From a Former Prime Minister to a Night at the Sydney Opera House: Worldwide Foundation’s Signature Events Turn Up the Volume at WCUC 2026
The Hon. Julia Gillard AC headlines the GWLN Lunch & Learn; WFCU UnWind at the Sydney Opera House caps a day of leadership, connection and purpose
20 July 2026
SYDNEY, Australia—The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) brought together hundreds of credit union professionals from around the world Monday through two of its signature events at the 2026 World Credit Union Conference (WCUC).
The Global Women's Leadership Network (GWLN) Lunch & Learn featured remarks from The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, while WFCU UnWind: A Night at the Sydney Opera House gave attendees an opportunity to connect at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
An initiative of the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the Global Women's Leadership Network exists to empower women to lead boldly and authentically, foster meaningful connections and create opportunities for leadership, innovation and impact across the global cooperative finance movement.
The GWLN Lunch & Learn brought together more than 300 participants from 30 countries for an afternoon focused on leadership development, networking and advancing women in cooperative finance. GWLN Director Eleni Giakoumopoulos opened the program, followed by an address from Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister.
Michael Summers, Executive Vice President and Chief Culture Officer at Velera – the Network's annual sponsor – also addressed attendees.
“We are striving to create a culture of belonging, and I’m proud of the organization for being intentional about those efforts,” said Summers. “As a white male, being a positive force for me means encouraging other men to be part of this effort. Seeing more men in the audience here than last year is a really positive thing.”
Attendees heard an engaging educational session, “As a Leader, Are You Likable? How to Elevate Your Personal Brand,” presented by Bryn C. Conway, MBA, CUDE, Principal of BC Consulting, LLC. Through practical leadership strategies and interactive discussion, participants explored how authenticity, credibility and strong relationships can strengthen their leadership brand and inspire others.
The event also recognized the 2026 GWLN Scholars, celebrating emerging women leaders from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Malawi and the United States.
Later that evening, 500 conference attendees and their guests gathered at the iconic Sydney Opera House for WFCU UnWind: A Night at the Sydney Opera House, the Worldwide Foundation's premier annual fundraising event.
The program featured remarks from Bill Cheney, President & CEO of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union; Tony Boutelle, President & CEO of Origence; Brett Martinez, President & CEO of Redwood Credit Union; and Mike Reuter, WFCU President. Together they thanked guests for their generosity and continued support of the Foundation’s work to advance financial inclusion through cooperative finance worldwide.
Guests then enjoyed an exclusive performance of Great Opera Hits by Opera Australia in the renowned Joan Sutherland Theatre. An auction held during the event raised US $12,000 to support the Worldwide Foundation’s mission of helping strengthen credit unions, empower communities and expand access to safe and affordable financial services around the world.
Together, the GWLN Lunch & Learn – highlighted by a rare address from a former head of state – and WFCU UnWind showcased the Worldwide Foundation's commitment to developing leaders, strengthening global connections and expanding opportunity through cooperative finance.
The Worldwide Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to Velera, Annual Sponsor of the Global Women's Leadership Network, and Hexaware, sponsor of the 2026 GWLN Lunch & Learn, for their support of women's leadership across the global credit union movement. WFCU also thanks SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Origence and Redwood Credit Union for their generous sponsorship of WFCU UnWind and their continued investment in the Foundation's mission of improving lives through financial inclusion.
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