Women's Environmental Leadership Australia

What Women's Environmental Leadership Australia does

Women's Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) is an independent Australian not-for-profit, registered charity and DGR-status organisation headquartered in Melbourne that runs leadership development programs for women and gender-diverse people working across the environment and climate movement. Its core product is the 9-month National Leadership Program (priced at A$7,050 full fee / A$3,575 partial subsidy, with nine-plus named scholarship streams funded by partner trusts and councils), supported by tailored 3–4 day Leadership Intensives for groups of 15–25, and entry-point workshops including Tools for Changemakers and JEDI Learning Circles. Since 2016 the organisation has supported over 370 women and gender-diverse leaders from 130+ organisations, and its 2026 cohort is being doubled to two groups of 25 participants.

WELA's broader product surface extends beyond direct programs: it operates the 'There Will Be Dancing' podcast (launched 2026 with Women's Agenda as media distribution partner), the WELA Community Slack workspace, a WELA Membership program with voting rights, and the Australian Chapter of Women Leading on Climate — a senior-leader network co-hosted with former ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow AC. The organisation also publishes research (the 'Gender, Climate and Environmental Justice in Australia' report funded by Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation and Equity Trustees) and policy submissions aimed at Australian and multilateral forums. Strategic partnerships span philanthropic funders (Reichstein Foundation, Myer Foundation, Climateworks Centre), conservation co-developers (Queensland Conservation Council, Green Music Australia), and local councils providing community scholarships (Merri-bek, Maribyrnong, City of Newcastle).

The business model combines fee-for-service program revenue, philanthropic donations, pass-through scholarship funding from partner trusts and councils, and membership fees. Go-to-market is primarily community-led — alumni referrals, Slack, newsletter, podcast, employer sponsorship, and an event-driven funnel (WELA101 webinars, JEDI Circles, WELA Connects, plus presence at Women Deliver 2026 and COP conferences). The underlying technology stack is purely operational (WordPress, Typeform, Raisely, Slack, Humanitix, Spotify/Apple Podcasts) with no proprietary platform or AI/ML capability.

Name

Women's Environmental Leadership Australia

Legal name

Women's Environmental Leadership Australia Limited

Website

https://wela.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WELA is an independent Australian not-for-profit that runs leadership development programs — including the 9-month National Leadership Program and tailored Leadership Intensives — for women and gender-diverse people working across Australia's environment and climate movement, supplemented by a podcast, community network, research, and the Women Leading on Climate senior-leader network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Climate Leadership Development

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Organizational Culture & Values-Based Leadership (EDABAAAE)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Environmental advocacy training
• Women leadership programs
• Climate leadership programs
• Nonprofit community building

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program fees: Revenue is generated through fees charged for the National Leadership Program ($7,050 full fee, $3,575 partial subsidy) and tailored Leadership Intensives. Fees cover program delivery costs and are subsidised by philanthropic donations.
2. Donations and gifts: WELA is a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible. Donations fund scholarships, program subsidies, and general operations. A Giving Circle enables pooled donor funding for women-led environmental advocacy.
3. Scholarship funding from partners: Partner organisations (councils, trusts, foundations) fund named scholarships that cover full or partial program costs for selected recipients. This represents a form of pass-through funding that subsidises participant access.
4. Membership: WELA offers a membership program (hosted on Raisely) through which members gain voting rights at AGMs, the ability to call special General Meetings, and the right to stand for Board election. Membership fees contribute to sustaining the organisation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Women's Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) delivers leadership development programs, workshops, and tailored retreats for women and gender-diverse people working in environmental and climate action across Australia. Its flagship is the annual 9-month National Leadership Program combining residential retreats, online sessions, and mentoring, complemented by shorter Leadership Intensives, online workshops, and a community network supported by a podcast, Slack workspace, and policy research.

Product overview

WELA is a not-for-profit organization offering a suite of leadership development programs for women and gender-diverse people working in environmental and climate action. The core offerings include the National Leadership Program (9-month intensive with retreats, online sessions, and mentoring) and Leadership Intensives (3-4 day tailored retreats). Supplementary offerings include Tools for Changemakers workshops, JEDI Learning Circles, WELA101 Webinars, and WELA Connects events. WELA also operates the 'There Will Be Dancing' podcast and the WELA Community Slack network. The organization conducts research and policy advocacy work, manages membership, and facilitates the Women Leading on Climate Australian Chapter network. Programs are supported by scholarship options funded by various trusts and foundations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• There Will Be Dancing: A podcast from WELA amplifying the voices and leadership of women and gender-diverse changemakers working for climate and environment.
• Women Leading on Climate: Australian Chapter

