Remarkable women share their achievements at Women's Leadership Breakfast.

Aunty Joan Bell, a proud Wiradjuri and Gadigal woman, shared her uplifting story of finding strength in kin as the sun rose over Sydney Harbour last week.

A member of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council's Board, her warm Welcome to Country and story of personal achievement set an uplifting tone at the District's annual Women's Leadership Breakfast, part of Sydney Innovation Week. 

Women leaders and male champions of change from across the District were nominated by their colleagues to attend the breakfast, where we heard from several inspiring speakers about how they have forged remarkable careers and overcome challenges along the way. 

Dr Penny Stannard oversees more than 15 million items that form the cultural and social history and heritage of New South Wales.

"I feel immensely privileged," Dr Stannard said of her Acting Director of Collections at the Museums of History NSW role.

"On the one hand, it's something I never would have imagined, but on the other, I can look back and see how the strands, pathways and deviations of my career have led to this."

University of Sydney Allied Health Professor Jenny Alison reflected on her career path's unexpected but fulfilling turns. 

"Don't be consumed by the destination, enjoy the journey, because the destination isn't necessarily the one you planned or even knew about at the time," she said. 

Dr Nabila Ansari, one of two female colorectal surgeons at RPA Hospital, where she leads the Peritoneal Malignancy Advanced GI Service, encouraged everyone to share in efforts to support more women into leadership roles in medicine and greater diversity. 

ANZAC Institute Director Professor Victoria Cogger also described how the kindness of friends and colleagues helped her to continue to pursue her lifelong love of science. 

"I truly believe that kindness needs to be at the centre of everything we do as leaders, and by kindness, I mean honesty, authenticity, humour and having hard conversations with people that gives everybody a chance to be on an equal footing," she said. 

Reflecting on the inspirational stories shared, District Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson said connection and kindness were powerful drivers to helping people realise their professional ambitions. 

"Knowing that we just need to be kind to each other, to listen, to support each other in the journey that we all want to take, rather than having other people define those journeys, I think is a really important thing."