Clare Toia-Bailey – Founder, Inspiring Wāhine Rural Conference & Events

Clare Toia-Bailey is the visionary behind the Inspiring Wāhine Conference, a kaupapa born from her deep commitment to community, equity, and storytelling. Living near Clyde in Central Otago and having grown up in the rural town of Waihi, Clare understands the challenges—and the power—of bringing meaningful, transformative events to smaller, often overlooked regions.

Driven by her passion for social justice and her belief in levelling the playing field, Clare created the Inspiring Wāhine Conference as a platform for wāhine from all walks of life to come together, share and celebrate their stories. Clare is a New Zealand born Samoan and she’s particularly focused on amplifying voices from Māori and Pasifika communities, and on creating inclusive spaces that reflect the richness and diversity of Aotearoa.

At the heart of the conference is storytelling. A self-proclaimed sucker for an inspiring story, she sees narrative as a powerful connector and catalyst for change. The conference is a true community collaboration, weaving together businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who share the vision of empowerment and connection.

When she's not curating this event, she’s creating inspiring visual content for image central, a photography & videography company she co-founded with her husband and business partner, Adrian Morgan. Through Image Central, Clare continues to help other people and organisations tell their story in authentic and visually inspiring ways. And when she’s not working - she’s following her three children around with their sport and interests, or catching up with friends for a coffee and walk!