How to write a winning CFP

Have you ever solved a frustrating technical problem, managed a messy project, or learned a hard lesson at work and thought, “I wish someone had told me this six months ago”?
That’s a conference talk waiting to happen.
With CFPs (Call for Papers) currently open for major tech conferences across Melbourne, Sydney, and beyond, conference organisers are actively searching for fresh, authentic, real-world stories. Way too often, women and underrepresented folks talk themselves out of applying before they even type a word.
Our next Women Coders meetup is a practical, supportive, hands-on workshop designed to help you turn your day-to-day experience into a compelling conference proposal.
Whether you’ve never stepped on a stage in your life or you’re looking to sharpen your pitching skills, this session is safe space to test your ideas, get feedback, and build the confidence to hit "submit."
What we’ll cover:

• Finding Your Topic: Uncovering the projects, lessons, and "aha!" moments you’ve lived through that others actually want to learn from.
• Decoding the Review Process: What conference selection committees actually look for in an abstract (and the subtle red flags to avoid).
• Drafting in Real Time: Turning a rough idea into a sharp title, hook, and summary before you walk out the door.
• Tips & Tricks: Practical advice on handling first-time speaker nerves and pitching with authority.

Who is this for? Everyone! You do not need 10+ years of experience, a principal title, or a revolutionary breakthrough to speak at a conference. You just need a practical insight and the story of how you got there. Developers, designers, product managers, data folks, and tech enthusiasts at all career stages are welcome.

• What to bring: A laptop or notebook, a rough idea (or just an open mind), and your questions.
• Speakers: Michele Playfair, Senior Engineering Manager at Ferocia and previous Executive Director at YOW! Conferences.

Our community deserves to be on stage, setting the agenda and shaping the future of tech. Come along, get inspired, and let’s get your proposal written!

Schedule
5:30 - 6:00 Networking
6:00 - 7:00 Workshop
7:00 - 7:45 Networking

Sponsors:
This event is sponsored by Ferocia. Thanks for empowering women and allies to excel in their technology careers 💙