Inspirational stories of resilience in business in a COVID world will be shared at the third annual Ignite Wanaka Women in Business Christmas Lunch next month.

Ignite Wanaka Chamber of Commerce has secured Laura Douglas and Bridget Legnavsky as keynote speakers at the signature Chamber event, to be held at Corbridge Woolshed on Friday December 11.

“We are incredibly lucky to be able to hear personal journeys and experiences from these two exceptional women,” Ignite Wanaka executive officer Naomi Lindsay said.

“Now, more than ever, we need to come together as a community of women in business to share our stories, feel inspired and empowered, and lean on each other. After the year that’s been, connecting over common themes – and a glass of bubbles – is just what the doctor ordered.”

Laura Douglas owns Real Country and is the executive director of The Fairlight Foundation. She will share her story of how she gave up a professional career in Auckland to return home to Southland and establish a successful agritourism business based on her love of the land, animals and educating people. She will talk about how COVID-19 has affected her business, and the importance of never giving up.

Bridget Legnavsky, general manager of Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone and former chair of Ignite Wanaka, is a former athlete-turned-coach, an entrepreneur, wife and mother. Bridget has proven experience in building strong company cultures, aligning people through values and uniting people in difficult times.

Bridget will talk about leading a team and a business to success in the face of closing borders and changing alert levels, and what she has learnt about being a woman in business in ‘the Covid year’.

This year’s Wanaka Women in Business Christmas Lunch is supported by Wanaka marketing communications agency Scope Media. The popular women’s event has this year shifted to the new location of Corbridge to accommodate increased demand.

Tickets are $79 for members and $89 for non-members, with tables available. Tickets are available here.

PHOTO: Supplied