Collabor8Women has announced its 2026 Venue Partners this week (February 4) at its annual Canapé Connections launch event at The Gallery at Alpha in Sydney, attended by 140 professional women from diverse industries.
The announcement revealed a line-up of Sydney's leading dining destinations that will anchor Collabor8Women's monthly events for professional women. Events are delivered through its signature format of thoughtfully facilitated tables of eight, in the spirit of Networking Done Differently.
The events calendar features highly anticipated new venues alongside returning Collabor8Women favourites, with an end of year celebration doubling as a fundraiser for ovarian cancer research.
Signature Collabor8Women events are held on the first Wednesday of the month, as either a lunch or dinner, prioritising female-led venues wherever possible.
Collabor8Women 2026 Signature Venue Partners
✨White Horse, Surry Hills (1 Hat) ✨Bathers' Pavilion – The Restaurant, Mosman (2 Hats) ✨Flaminia, Pullman Quay Grand, Circular Quay (2 Hats) ✨The Palomar, 25hours Hotel The Olympia, Darlinghurst (1 Hat) ✨Catalina, Rose Bay (1 Hat) ✨China Doll, Woolloomooloo ✨Pilu at Freshwater (2 Hats) – Charity Lunch supporting ovarian cancer research
The venue selection reflects a balance of iconic dining rooms and exciting new openings, often introducing guests to places they have wanted to try for years, or encouraging them to discover venues not previously on their radar.
Marilyn Annecchini, restaurateur and owner of Pilu at Freshwater and the newly opened Flaminia at Circular Quay, said these events bring meaningful value to the hospitality industry.
"What Collabor8Women does for our hospitality industry is really important. It opens up our industry to a whole new group of people, who perhaps wouldn't frequent our restaurants before. That's incredibly valuable."
Founded by Sydney business executives Karen Eck and Samantha Theron in December 2021 with a single table of eight, Collabor8Women has grown into a national network of nearly 2,000 professional women. Its continued momentum reflects a simple belief: professional networking works best when it feels human.
"Collabor8Women has always been about the energy in the room," said Eck.
"The setting matters, but it's the calibre of women, the conversations and the sense of ease that make these lunches and dinners so impactful. Whether arriving solo or with a professional plus-one, guests feel welcomed, never anonymous. They have a curated seat at the table and leave better connected and genuinely well looked after," said Theron.
At the final Collabor8Women event of last year, the community rallied to raise $18,000 for ovarian cancer research, reinforcing the network's belief that connection can also be a force for good.
"Our charity efforts reflect what matters to our network, bringing purpose to the table alongside conversation," added Theron.
In 2026, Collabor8Women will also introduce Gold Access Membership, a strictly limited, invitation-only program designed to sit alongside its Signature events.
Gold Access is intentionally intimate, offering priority access, exclusive experiences and added-value benefits from trusted venue partners.
Expression of Interest can be submitted on the website.
"Growth for us has never been about size," said Eck. "It's about depth, trust and the quality of connection. What began as one table has become a trusted platform for collaboration and meaningful impact."
With 36 events to date, Collabor8Women estimates it has generated approximately $1.5 million in economic benefit for New South Wales. By the conclusion of the 2026 program, that figure is expected to approach $2 million, reflecting the combined impact of its Signature events and the introduction of Gold Access.
About us:
About Collabor8Women: Networking Done Differently
Founded by Sydney business executives Karen Eck and Samantha Theron in December 2021, Collabor8Women is an invitation-only networking collective connecting professional women across industries and leadership levels in a relaxed, engaging environment. With a growing network of nearly 2,000 women across Australia, it has become a sought-after platform known for authentic connections, thoughtful conversation and premium dining experiences. Collabor8Women is proud to support women leaders in hospitality, including owners, head chefs and sommeliers.
This year's charitable efforts will continue to support ovarian cancer research, with the final event of the year doubling as a fundraiser to support early detection initiatives.
