Pinnacle Leadership Program delivers lasting impact for women in Australia’s outdoor industry

A leadership program developed specifically for women in the outdoor and

adventure industry is delivering measurable and lasting results, with new

independent evaluation showing participants progressing into leadership,

strengthening their workplaces and remaining in an industry some had previously

considered leaving.

The Pinnacle Leadership Program for Women, developed by Outdoors NSW & ACT,

has completed its second year, with Victoria University’s Institute of Health and Sport

as the program’s research and evaluation partner. The program has been made

possible through the support of the NSW Government and Paddy Pallin, whose

investment has helped create opportunities for women to build their leadership

capability, confidence, networks and visibility across the outdoor industry.

The Year Two evaluation examined both the immediate impact on the 2026 cohort

and, importantly, followed up with women from the inaugural 2025 cohort 12 months

after completing the program.

Among 2026 respondents, 100 per cent reported being more confident and resilient,

while all participants also reported an increased ability to empower team members,

model inclusive leadership and create environments in which diversity is celebrated.

Communication skills increased strongly, with 92 per cent reporting improved

capability, while 83 per cent reported stronger negotiation skills and a better

understanding of work-life balance.

Even more significant were the findings from the inaugural cohort one year after

graduation.

Eighty-eight per cent of surveyed 2025 alumnae had progressed as leaders in the

outdoor and adventure industry, and had helped create positive change within their

organisation or the broader industry.

Every alumna surveyed said they were continuing to apply the knowledge and skills

gained through Pinnacle and had noticed positive changes in their leadership

performance. Eighty-eight per cent were now empowering their team members and

mentoring others.

Outdoors NSW & ACT CEO Lori Modde said the longitudinal results demonstrated

why targeted leadership development was important for both individual women and

the future of the outdoor industry.

“We established the program because we could see talented women across our industry who had enormous leadership potential, but who didn’t always have the confidence, networks, visibility or opportunity to take that next step.

“Two years in, we now have evidence that this isn’t just a great experience while people are participating, women are taking what they learn back into their workplaces, progressing as leaders, mentoring others and changing the organisations and communities around them.

“For me, one of the most powerful findings is that this program is helping retain women in our industry. When a participant tells us she was considering leaving the industry before Pinnacle and is now still here, leading and contributing, that is an outcome that matters enormously.”

The evaluation found 83 per cent of the 2026 participants believed Pinnacle had

been effective in reducing career development barriers, compared with 72 per cent

in the previous year.

The program has also demonstrated strong outcomes around inclusive leadership.

The 2026 participants reported 100 per cent agreement that they could model

inclusive behaviour, empower team members and create an environment where

diversity is celebrated. The participants represented women across regional and

rural participants and women with diverse intersectional identities.

Ky Furneaux, outdoor guide, TV host, survival expert and stunt person, who has

appeared in over 100 films and TV productions, is the Program Manager for the

Pinnacle Leadership Program. Ky said developing women leaders was not simply an

equity initiative but a workforce and industry sustainability issue.

“Our industry needs capable, resilient and diverse leaders if we are going to continue getting more Australians outdoors, safely and inclusively.

“Leadership development has a multiplier effect. We aren’t only investing in the woman completing Pinnacle—we’re investing in the teams she leads, the people she mentors, the organisations she influences and ultimately the communities those organisations serve.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the NSW Government and Paddy Pallin in making this program possible, and for Victoria University’s partnership in independently evaluating the program so we can understand not just what participants enjoyed, but what genuinely changes as a result.”

Victoria University researchers Professor Clare Hanlon and Dr Elliott Flowers

undertook the Year Two evaluation, with the research partnership designed to

objectively assess program delivery, short-term outcomes and overall program

impact across the three-year initiative.

The evaluation also identified opportunities to further strengthen Pinnacle, including

building skills in areas such as negotiation, visible leadership, public speaking,

decision-making and mental resilience, which will help inform future program

development.

The report concludes that the Pinnacle Leadership Program provides measurable

professional benefits alongside an important support network that builds

confidence, accountability and connections between women across the outdoor

and adventure industry.