Women in Defence Association

What Women in Defence Association does

Women in Defence Association (WiDA) is an Australian non-profit, independent advocacy organization driving gender equity across the country's defence and national security sector. Founded and headquartered in Perth (Boorloo, on Whadjuk Noongar land), WiDA operates national chapters across all eight Australian states and territories (WA, SA, ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS, NT) and serves a community of 2,800+ members and subscribers spanning defence industry contractors, Australian Defence Force personnel, government agencies, academia, veterans, and students. The organization delivers programs including a national Mentoring Program (now in its third year), a Female Founders showcase, a Female Forces Hall of Fame, scholarships, and state-based networking events and webinars, with members joining free of charge.

WiDA does not offer a software or technology platform; its product surface consists of community programs, events, advocacy outputs (Parliamentary submissions, opinion pieces), and recognition initiatives. There are no AI/ML, API, or proprietary technology components disclosed. The organization holds a formal advocacy position, providing evidence at Parliamentary public hearings on gender security and engaging with the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence.

The business model is that of a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Revenue is generated through a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Gold, Silver, Bronze) anchored by partners including Curtin University, WorkSec, ASC, BAE Systems Australia, South Metropolitan TAFE, Just Focus, and Bennett Law, supplemented by non-tax-deductible individual donations processed via ShoutForGood. WiDA is a member organisation of the Australian Gender Equality Council (AGEC) and is explicitly independent from the Australian Government and Department of Defence.

Name

Women in Defence Association

Legal name

WiDA Australia Ltd

Website

https://womenindefenceassociation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women in Defence Association (WiDA) is an Australian non-profit advocacy organization driving gender equity across the country's defence and national security sector, serving 2,800+ members in industry, government, academia, and the veteran community through free membership, mentoring, networking, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Industry Advocacy and Professional Association Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF)

Keywords

• Defence industry advocacy
• Gender equity programs
• Professional mentoring services
• Defence sector networking
• Women in national security

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth (Boorloo/Whadjuk Noongar land)

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: WiDA receives support from Gold, Silver, and Bronze corporate partners including Curtin University, WorkSec, ASC, BAE Systems Australia, South Metropolitan TAFE, Just Focus, and Bennett Law. Partners commit to varying levels of financial and strategic support in exchange for association with WiDA's mission and brand visibility.
2. Donations: WiDA accepts donations from supporters, explicitly noting that donations are not tax deductible as the organization is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Women in Defence Association (WiDA) delivers a free membership-based suite of advocacy, mentoring, networking, and recognition services aimed at driving gender equity across Australia's defence and national security sector. Core offerings include a national mentoring program, state-based networking events, the Female Founders showcase, the Female Forces Hall of Fame recognition program, scholarships, webinars, curated sector resources, and evidence-based policy advocacy through formal Parliamentary submissions.

