My First Networking Event as a South West Business Owner - and I'm Still on a High!
Last night was a first for me — my first official networking event as a South West business owner. And honestly? I'm still riding the wave from it.
It's a strange thing, starting over in a place that already feels like home. I've spent four years running a successful marketing business in the UK, building something I'm genuinely proud of — and now I'm here, planting new roots in WA and figuring out what this next chapter looks like. Last night made me feel, for the first time, like I've landed exactly where I'm supposed to be.
The event was Future Me, the final Inspire and Collaborate event for 2025 — and what a way to close out the year. Held at the absolutely stunning Ilma Beach House, the venue alone was enough to set the tone. There's something about being surrounded by that kind of beauty that makes you genuinely open to thinking bigger.
The concept behind the evening was simple and powerful: cast your eyes forward. Who do you want to become? What do you want to create? How do you shape the next 12 months of your life and your business? It's the kind of question that's easy to skip over in the busyness of day-to-day life — and exactly the kind of question I needed to sit with as I step into this new chapter.
To guide the room through all of that, Inspire and Collaborate handed the reins to the incredible Jessica Williamson — award-winning mindset and business coach, TEDx speaker, author, and the powerhouse behind five successful businesses. Jess has this rare ability to blend business strategy with subconscious mindset work, marketing insight, and customer psychology in a way that feels both grounding and genuinely energising.
She walks the walk. And it shows. Her session left the room inspired, elevated, and ready to take bold action — exactly the kind of energy you want going into a new year.
In true I+C style, we also heard from three incredible local women — Helen Duke of Heart of Essence, Anneliese Hvalgaard Williams from Ilma Beach House and Meelup Farmhouse, and Dr Kate Jameson of Youth Lab — each sharing honest, personal stories about vision, vulnerability, and what the next chapter holds for them. There was wisdom, there was laughter, and there was the kind of refreshing honesty that only comes when women feel truly safe in a room together.
The whole evening was hosted by the warm and wonderful Kelly-Ann of Inspire and Collaborate, who greeted every single person at the door like they were already part of the community. It set the tone for everything that followed.
I'll be honest — networking is still slightly outside my comfort zone. I'm one of those introverted extroverts who loves people but needs a moment to warm up in a room full of strangers. But I felt at ease almost immediately, which says everything about the calibre of women in that room and the environment Kelly-Ann and the I+C team create.
A special shoutout to Bec Robson Photography for being my person for the evening — having a friendly face nearby makes all the difference when you're new to a scene. 🤍
I walked out feeling inspired, grounded, and genuinely excited about what's ahead for South West Collective. Not in a vague, fluffy way — in a "I know exactly why I'm doing this and I can't wait to get started" way.
WA has always felt like home to me. Now it actually is. And I'm ready for big things. ✨
If you're a South West business owner and you haven't been to an Inspire and Collaborate event yet — get yourself along to the next one. You won't regret it.
