A new wellbeing initiative is offering women and non-binary event professionals the opportunity to step away from the demands of delivery and reconnect with themselves, their purpose, and each other.
Founded by Lucy Eden and Gabby Austen Browne, The Seasonal Retreat – For Women Who Lead, Create, and Care will debut with a one-day immersive experience on Saturday 18 October at Tewinbury Farm, Hertfordshire. Designed as an introduction to a four-part retreat series launching in 2026, the programme blends seasonal wisdom, feminine leadership, and holistic wellbeing to support sustainable career growth in the events industry.
“When women in events come together, we’re not just creating space, we’re reclaiming it,” said Eden. “We often lead, hold space for others, and deliver extraordinary experiences, but rarely give ourselves permission to pause.”
Unlike traditional industry gatherings, the retreats follow a cyclical leadership model inspired by the seasons:
Winter – Stillness, introspection and visioning
Spring – Creativity and new beginnings
Summer – Celebration, abundance and embodiment
Autumn – Reflection and graceful transition
The October retreat will offer a curated taste of each season’s energy through:
Seasonal plant-based meals and fresh juices
Gentle yoga, mindful movement, and forest bathing
Sacred women’s circle and tea ceremony
Industry-specific wellbeing talks and storytelling
Candlelit meditation and take-home keepsakes
Post-retreat community connection and integration sessions
“We check in with our businesses quarterly,” added Eden, “but we often only check in with ourselves once a year, if at all. This retreat invites a different rhythm.”
Austen Browne, a long-standing advocate for equity and wellbeing in the sector, emphasised that the initiative is about sustainable success, not “burnout disguised as ambition.”
“These retreats model a way of working that honours both professional goals and our humanity,” she said.
The venue, Tewinbury Farm, is a 700-acre eco-conscious countryside estate designed to foster reconnection with nature and community. Early response has been strong, with interest from event producers, directors, venue professionals, and freelancers across all career stages.
“This isn’t just another industry day,” said one early applicant. “It’s the space I didn’t realise I needed - connection, calm, and a reminder that I matter too.”
In addition to her work as founder of Diversity Alliance, Austen Browne is also a wellness
practitioner and yoga teacher. Lucy Eden is a wellbeing practitioner,
meditation teacher and founder of wellbeing agency Be in Your Element.
Early bird tickets are priced at £250, with limited spaces to preserve the retreat’s intimacy and depth. Click here for further details.
