About Us

WoManly Community is a networking group for women who are running small businesses on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and surrounds.

WoManly was founded by architect Luisa Manfredini in 2013 after she relocated to Manly and realised she needed to connect with local, like-minded business people and grow her own network.

Our events focus on building lasting relationships that lead to organic business collaboration. So if you’re looking for support, the chance to connect with a wide range of talented business women, build lasting friendships, and gain fresh referrals for your growing business, then WoManly could be for you. Come along to our events as a casual member and see what you think.

We feel strongly about supporting those less fortunate than ourselves, so our charity of choice is the Northern Beaches Women's Shelter, a non-profit organisation supporting homeless women on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with crisis accommodation and counselling.

Our founder, Luisa Manfredini, is an ambassador, which has grown into a 'Wo_buddy' relationship with the shelter. We also make regular donations and support their fundraising events.

Our Wo_Committee & Wo_Contributors

Luisa Manfredini

Principal of MM+J Architects & founder of WoManly

Luisa Manfredini is an architect who started as a sole practitioner in 2000. The business has grown to become MM+J Architects. They are based in Manly and specialise in residential and educational projects in the northern beaches and beyond. They love to create beautiful spaces for their clients to enjoy. Luisa is actively involved in the architecture profession via volunteering and committee positions.

Luisa is an ambassador of the Northern Beaches Women's Shelter.

For more information about Luisa visit www.mmjarchitects.com.au

Ellen Mueller

Small Business Consultant of In The Flow Consulting & Wo_Manager

A long-time local of the Northern Beaches, Ellen grew up here and has run multiple businesses around Manly including a yoga studio. Beginning her career in financial planning with a Bachelor of Business Administration, she also studied nursing and Chinese Medicine in order to understand the flow of life within the human body and how to heal it. Ellen understands the challenge of creating a financially healthy business whilst also maintaining the core health of the business owner. Since establishing her own business, she has consulted and mentored yoga studio owners, permaculture organisations, counsellors, career coaches, landscape designers and urban beekeepers.

Outside of Ellen’s career, some of her fondest achievements include hiking at 5416m altitude through Thorong La Pass on the Annapurna circuit in Nepal, helping to relieve distress for lonely, mentally ill and suicidal people as a Telephone Crisis Supporter for Lifeline, and working on a cattle farm in regional New South Wales.

For more information about Ellen visit www.intheflowconsulting.com

Nicole Torrance

Leadership and Performance Coach of Perspektivs & Brekkie Wo_Host

Originally an Adelaide girl, Nicole Torrance is a Northern Beaches convert – a wife, mum, friend, daughter and sister. In 2013, she left a Senior HR and Business Strategy role to help small businesses navigate the challenges of business growth, team development and organisational change. Since that time Nic has coached CEOs, worked with leadership teams and provided organisational wide training with a focus on communication, relationships and bringing your true self to work. With a passion for authenticity she is increasingly investing her relationship-based skills into connecting with and building local communities with a focus on mental wellness.

For more information about Nicole, visit www.perspektivs.com.au

Mel Wood

Life Coach and Reiki Master of Time to Exhale & Morning Tea Wo_Host

Mel’s passion is to help women come home to themselves. She aims to push through any limited beliefs and trauma holding them back, so they can start to live authentically with renewed energy and confidence. She loves to see women thriving in all aspects of their lives; from family and relationships, to managing their own businesses.

Blending traditional coaching tools with new age healing techniques, Mel’s work has proven to be transformational for those ready to make serious changes in their lives. The work will challenge your way of thinking and create long lasting results. Her way of seeing the world uplifts and motivates others, whilst keeping their feet on the ground with practical action steps to take away from each session.

For more information about Mel visit www.timetoexhale.com.au

Julie Crespel

Julie Crespel Photography & Wo_Photographer

Julie Crespel is a photographer based in the Northern Beaches. After completing a degree in visual communication, Julie’s photographic addiction started on a one year world trip that turned into 10 years of travelling and photographing around the globe.

Now enjoying the Sydney life, and locally based for the last 14 years, she is currently working in advertising and publishing, shooting fashion, interiors, portraits, lifestyle, and food. Constantly searching to create images that inspire, Julie’s experience and commitment to capturing the creative vision of her clients is reflected in the quality of her work

For more information about Julie visit www.juliecrespel.com

Briana Graydon

Pink Cow Social & Wo_Social Media

Briana is a social media superstar who aims to put the fun and social back in social media. She helps businesses navigate their way through the algorithms, content creation, hashtag headaches and digital strategy. Briana teaches social media at a variety of colleges, and runs her own social media business.

Briana is full of beans, and very passionate about social media and educating people on the positive benefits associated with Social Media and how it can transform a business.

For more information about Briana visit www.pinkcowsocial.com.au

Alex Vanags

Alexandra Vanags & Wo_Editor

Alexandra Vanags is a journalist, copywriter and editor with more than 15 years’ experience working for some of the world’s largest publishing companies and brands.

Everyone has an interesting story to tell, and Alex thrives on finding a client's story and writing it in a way that is appealing and simple - whether that's through a blog post, an article, a newsletter, a press release or a website.

She will tackle any topic, no matter how complex or technical, in order to produce readable, engaging content.

For more information about Alex visit www.alexandrav.com.au

See what we are all about at our next event!