International Women’s Day Brunch 2026

Applejack Women’s Day Brunch 2026

Senior female leaders from all our venues came together for a thought provoking brunch at The Butler Potts Point.

On Thursday, 5 March 2026, 60 female leaders from Applejack gathered for a morning of connection and inspiration to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026.

The event took place at our beautiful Potts Point restaurant, The Butler, where the incredible Chef Amber and her team put together a picturesque brunch spread, with a grazing table that took pride of place on the panoramic terrace.

Guests arrived to barista coffees and fresh juices, enjoying highlights from the table including Chef Amber’s signature guacamole, bircher muesli, assorted pastries and fruit platters, roasted garlic hummus with flatbread, everything bagels with whipped cream cheese and house-smoked Ōra King salmon.

Head of People & Culture Maria Strudwick extended a warm welcome, highlighting the group’s accomplishments and the theme for this year: balancing the scales. She reflected on how Applejack’s team of female leaders has grown over the last year, speaking to the importance of visibility in a traditionally male-dominated industry. While women have come a long way and hold more presence than ever, Maria framed this as an opportunity to honour the hardships of the women who came before us and those around the world still fighting to make their voices heard.

Following Maria’s speech, Director of Marketing & Partnerships Joanna Steuart shared stories from three inspiring leaders: Becca Lynch, Operations Manager; Alexandra Barron, Group Marketing Manager; and Amber Doig, Head Chef at The Butler. Joanna facilitated the panel in an interview style, asking the trio about the changes they made before stepping into leadership roles, the advice they would give their younger selves, and how a team member’s maternity leave or extended absence changes dynamics within the team. The conversation also explored how women can support one another through those situations, whether as a new mother or a colleague navigating change, and the importance of being kinder to yourself along the way.

Joanna opened the floor for questions, and following a particularly moving prompt about what the panellists were proud of over the last year, one of our chefs extended the question to the whole room. Women from across venues and departments stood up to share their own moments of pride, reflecting on the support and deeper friendships they had found within Applejack. The long hours and challenging times, it turned out, had led to connections and relationships forged for life.

It was an emotionally reflective morning, giving all our female leaders the chance to celebrate progress, acknowledge challenges, and inspire the younger generation and male colleagues to tip the scales towards equality together. Not just for this moment, but with a shift in mindset that will resonate long after.