The evening is being held at the Wollongong Northbeach Novotel.

It follows many hairdressing salons and business leaders already getting behind the second annual campaign.

Among those was Tomma Giorgio, of Colours at Northbeach salon, who turned Novotel general manager and Highlights for Hope ambassador Walter Immoos's hair blond last year and then provided different shades of pink to human resource managers Emily Squires and Chantelle Drolc this year.

They were joined by Highlights For Hope committee member Julie Van Meegen and all three have been raising funds for the Mental Health Clubhouse at racegong.com.au/teams.php?team=emily-chantelle-and-julies-hair-drive.

Mrs Giorgio said she got involved because, after losing a family member to depression, raising awareness about mental health was a cause close to her heart.

One focus of the networking event was encouraging all businesses to promote the idea of mentally healthy workplaces.

Not only was it seen as a way to protect the mental health of employees, it could have a positive impact on productivity, performance, staff retention and being perceived as an employer of choice.

Associate Professor Dr Lindsay Oades, of the University of Wollongong Sydney Business School, said it was in the interests of employers to take action to support employees with mental illness.

Dr Oades will speak at the cocktail event and the finalists in the Highlights for Hope Shoot the Hairdresser photographic competition will be introduced.

The evening is being held with the help of Brendan Bate Wine Agencies and Regional Development Australia Illawarra, Your Financial Adviser and the Northbeach Wollongong Novotel.

Registrations at janine@jcmedia.net.au.