Product overview

Women in Defence Association (WiDA) is a membership-based advocacy organization, not a technology product company. Its offering consists of free membership services including a national mentoring program, state-based networking events, the Female Founders showcase, the Female Forces Hall of Fame recognition program, and curated sector resources. WiDA operates across Australian states and territories through local chapters, providing professional development, advocacy, and community building for gender equity in the defence sector. The organization does not offer a software platform, SaaS product, or technology-based offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WiDA Membership Program Free national membership providing access to WiDA's networking community, professional development opportunities, mentoring programs, and events across Australia's defence and national security sector.
• WiDA Mentoring Program
• WiDA Events and Networking
• Female Founders Program
• Female Forces Program
• Sector Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ scholarships awarded supporting professional uplift across geopolitics and national security
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Australian Gender Equality Council (AGEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWiDA is a proud member organisation of the Australian Gender Equality Council, part of its collective voice for change. AGEC brings together front-line organisations working towards gender equality through rigorous research and government advocacy.
• Perth USAsia CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWiDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Perth USAsia Centre enabling commencement of national security roundtable dialogues, providing women with opportunities to engage directly in strategic conversations on Australia's evolving security environment.
• Curtin University - National Resilience and Security (NRAS) Program OfficeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Partner. Curtin's NRAS Program Office is a landmark initiative advancing new technologies, sovereign capability, workforce development and talent pipelines contributing to Indo-Pacific regional security. FY24/25 Commitment: Introduction of programs targeting school aged girls to enter the defence workforce.
• WorkSecflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Partner. WorkSec is a small business providing sponsorship and governance of personnel security clearances, security advisory services and guidance on the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP). Committed to 18-month support for advocacy initiatives focused on systemic change and building diverse thought leadership community in defence and government.
• ASCflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Partner. ASC is reinforcing its commitment to diversity and inclusion leading to productive, innovative, high-performing workforce. ASC is developing a renewed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy for its workforce.
• BAE Systems AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Partner. BAE Systems Australia provides Australia's Navy, Army and Air Force with competitive edge across air, maritime, land, strategic surveillance, guided weapons and autonomy domains. Championing initiatives such as equitable parental leave ensuring all parents including men can access meaningful time with families.
• South Metropolitan TAFEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Partner. South Metro TAFE brings over two decades of working in defence shipbuilding and sustainment industry. The Women in Defence Industry Scholarship offers six months of free training in Technical Engineering and Electronics or Cyber Security and Electronics.
• Just FocusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Partner. Just Focus is a provider of facilities management services in the defence sector. Committed to increased female workforce representation, particularly across operational and leadership roles.
• Bennett LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Partner. Bennett's team handles litigation and commercial matters across mining, employment, defence, aerospace, technology, financial services, construction, and media sectors. Committed to supporting emerging talent programs and developing female leaders in the defence sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Soldier On (Australia): Australian veteran-support charity serving current and ex-serving ADF personnel. WiDA explicitly cross-promotes Soldier On and shares the defence community beneficiary base, but Soldier On focuses on rehabilitation rather than gender equity.
• Perth USAsia Centre: Australian think tank on Indo-Pacific affairs with which WiDA has signed an MoU for national security roundtable dialogues. Strategic partner rather than competitor, but operates in an overlapping policy dialogue space.
• Defence Teaming Centre: Australian defence industry association representing SMEs in the defence supply chain. Overlapping member base with WiDA (defence industry professionals and contractors), but focused on industry capability rather than gender equity.
• Wounded Heroes (Australia): Australian charity providing 24/7 crisis support to ADF families and veterans, featured directly on WiDA's website. Adjacent in serving the defence family community but focused on crisis intervention and veteran suicide prevention.

Direct peers

• Women in International Security (WIIS): Global network advancing women's leadership in international peace and security. Closest direct peer in the international policy and academic dialogue space; both organisations promote women's voices in national security policy discussions.
• Women in Defense (US): US-based national membership organisation advancing women in US national security and defence. Closest international analogue to WiDA in mission, structure, advocacy focus, and member-services model (mentoring, awards, chapters).

Broad incumbents

• Australian Human Rights Commission: Australia's national human rights statutory body addressing discrimination and gender equality. Comparable in policy advocacy remit, but broader scope and government-backed; WiDA operates as a specialist, defence-focused, independent counterpart.

Emerging players

• Chief Executive Women (CEW): Australian membership organisation increasing female representation in leadership. Comparable membership-based advocacy model targeting senior women, but operates across all sectors rather than defence specifically.
• Women in Cyber (Australia): Australian organisation advancing women in the cyber security profession. Comparable in mission to lift female representation in a national-security-adjacent sector, similar advocacy + community model, but cyber-specific rather than defence-wide.

Regional players

• Australian Gender Equality Council (AGEC): Coalition body of which WiDA is a member organisation, focused on gender equality research and government advocacy. Overlapping advocacy mission at a cross-sector (rather than defence-specific) level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-defence-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women in Defence Association