ELISE LAVERS
Elise Lavers is a South Australian outdoor educator, adventure guide and founder of Enliven Outdoor Adventures, a women-focused outdoor education business helping women build the connection, craft and confidence to become more capable outdoors. With more than a decade working across outdoor education and tourism, Elise has guided everything from bushwalking and kayaking to surfing, snorkelling and shark cage diving. Her own adventures have taken her by sea kayak across South Australia’s gulfs and along Tasmania’s north coast, and more recently along Western Australia’s 1,000km Bibbulmun Track, completing the final 650km solo. Through Enliven, Elise is passionate about making adventure feel less intimidating, more inclusive and a whole lot more fun for women. She’s now bringing that philosophy to a wider audience through Hike Ready, her new online program helping women plan and prepare for their own self-led multi-day hikes.
Catch her in Adelaide
JEN WILLIS
Jen Willis is a Melbourne-based adventurer, educator and speaker, and the first Australian living with Multiple Sclerosis to summit Mt Everest. Nothing about Jen’s early life suggested she would one day stand on top of the world. Never a natural athlete and more likely to be picked last for PE than marked out for sporting success, she lost much of her confidence through childhood bullying. It was through journeys into the outdoors that Jen gradually rebuilt her sense of self, eventually becoming an outdoor education teacher and ski instructor. Years later, after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she returned to a childhood dream of climbing mountains. In 2026, at the age of 54, Jen stood on the summit of Mt Everest, guided by fellow female adventurer Phunjo Lama of Nepal. Phunjo holds the world record for the fastest Everest ascent by a woman, climbing from Base Camp to the summit in just 14 hours and 31 minutes. Jen’s own summit came three years after her first Everest attempt ended at 8,000 metres. A mother of three, Jen is passionate about the power of adventure to challenge the limits we place on ourselves and expand our sense of what might be possible. When she’s not adventuring, she’s usually planning the next one.
Catch her in Melbourne
HELEN AHERN
Helen is an adventurer at heart and an educationalist by profession. The outdoors is her anchor — her leveller, her place of peace and where she feels most at home.
Growing up in the mountainous landscapes of Glenorchy, tucked away in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Helen’s childhood was steeped in adventures that could almost have come from a storybook. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that she has continued to seek out some of the wildest and most remote places on our planet.
As a well-travelled global expeditioner, Helen’s resume reads like an extensive travel brochure. Her experience spans roles as diverse as Expedition Leader, Wildlife Guide, Polar Bear Safety Guard and Zodiac Driver, with expeditions taking her across all seven continents and many of the world’s oceans. Helen is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Member of The Explorers Club, honours that reflect her lifelong commitment to exploration and connection.
Catch her in Tauranga
WENDY LAW
Wendy Law is a creative powerhouse with a deep love for rock climbing, snowboarding and the outdoors. Originally from Canada, she moved to Australia in 2012 and has since built a career spanning digital marketing, videography, and graphic design.
Driven by a genuine passion for human connection, Wendy thrives on bringing businesses, brands, and local communities together. This people-first approach led her to her role as Industry Engagement Manager for Adventure Entertainment’s film tours, where she connects like-minded partners with audiences who live for adventure.
Catch her in Brisbane, Blue Mountains, Sydney East Ritz
SOPHIE WALKER
Sophie Walker is a New Plymouth-based sustainability and conservation advocate with a serious love of the outdoors, adventure and the natural environment. A mum of two, keen surfer, mountain biker and all-round outdoor enthusiast, Sophie is happiest in the ocean, on a bike, or exploring somewhere new with her family.
Her adventures have taken her climbing in Thailand, on multi-day cycling adventures through Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand, surfing across Indonesia, Hawaii and the Pacific, and riding some of New Zealand’s most epic mountain bike parks. These days, her favourite adventures are often closer to home, sharing her love of nature with her 9-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, and, when they can be kid-free, mountain biking or surfing with her husband.
Her passion is helping people and businesses find practical ways to minimise their impact on the environment, while still enjoying all the incredible places and experiences Aotearoa has to offer. For Sophie, adventure is all about getting outside, connecting with nature and sharing that froth with the people
Catch her in Auckland
ALLIE PEPPER
Allie Pepper is an Australian high-altitude mountaineer, adventurer and speaker who has been climbing since 1999. She is currently pursuing an extraordinary goal: to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks without supplemental oxygen. During her climbing career, Allie has reached the summits of the world’s 8,000-metre mountains 12 times, making her Australia’s most accomplished female high-altitude mountaineer.
Her film Limitless Above the Clouds reveals the physical and mental reality of climbing the world’s highest mountains. It also tells the deeply personal story behind her journey, exploring resilience, self-belief and breaking through the limits we place on ourselves.
