauranteur, Luke Mangan. Luke’s Kitchen is where dining is a farm-to-plate experience where you can enjoy dishes such as Australian scallops or oysters from Yamba and sashimi fish caught fresh from Ulladulla the very same morning.
Special pre-theatre menu
The restaurant acknowledges you need to be seated at the theatre in plenty of time and offers a pre-theatre menu with dinner service starting from 5pm. Try an entree of soft polenta and gruyere cheese tart, cured and seared Kingsfish or BBQ Quail. For mains choose from baked barramundi, mushroom ravioli or roast chicken breast. Make sure to save room for dessert as you can choose between banana toffee pudding or poached winter fruits. It’s
just $35 for a one course meal, two courses is $55 and three courses is $65.
Staff are professional and attentive to your dining requirements and can
help you pair wines and Luke Mangan has thought of everything. “You don’t want to feel rushed before a show, but you also don’t want to be watching the clock.Our menu offers dishes that are light, flavour-packed and perfectly timed. You can enjoy two or three courses in under an hour and still feel like you’ve had a proper dining experience,” said Luke.
Other a’ la carte options include off the grill pasture fed beef tenderloins and pasture fed sirloin, sharing plates for two of Coral trout fillets or Wagyu flat iron.
Luke’s Kitchen is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 5pm and 9.30pm. If you are staying at the hotel and not heading to the theatre, Luke’s Kitchen is not dog-friendly, but the hotel itself is dog-friendly and you can order room service from Luke’s Kitchen for both you and your dog. Luke’s Kitchen has an evolving menu so the items are indicative.
Address: Level 7, Kimpton Margot Sydney, 339 Pitt St, Sydney @lukeskitchen
More info and bookings: https:// www.kimptonmargotsydney.com/
Australia’s most iconic on-water marine event returns this spring
From 13–16 November, the Sydney International On-Water Boat Show takes over Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour with a dazzling display of luxury yachts, powerboats, marine tech, and interactive exhibits, plus onshore with a festival precinct spanning Palm Grove, Tumbalong Boulevard and Tumbalong Park.
Enjoy live entertainment and a dedicated food and wine lovers showcase, perfect for boating enthusiasts and lifestyle seekers alike. Bring the whole family or network with marine industry leaders — this is the must-attend event of the season.
• Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour.
• 13–16 November, 2025.
• sydneyboatshow.com.au.
The Book of Morman.
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE REVIEW
It’s tense, but frustrating viewing
JACOB RICHARDSON
WHEN a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible, and how to respond.
A House Of Dynamite plays out in a series of vignettes, following different groups of military / civil servants as they respectively deal with an almost real-time crisis.
We initially follow Captain Olivia Walker in the White House interspersed with scenes with Major Daniel Gonzalez at a remote missile defense system launch site, before transitioning to follow the Secretary of Defense Reid Baker, General Anthony Brady, Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington, and finally a sequence with the President himself.
All these viewpoints serve to showcase the communication failures, and the ineffectiveness of many hands in a situation where no one really knows what to do.
Some of the cast are very
strong - Rebecca Ferguson, as always, carries any scene she’s in. Idris Elba and Jason Clarke are great additions, and Jarred Harris is always a welcome sight. But some of the side characters can be a little grating at times in their complete self-interest. Visually, this is a good looking but unadventurous film, although it has little ability to break the mould given the settings it is dealing with. Ultimately, this movie comes down to two things; does it build
tension, and does that tension pay off.
To the first end, undoubtedly the film is a tense watch. Bigelow does another astounding job of masterfully building up pressure and tension to an almost unbearable point, pushing ever closer towards catastrophe. We’re left on the edge of our seats, baited breath, chewing our nails, as we wonder what is about to happen.
It’s a masterclass, and what’s so impressive here about that is that she doesn’t have the -
perhaps easier - settings of a military battlefield in The Hurt Locker or dank prison cells in Zero Dark Thirty to rely on. In this film, she gets that same tension in an office space, or in a car stuck in traffic. The wonderful score goes a long way towards aiding this as well.
The issue comes with that second goal, to pay the tension off.
And while this movie undoubtedly serves its purpose of confronting our complete unreadiness and lack of safety net for a nuclear strike, and it ends in a way that supports the statement it’s been making all the way through, it also ends in a payoff that feels like a bit of a letdown.
Perhaps that could have been fixed with footage of an explosion, perhaps not, but it’s tough to deny that at the end of the film, you’re left with a distinct sense of feeling like something was missing.
A House Of Dynamite is a wonderfully tense examination of our safety in the age of nuclear weapons, but the master of tension can’t quite stick a landing that feels like its worth all the edge-of-seat waiting. 3 stars.
SUCCESS LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY WOMAN And the ALIBI Awards prove it
KYLIE KING
ON Friday, October 17, women from across Australia gathered to celebrate the fourth annual ALIBI Awards. It was a night filled with laughter, tears, celebration and stories that reminded everyone why they started their business journey in the first place.
From new start-ups to seasoned entrepreneurs, each woman who stepped onto that stage represented something unique: courage, resilience, and creativity. Because in the ALIBI community, success isn’t defined by how many zeros are in your bank account, how many followers you have, or how long you’ve been in business. It’s defined by your journey, your impact, and the way you show up not just for your business, but for yourself and the people around you.
This year’s winners were a true reflection of that diversity like April Moulds-Dumbleton taking home the “Overcoming the Odds” award and sharing her story of overcoming grief with the loss of her husband, or Stacy Jane’s work as the “Social Change Maker” who used her own experience to create a business which in turn has gone on to help many women escaping domestic violence.
One of the most moving moments came when “First Nations Business Lady”
winner Jess Chalk shared a heartfelt speech. Her words about strength, identity, and perseverance that resonated with everyone in the room. A powerful reminder that leadership comes in many forms, and courage often means standing proudly in your truth.
The energy lifted again when “Golden Entrepreneur” Karen Skillen took the stage, the self-proclaimed “Lighting Chick” turned business owner who’s grown her printing business with hard work, authenticity, and determination. Her journey shows starting new chap-
ters aren’t the end of the story.
We celebrated women from all around the country. Our “Regional Superstars” Alison Shaw and Tammy Johnson who travelled from Tambo, QLD to accept their trophy to our Townsville, QLD winner of “Personal Service”, Mel Ashford who spoke with such honesty about her journey.
We celebrated the beautiful handmade creations of Karen Almond to the soulful leadership of Linda Willow Roberts.
And, of course, the night closed
with the incredible Gina Field being named “ALIBI Business Lady of the Year”. A recognition of her leadership, vision and the way she embodies the ALIBI values of authenticity, integrity, fun, community, and courage.
Her powerful story shared from the stage inspired many attendees in the room as well as encouraging winners to “milk” and leverage their Award win.
As I looked around the room, what struck me most wasn’t the trophies or the gowns (though there were plenty of both), it was the genuine connection. The cheering for each other. The hugs between finalists. The proud tears. Because that’s what this movement is really about.
The ALIBI Awards aren’t just a night of recognition. They’re a celebration and a reminder that that success has many faces.
So, to every woman who nominated, attended, or watched from afar - thank you! You are proof that no matter where you’re from, what stage of business you’re in, or how many times you’ve faceplanted along the way… your story matters.
And that’s exactly what we’ll keep celebrating. Every year. Every chapter. Together.
Kylie King is a hypnotherapist, business and mindset mentor, and the founder of the ALIBI Awards, a national business awards program that celebrates women doing business their way. Visit: www.alibiawards.com.au
This year’s winners.
