Women’s Event
Event Date:
March 5, 2026
Event Location:
Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano Autograph Collection, 26907 Old Mission Rd, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675
Event Description
Date and Time:
March 5, 2026
Event Schedule:
Registration and Networking: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lunch: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Presentation: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Raffle: 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location:
Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Autograph Collection
26907 Old Mission Rd
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
A Celebration Steeped in Connection & Community
Join us on March 5, 2026, at the Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Autograph Collection for a special afternoon that brings a beloved tradition back into the spotlight.
As we celebrate 10 years of the OCEBC Women’s Event, we’re revisiting our very first theme – a tea party – reimagined for today. Enjoy an afternoon of meaningful networking, curated shopping, delicious bites, and refreshing sips, all thoughtfully designed to mark this milestone year with warmth, style, and connection.
Guests will also enjoy a keynote conversation with Annette Walker, whose leadership and perspective continue to inspire meaningful conversations across our community.
Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or are joining for the first time, this anniversary gathering is an opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate together.
Dress Code: Tea-party chic encouraged! This is your moment to dress up and delight in the details.
*This event is sold out.Thank You to Our Event Sponsors
Meet our Moderator & Panelist
Ellen Sexton is executive vice president, chief growth officer at Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit health plan with more than $27 billion in annual revenue, serving 6 million members in the state’s commercial, individual and government markets. In this role, Sexton oversees growth and performance of all lines of business for Blue Shield — including employer -sponsored plans, individual and family plans, Medicare and Medi-Cal — with a goal to provide more people with access to quality care that is sustainably affordable.
Sexton is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in health care and a proven track record of delivering growth, driving organizational transformation and developing high -performing businesses. She is highly collaborative and forward -thinking, with a passion for tackling challenges across the healthcare system.
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Prior to joining Blue Shield, Sexton served as chief operating officer at Curative where she helped to launch a first – of- its-kind employer – based health insurance plan.
As chief operating officer of Humana’s Group business, Sexton also led the growth platform for 15 million medical, dental, vision and life members. Previously, as CEO for the UnitedHealthcare Wisconsin Medicaid Health Plan, Sexton helped to gain recognition for clinical innovation.
Within UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare business, she successfully transitioned state and employer group retiree healthcare programs, and launched a Part D prescription drug program, enrolling 5 million members.
Sexton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. She was appointed to the Wisconsin Governor’s Health Equity Council in 2020, is President of the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation board of directors and is an external advisory board member of the Wisconsin School of Business. She is a proud hockey mom, enjoys playing golf and is a dedicated Fantasy Football player. She enjoys travel and music of all genres.
Annette M. Walker is the visionary President of City of Hope Orange County who has gained a national reputation for her industry-changing insights, outstanding leadership, and keen abilities to bring people together and achieve extraordinary results.
Twice recognized as one of the most influential leaders in U.S. health care by Modern Healthcare, Annette has been at the helm of many top organizations in her field. She considers her leadership at City of Hope among her most important roles as she is transforming cancer care for generations of patients in the nation’s sixth largest county.
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In 2025, Annette and her team opened Orange County’s only cancer specialty hospital on City of Hope Orange County’s 72-acre academic research campus in Irvine, establishing a next-generation model of care for 2 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year. The hospital is seamlessly connected to City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center – the region’s most advanced comprehensive cancer center. Annette has also established a network of clinical locations that bring pioneering research and lifesaving treatments closer to those who need them.
Annette has built her career on seeking innovative solutions, ensuring sound business strategies, and brokering agreements. She has a special talent for orchestrating ground-breaking partnerships, including two with Orange County’s largest real estate developers that led to greatly enhanced community services.
Before City of Hope, Annette was President of Strategy for Providence St. Joseph Health, the nation’s third-largest health system. While there, she was instrumental in bringing two prominent health organizations together and, within the first year, succeeded in convening key stakeholders to develop a transformational strategic plan. Annette also served as interim president and chief executive of St. Joseph Health before the merger of St. Joseph Health and Providence.
Annette is a featured speaker for national audiences and is the author of numerous articles on strategy, leadership, marketing, quality, planning, and management. She has received many leadership and innovation honors for her work from major institutions, organizations, and publications. Annette was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Healthcare (2020, 2019), a Top Women Leader Luminary (2023) and a Top 25 Women in Healthcare (2017). She earned Orange County Business Journal’s Women in Business award (2020), Businessperson of the Year (2019), and OC 50 (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020), and has been honored as one of the Top 100 Orange County Influencers by the Orange County Register (2025, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019).
Committed to giving back, Annette has served on a wide range of boards for more than 20 years. She presently serves on the Chapman University Board of Trustees, and the medical device start-ups Renata and Cern. She chairs the Santa Margarita Catholic High School Foundation. She has also served as a board member and chair of American Unity Group, Ltd. (a Captive Insurance Company), the Well Being Trust, many Providence St. Joseph boards, and Loyola Marymount’s Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering Executive Advisory Board, along with additional board participation for several nonprofits and health care professional organizations.
She is the mother of six and grandmother of 15, attributing her approachable leadership style to her strong family life. Annette is an advocate for and frequent speaker addressing effective work-life balance, personal growth, and development. Annette holds a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
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