On 19 February, Australians Investing in Women convened an online conversation for funders at a pivotal time for gender equality. 

With Women Deliver 2026 coming to Narrm (Melbourne) from 27–30 April, philanthropy has a rare opportunity. As one of the world’s largest global gatherings focused on gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights, and intersectional justice, Women Deliver will bring thousands of leaders, advocates, policymakers and funders to Australia amid profound social, economic and geopolitical change. 

The question at the heart of our discussion was simple: how will Australian philanthropy meet this moment? 

A global context that demands resolve 

Opening the conversation, journalist, author and gender advocate Virginia Haussegger AM, Chair of ACFID, reflected on the global backdrop. Progress on gender equality remains uneven and fragile. Hard-won gains are under pressure, civic space is narrowing in many regions, and funding for women’s rights organisations remains chronically low relative to need. 

Her message was clear: this is not a moment for fatigue. It is a moment for renewed clarity, courage and collaboration. 

Dr Maliha Khan, President and CEO of Women Deliver, placed WD2026 in this broader international frame. Drawing on three decades of experience across feminist movements and global development, she emphasised that real change requires confronting entrenched systems — including the colonial and racist legacies that continue to shape funding flows and institutional practice. 

Women Deliver 2026, she noted, is not simply an event. It is a platform for aligning movements, shifting narratives and mobilising resources toward locally led, feminist solutions. Hosting the conference in Australia offers a significant opportunity to centre Oceanic Pacific regional leadership and to elevate voices often excluded from global forums. 

Why this matters for Australian funders 

As Women Deliver 2026 Ambassador, and Australia’s 27th Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard AC spoke directly to philanthropy’s role. 

She encouraged funders to see WD2026 not as a standalone conference but as a strategic inflection point: a chance to reflect on how giving, capital investment and influence can be aligned for durable, long-term change. 

Gender equality, she reminded us, is not a siloed issue. Applying a gender lens strengthens outcomes across economic security, health, education, safety, climate resilience and leadership. For funders already working in these domains, gender-wise giving is not an “add-on”, it is a pathway to deeper impact. 

AIIW Chair Cathy Scalzo, CEO of the Scalzo Family Office and Trustee of the Grace and Emilio Foundation, reinforced this point from a practitioner’s perspective. She shared how her family applies a gender lens across both philanthropic and impact investment portfolios, supporting initiatives from women’s property access to trade finance vehicles benefiting women’s enterprises in the Pacific. 

Her reflections illustrated what it looks like to move from principle to practice: embedding gender considerations into decision-making, governance and capital allocation. 

Funding movements, not just moments 

Virisila Buadromo, Co-Founder and Co-Lead of Urgent Action Fund Asia & Pacific, brought a powerful regional and movement-based perspective. With more than two decades of experience mobilising and deploying capital in complex and high-risk contexts, she emphasised the importance of flexible, trust-based funding that reaches locally led feminist organisations. 

Too often, resources fail to reach the movements closest to the issues. If Women Deliver 2026 is to catalyse lasting impact, philanthropy must think beyond visibility and towards sustained, responsive resourcing. 

Ian Bird, CEO of Community Foundations Australia, reflected on the power of collective action and network leadership particularly in the context of Women Deliver coming to Australia. Community foundations, he suggested, have a unique role to play in connecting local priorities with global moments — translating international momentum into place-based change. 

Together, the speakers underscored a shared theme: the opportunity ahead is not only about what happens during four days in April 2026, but what is seeded before and sustained long after. 

You can watch the full recording of the discussion on YouTube. If the ideas resonate, we invite you to share the conversation with your peers and networks, and to join us in exploring how philanthropy can help turn the momentum of Women Deliver 2026 into sustained progress for gender equality.

From conversation to commitment 

For Australians Investing in Women, convening this discussion was part of a broader commitment to ensure philanthropy is engaged early, strategically and collaboratively in the lead-up to Women Deliver 2026. 

This is a funder moment. 

It is a moment to: 

• Register for Women Deliver 2026 and begin planning your engagement early

• Connect with AIIW to participate in philanthropy-focused convenings in the lead up: The AIIW WD2026 webpage includes ways for funders to engage and partner.

• Consider sponsoring Pacific and First Nations women to attend

• Identify where a stronger gender lens could deepen impact across your current priorities

• Reach out if you would like introductions to movement leaders, women’s funds or fellow funders exploring collective action

• Download our AIIW Amplify Kit to continue the conversation around the tangible benefits that gender equality has on our society, environment and the economy.

Women Deliver 2026 will shine a global spotlight on our region. The question is how that spotlight can be translated into sustained capital flows, stronger ecosystems and measurable gains for women and girls. The energy in the virtual room on 19 February suggested that Australian philanthropy is ready to engage seriously with that challenge. 

As we move towards Women Deliver (27-30 April) 2026, AIIW will continue to work alongside the WD2026 Philanthropy Planning Group and our partners to support funders in turning intention into action. 

Meeting the moment will require more than attendance. It will require alignment, ambition and long-term commitment. 

The opportunity is here.