Products and services

• WELA National Leadership Program Annual 9-month leadership development program combining online sessions (fortnightly), two 5-day in-person residential retreats (country Victoria and NSW), mentoring, guest facilitators, and a cohort community. Designed for women and gender-diverse changemakers in environment and climate action. 2026 will run two cohorts of up to 25 participants each. Priced at $7,050 full fee, $3,575 partial subsidy, or full scholarship.
• WELA Leadership Intensives 3-4 day in-person retreat programs tailored to specific geographic, sectoral, or issues-based community needs. Designed for groups of 15-25 women and gender-diverse people working in environmental and climate spaces. Examples include WELA Conservation Leadership Intensive (Tasmania), WELA Great Barrier Reef Intensive, WELA Northern Australia Leadership Intensive, and WELA x Green Music Australia Sound Country Artists' Leadership Intensive. Tailored pricing negotiated directly with partner organisations.
• Women Leading on Climate Network (Australian Chapter) Australian Chapter of Women Leading on Climate — a national network connecting influential women and gender-diverse leaders across sectors driving action for climate, nature, and just transitions. Co-hosted by WELA with Sharan Burrow AC. Targeted at CEOs, Directors, Partners, Presidents, Heads of Department, Senior Managers, and movement leaders. Linked to a growing global coalition.
• There Will Be Dancing Podcast Podcast amplifying the voices and leadership of women and gender-diverse changemakers working for climate and environment. Features in-depth interviews with environmental leaders and creative contributions from community members. Hosted by Victoria McKenzie-McHarg (WELA CEO), Odette Barry, and Sanaya Khisty. Distributed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 370 women and gender-diverse people supported since 2016, influencing major Australian environmental campaigns
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Climateworks Centre / Kerry Gardner AMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Climateworks Centre (via Deputy Chair Kerry Gardner AM) co-hosted the Women Leading on Climate event in conversation with Hon. Julia Gillard AC, in partnership with WELA and the Myer Foundation, held in April 2026 ahead of Women Deliver 2026.
• Green Music AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023WELA partnered with Green Music Australia to deliver the Sound Country Artists' Leadership Intensive — a program designed for musicians to share stories, gain critical skills, and build community at the intersection of environment, climate, system change, and music.
• Queensland Conservation CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Queensland Conservation Council partnered with WELA to deliver the first WELA Intensive Leadership Program regional program — the WELA Weekend Queensland Program 2022. The program addressed women's leadership in Queensland's environmental and climate context, with evaluation showing significant impact on participants' confidence and influence.
• Women's AgendaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's Agenda is WELA's media distribution partner for the 'There Will Be Dancing' podcast. Women's Agenda is Australia's premier digital news site for women, sharing news on how women live and work. The partnership provides podcast distribution and promotional support.
• Sharan Burrow AC (Former General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSharan Burrow AC co-hosts the Australian Chapter of Women Leading on Climate alongside WELA. This global coalition connects influential women and gender-diverse leaders across sectors driving climate, nature, and just transitions action. Linked to a growing global coalition of the same name.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Climateworks Centre: Australian climate policy think tank affiliated with Monash University and co-host of WELA's Women Leading on Climate convenings. Comparable as an Australian climate-focused organisation partnering with WELA on senior-leader engagement, though focused on policy analysis rather than grassroots leadership development.

Broad incumbents

• Climate Reality Project: Global climate leadership training organisation founded by Al Gore that trains volunteer climate leaders worldwide. Comparable as a large-scale climate leadership development and mobilisation platform with global reach, though broader in mission than WELA's women-and-gender focus.
• Australian Conservation Foundation: Australia's largest community-funded environmental NGO, where multiple WELA alumni are active. Comparable as a major Australian environmental nonprofit with overlapping community, advocacy, and movement-building functions, though broader in scope than WELA's leadership development focus.
• 350.org: Global climate movement organisation that trains and mobilises grassroots leaders and runs leadership development programs. Comparable as a movement-building and leadership development organisation with shared audience of climate advocates, though much larger in scale.
• The Wilderness Society (Australia): Major Australian environmental NGO with deep campaign, policy, and grassroots organising capacity. WELA alumni are active within the organisation; comparable as a large incumbent Australian environmental organisation whose leaders are part of WELA's audience and partner ecosystem.
• Rare: Global conservation organisation that runs leadership and behaviour-change training programs for environmental practitioners. Comparable as an established environmental leadership and capacity-building organisation with similar training and community elements.

Direct peers

• GenderCC – Women for Climate Justice: International network advocating for gender-just climate policy and supporting women's leadership in climate action. Directly comparable to WELA's intersectional feminist approach to climate leadership and policy advocacy.
• Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO): Global advocacy organisation advancing women's rights and gender equality in environmental and climate policy. Comparable as a women-and-environment advocacy and capacity-building organisation that combines policy work with movement leadership development.
• Athena40: Global network of senior women climate leaders across sectors, focused on accelerating gender-responsive climate action. Directly comparable to WELA's Women Leading on Climate network in mission, target audience, and convening model.
• Women's Earth Alliance: US-based nonprofit that trains and resources Indigenous women and local leaders to protect environment and climate. Highly comparable as both a women-and-environment leadership development organisation and a grantmaker/convener model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wela_aus
• Facebookfacebook.com/wela.aus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/77081857
• Instagraminstagram.com/we_are_wela

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women's Environmental Leadership Australia