The second round of governance scholarships offered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) with support from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women to support emerging and experienced female directors in regional, rural and remote Australia are now open.
The Australian Institute of Company Directors – Women’s Regional, Rural and Remote Diversity Scholarships 2022-2023, administered by the Australian Scholarships Foundation, provide opportunities for suitably qualified women from different backgrounds who face additional barriers to education and leadership participation.
In 2021 scholarship recipients included five recipients from remote Australia, 18 from rural areas and 31 from regional hubs, and 34 of these recipients were from the not-for-profit sector.
The first and second round of scholarships offer 30 full-fee scholarships to undertake the AICD’s Company Directors Course and 24 full-fee scholarships to undertake the AICD’s Foundations of Directorship program.
Han Worsley, Chief Executive Officer, Board Director,
Country to Canberra
Australian Institute of Company Directors – Women’s Regional, Rural and Remote Diversity Scholarship recipient 2021
Gaining foundational governance skills
The Foundations of Directorship program is for directors newly appointed to boards, anyone who might be interested in pursuing a career as a director, or for executives and managers who would like a better understanding of board processes.
Deborah Bass is a Project Leader with Terrain NRM an environmental management organisation working in Australia’s Wet Tropics region of Far North Queensland. Deborah aspires to be a board member in the future saying, “being a Board Director will enable me to continue to have input into the strategic direction of environmental outcomes when this is no longer my main employment.”
As a 2021/2022 scholarship recipient Deborah shares, “I want to use my years of experience in science, project and environmental management to help lead community-based organisations to achieve their goals.”
Han Worsley is Chief Executive Officer and Board Director of Country to Canberra a not-for-profit empowering young rural women to reach their leadership potential. Han is a 2021-2022 scholarship recipient who attending the Foundations of Directorship program. She noted, “After 6 years volunteering in the not-for-profit sector, I stepped into the CEO role at Country to Canberra in 2020, bringing with it my first director role. This experience has opened my eyes to the way directors can influence progress and change, and I am excited to continue my professional development in this space.”
Terrain NRM
Building board performance
The AICD’s Company Directors Course is designed for directors from a diverse range of industries and organisations and is ideal for those looking to understand director roles and responsibilities in-depth, take their boardroom performance to the next level and improve their impact in today’s evolving business landscape.
Janet Pilgrim who is President of Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers Inc whose objectives revolve around the conservation and welfare of our local wildlife who have faced many challenges in the past few years. Janet says, “This scholarship will enhance my ability to enable our organisation to cope with the enormous obstacles that the events of the last few years have put in our way. I have no doubt that greater governance standards and dispute resolution improvements will be invaluable to our group as we strive to weather this storm of adverse events.”
Many recipients hold multiple board roles. Jacqueline Brinkman is CEO of Economic Development Australia the national peak body for economic development professionals; building capacity, promoting excellence and providing leadership on key membership issues based in Leura. Jacqueline says of her scholarship to complete the Company Directors program, “This course has long been a professional development ambition and this opportunity comes at the ideal time when the organisation I lead is experiencing considerable growth and change. The course will also strengthen my performance as Director for both Dare Disability Services and RDA Sydney.”
Andrea Porte, Deputy Chair, Board of Governance, North & North West Sexual Assault Support Services Inc known as Laurel House is a not-for-profit, sexual assault support service assisting survivors across the North and North West of Tasmania. Andrea says, “I truly believe that we can improve society for all if those of us with capacity and passion step up, both personally and at a corporate level. The best way that I can further contribute to Tasmania and the NFP sector is to participate in, and then share the educational experience and outcomes afforded by the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course with the Not For Profit Foundations I volunteer and work with.”
Andrea Porte, Deputy Chair, Board of Governance, North & North West Sexual Assault Support Services Inc, Tasmania
Australian Institute of Company Directors – Women’s Regional, Rural and Remote Diversity Scholarship recipient 2021
Round 2 scholarships open on 26 September 2022. Read full details of the Australian Institute of Company Directors – Women’s Regional, Rural and Remote Diversity Scholarships 2022/2023 here.