Catch her in Sydney East, Blue Mountains, Canberra
ROSIE WILKIE
Rosie Wilkie is a passionate climber, setter and coach at Pulse Climbing. She is an adventure addict, whose drive for exploration and stepping outside her comfort zone has lead her to travel the world solo. Starting these adventures at 18, she learnt to trust herself and push her physical and mental limits. She recently climbed her way across South East Asia, embarking on many multi-pitch adventures. The most memorable was climbing a 140m wall in Laos, leading the hardest pitch in the dark. Throughout this time, she adventured through rural jungles, hiked through tough terrains, and climbed many mountains. During these travels, she met many inspiring women who developed her confidence in tackling these great adventures. She returned with the hope of inspiring more women to explore the world. Rosie’s commitment to coaching is driven by the desire to encourage more young women in sport, climbing and adventure. She strives to be a strong female figure that proves women belong in adventure spaces.
Catch her in Newcastle
DONNA HYLAND
Donna is part of the humble crew of organisers behind one of Canberra’s favourite trail runs, the Capital to Coast 100km Stage Trail Race. She’s had the pleasure of adventuring across a number of Australia’s favourite trail runs and hikes, experiencing some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Whether she’s running, crewing, or organising, Donna loves being amongst it, soaking up the fresh air, great company and good vibes.
Catch her in Canberra
NATALIA ATKINS
Natalia Atkins is the current president of Tasmanian Road Runners and is a member of the event team for Kingston Park parkrun. She has been an active member of the Tasmanian Running Community for a number of years, both as a participant and as a volunteer, and enjoys attending interstate and international running events.
Catch her in Hobart
LINDSEY REID
Hi I am Lindsey. Although I spend the vast majority of my time indoors as the Manager and Co-founder of Beta Park Bouldering, I really enjoy getting out and about. Some of my favourite adventures have been completing the Bibbulmun Track and Appalachian Trail as well as countless short trails. I also enjoy travelling and learning languages in my spare time. Unfortunately I don’t get as much time these days to go on large scale adventures, but I consider myself an everyday adventurer, developing new climbing areas around Tassie with my partner, seeking out long trail runs, spearfishing and hanging out with my closest friends.
Catch her in Hobart
VANESSA WILLS
Vanessa has been adventuring from Svalbaard to Ushuaia and put up numerous first ascents around the globe but also believes that adventure can be found close to home. Currently she is the president of NSWs peak access and stewardship body for climbing (ACANSW).
Catch her in Newcastle
FELICITY HARLEY
Felicity Harley is a journalist, author, podcaster and one of the most respected editors in women’s publishing. Her claim to career fame was as launch editor of Women’s Health magazine and during her nine year tenure, she took it to Australia’s top selling women’s lifestyle magazine, after which she hosted Body + SOul’s Healthy-ish podcast interviewing 800 guests over four years. Felicity was named one of Westpac’s Australia’s 100 Women Of Influence for her brainchild – the I Support Women In Sport campaign – and she has appeared on various TV shows, including a 10-year weekly stint on Sunrise. While she happily hikes and bikes in the great outdoors, she finds it far more adventurous interviewing and highlighting inspiring women.
Catch her in Melbourne
STEPH MALONE
Hi I’m Stephanie! I work at Beta Park in Launceston’s local bouldering and sport climbing gyms, and absolutely love being a part of my local climbing and outdoors communities.
I’m excited to be a part of the team presenting this years’ Women’s Adventure Film Tour as I’m a passionate adventurer – other than climbing I also love hiking, camping, traveling, archery, and anything that gets me outdoors with friends!
Catch her in Launceston
REBECCA CLEARY
Rebecca Cleary is an adventurer, engineer and former Australian Rugby Union representative who competed at two World Cups. Her adventures have taken her from solo backcountry hiking and camping to sailing across the South Pacific, including a year living aboard a boat through Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Australia.
Never one for an ordinary family holiday, Rebecca has planned adventures ranging from shark diving in Fiji and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro to sailing across Bass Strait. She is also a state champion surf boat rower, an emerging rock climber and, when she is not chasing her next adventure, a keen crochet enthusiast.
Catch her in Sydney Inner West
LISA SCOTT
Lisa Scott is a columnist and feature writer who is living proof you don’t have to be the best, or the fittest, to enjoy a sport. Pushing your limits looks different for everyone, but the spirit is the same. Every woman who challenges herself, shows up to a race as the odd one out, overcomes her fears or that voice in her head that says she can’t, is an adventure woman. We’re all getting a podium.
Catch her in Dunedin
HAYLEY KELLNER
Hayley Kellner is a Queensland based teacher, mum to two boys, and an endurance athlete who has been racing with the Mountain Design Wild Women team for the last five years. An avid mountain biker, Hayley found herself in the world of adventure racing through her friendship with legends of the sport Jan Leverton and Kim Beckinsale. Having competed in adventure racing events across Australia and New Zealand, she’s driven by a solid “yes mentality”—using these challenges to strip away everyday distractions and show up as her true self. Passionate about creating pathways for women to take risks and test their limits, Hayley is here to celebrate what happens when you stop doubting yourself and ask, “I wonder if I can?”
Catch her in Brisbane