Business LeadHERship Summit returns to St. Marys with sold-out event

Fresh Idea Collective is once again bringing together women in leadership and business at the 2026 Business LeadHERship Summit. Pictured are local business owners, from left, Lesley Spencer-Cooper of MALT Staging and Design, Camille Fortin Bensler of At Home with Camille and Natalie Moore of Moore Creative Consulting.

By Galen Simmons

The sold-out 2026 Business LeadHERship Summit will take place Monday, April 27, at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club.

Fresh Idea Collective will bring more than 150 business owners and community leaders together for a full-day leadership experience designed by women for women. The event aims to connect, reflect and strengthen women in leadership while promoting a sense of community throughout the region.

“I like to say it’s not just a one-and-done event,” said Kerry Ramsay, founder of Fresh Idea Collective. “It really is the beginning of meaningful connections. One exciting fact is that of the attendees who have already signed up for this year’s business leadership summit, 45 per cent have never attended a Fresh Idea Collective event before, so we’re very excited for those women to get to know each other.”

This year’s Business LeadHERship Summit will once again welcome eight student leaders – four from Stratford District Secondary School and four from St. Marys DCVI – made possible by local sponsorship.

“Our goal is not only to celebrate our local women in business leadership, but also to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs as they begin to explore their own potential, build confidence and envision what’s possible for their future,” said Ramsay.

The keynote speaker at this year’s event is Cheryl Himburg, owner of Key Element Solutions. She will speak about her journey leading with vision and creating the life of her dreams.

Later in the day, workshop leader Aileen Edwards of AME Consulting will discuss how business owners can lead with confidence and build executive presence.

“This is really going to be a power-packed day,” said Ramsay.

A highlight of this year’s event will be an interview with Kristine Hayes and Kelly Heleniak, owners of Shaw’s Ice Cream, including their experiences with the ups and downs of owning the ice-cream business.

Throughout the day, attendees will have opportunities to connect with other like-minded business owners, listen to live music by Evangelina Kambites of the Stratford Festival, take part in movement breaks hosted by local wellness businesses and watch real-time graphic recording by Emma Richard, who will bring the day’s ideas to life visually.

“The Fresh Idea Collective community just continues to grow, and it’s not anything magical,” said Ramsay. “It’s simply that a lot of women are tired of doing business on their own. It’s the right moment, it’s the right time and I believe it’s having an incredible impact, which is why it’s continuing to grow.”

For more information on Fresh Idea Collective and its events, visit www.freshideacollective.com