Courage is the Lever: Reflections from the Women in Surveying and Spatial Sciences WA Breakfast

This morning, saw a fantastic Women in Surveying and Spatial Sciences WA breakfast featuring Michelle Blicavs, Chief Executive Officer of Surveyors Australia and Founder of the Unique Leaders.

With a full house on a beautiful Thursday morning, Michelle shared her personal growth journey, offering practical insights on leadership, confidence and the role courage plays in both personal and professional development. Her message was simple but powerful:

"Capability is not the question. Courage is the lever."

It's a reminder that most of us already have the skills, knowledge and experience needed to take the next step. What holds us back is often not capability, but the courage to act.

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Michelle encouraged us to embrace opportunities through a simple framework:

Act - take a step.

Learn - notice what happened.

Grow - confidence follows action.

One of the most memorable messages of the morning was:

"Courage is not the absence of fear. It is a decision to move forward while fear is present."

We discussed what it means to back yourself in professional settings, particularly when contributing to discussions, influencing decisions and stepping into leadership.

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Some of the practical takeaways included:

• Trust your judgement and state your view.

• Master the art of pausing instead of filling silence.

• Say "I disagree" without feeling the need to apologise.

• Claim your expertise. You belong in the room.

The conversation also explored influence and leadership in meetings and workplace environments. Michelle encouraged us to:

• Read the room.

• Build your allies.

• Know your integrity line.

These simple but powerful principles are relevant across every stage of a career, whether you're starting out, leading a team or running a business.

The morning concluded with a quote from Governor-General Sam Mostyn that resonated strongly with the audience:

"Leadership is about bringing people with you."

As a practical challenge, Michelle encouraged everyone to focus on three actions over the next 30 days:

Speak. Ask. Connect.

Small acts of courage, repeated consistently, can create meaningful change in our confidence, influence and leadership.

We also were proud to welcome our first Kelly Lloyd Legacy Seat Recipient - Amongst so many students in the room it was great to welcome new faces to our network.

A huge thank you to Michelle Blicavs and the Women in Surveying and Spatial Sciences WA committee for delivering such an inspiring and thought-provoking event. It was a valuable reminder that growth doesn't come from waiting until we're ready. It comes from taking the next step, even when it feels uncomfortable. Thankyou again to our sponsors Western Australian Institution of Surveying, CR Kennedy, UPG, GHC Group and CK Maloney Surveying