Chief Executive Women (CEW) in partnership with the Australian Government today announced the winners of two scholarships offered to senior women in public service to attend the prestigious leadership development program at Harvard Business School, Queensland Police say.
Mary-Anne Curtis, Deputy Under Treasurer, Queensland Treasury, and Virginia Nelson, City Patrol Group Inspector, Queensland Police Service, were awarded CEW Scholarships, funded by the Australian Government, to attend the Authentic Leadership Development Program at Harvard Business School in Boston at the end of July this year.
Minister for Women, the Hon Michaelia Cash, said that the Harvard scholarships were helping talented Australian women reach their full potential.
"These are women already excelling in their field and this once in a lifetime opportunity will help them reach the next level.
"This fantastic initiative is a great example of Government and the not-for-profit sector working together to support our future female leaders."
"CEW is delighted to partner with Australian Government to provide talented women in public service with the opportunity to build their leadership skills, enrich their experiences and advance their careers.
"The aim of CEW’s Scholarship Program is to provide opportunities that will fast-track the careers of talented women and improve the representation of women in senior leadership roles in Australia," said Kathryn Fagg, President of Chief Executive Women.
Inspector Virginia Nelson is currently the City Patrol Group Inspector in charge of stations in the Capricornia Police District in Central Queensland and this year, played a lead role in coordinating the policing response to the major Rockhampton flood.
Inspector Nelson will shortly be promoted to the rank of Superintendent and will take up the role of South Brisbane’s Assistant District Officer.
With more than 27 years in policing, Inspector Nelson has worked in general duties and prosecutions in a number of Queensland’s regional locations.
She has also worked in Brisbane as part of the Operations Support and State Crime commands, as well as in the Office of the State Coroner (Queensland) as the senior coronial officer.
"As Patrol Group Inspector, I lead a group of stations and sections that deliver front line policing to the community. While I undertake command and control leadership at major and disaster events, my day to day leadership is focused on our members and the service we deliver in stopping crime and making the community safer," Inspector Nelson said.
"Attendance at the Harvard course will enable me to further develop my values-based leadership and flexibly adapt my leadership style as necessary – particularly as I take on a new challenge as the Superintendent Assistant District Officer in South Brisbane."
The scholarships
The CEW scholarships funded by the Office for Women will enable Mary-Anne and Virginia to attend the 5-day intensive Authentic Leadership Development program at Harvard Business School, Boston Massachusetts in 2017.
The scholarship is part of the CEW Scholars program, which helps talented Australia women take their careers to the next level by supporting executive education at internationally acclaimed business schools.
Mary-Anne and Virginia will attend the course as CEW Scholars with fellow CEW Scholar Preeti Bajaj, from Schneider Electric.
About CEW Scholars (www.cew.org.au/scholarships)
The CEW Scholars program enables women leaders by supporting them at critical junctures in their careers, from their first management roles to top executive positions. More than 120 women have been awarded scholarships to business schools in Australia and internationally since CEW commenced its executive program for women leaders in 1992.
Award Partner: Australian Government
In 2017 the Australian Government, in partnership with Chief Executive Women is providing funding for four scholarships for talented women working in public service to attend professional development courses at leading international business schools. The scholarship funding is part of the Government’s Women’s Leadership Development Strategy, administered through the Office for Women which is focused on improving gender equality and providing support for women’s economic empowerment, safety and leadership. The partnership with CEW’s scholarship program will enable two senior women in public service to attend Harvard Business School and two women identifying as or working for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to attend INSEAD in Singapore.
CEW Scholars program is funded through the CEW annual dinner and the generosity of sponsors including:
PLATINUM SPONSOR: KING & WOOD MALLESONS. OFFICIAL AIRLINE SPONSOR: QANTAS. TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR: TELSTRA. GOLD SPONSORS: ANZ, BHPBILITON, KPMG, QBE. SILVER SPONSORS: ALLENS LINKLATERS, AMP, ASHURST, BROADSPECTRUM, BCG, COMMONWEALTH BANK, DAN MURPHY’S, EGON ZEHNDER, EY, GPT, HARVEY NORMAN, IAG, LENDLEASE, MACQUARIE, MICROSOFT, MIRVAC, NAB, SPENCER STUART, SYDNEY AIRPORT, WESFARMERS, WESTPAC GROUP, WILLIS and NINE ENTERTAINMENT.
About Chief Executive Women (www.cew.org.au)
Chief Executive Women is the pre-eminent organisation representing more than 420 of Australia’s most senior women from the corporate, public, academic and not-for-profit sectors. Its mission is "women leaders enabling women leaders". Through advocacy, targeted programs and scholarships, CEW works to remove the barriers to women’s progression and ensure equal opportunity for prosperity. CEW offers innovative and substantive programs aimed at enabling women’s participation and future leadership.
