Chief Executive Women (CEW) has announced the nine winners of its executive education scholarships for women leaders.
The top prize worth $38,000 went to 44-year-old Cecile Wake, giving her the opportunity to attend a two-week Executive Development Program at the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania, USA.
“I aspire to lead a major resources company one day – to influence and shape the outcomes of the business and communities in which I work,” said Wake, on being announced the overall winner. “So I was hungry for this opportunity to learn from world-class thought leaders at Wharton and to accelerate my leadership journey.”
Liz Dibbs, Head of CEW’s leadership program, said CEW looked for a talented, high-performing executive in need of a step-up. “Cecile Wake ticked all the boxes. I’m sure she is someone we will be hearing much more of in the resources sector in the future.”
The CEW leaders program is supported by some of Australia’s leading businesses and organisations. It aims to increase the business skills and leadership capabilities of managers who form the pool of future top leadership. “Helping women to achieve their potential as leaders is the mission of Chief Executive Women and the focus on our fundraising efforts,” said President of CEW, Christine Christian.
The nine scholarships awarded this week complete CEW’s 2014 scholarship program of 16 awards, worth more than $250,000.
Two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, Venessa Curnow and Stacey Broadbent, were also awarded scholarships, to attend INSEAD, one of the world’s top business schools.
“Australia needs more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in executive leadership and board roles because of the values we bring,” said Curnow. “The diversity would enrich decision-making at all levels of the economy.”
“I strive to be a good leader and to give back when I can. But I want to do more – to make decisions that make a positive, direct impact on my people” said Broadbent, “This opportunity and recognition will help me understand what skills I can develop and embed into all aspects of my life”.
CEW has also announced its executive education scholarship program for 2015, which will include 16 scholarships, including opportunities to attend the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD in France, Wharton School’s executive Development Program, the Harvard University Women’s Leadership Program, INSEAD Singapore, and the AGSM.
“Not all women are born leaders, but many leaders are born women. CEW will continue to identify them and support them,” said Christian.
The full list of recipients include:
Wharton Scholarship
Cecile Wake
Cecile is currently head of the commercial function at QCG, which is developing the $20.7 billion QCLNG Project in Queensland, Australia. She is a member of the QGC Senior Management Team and a director of QGC and numerous subsidiary entities involved the QCLNG Project. In her roles she is responsible for all the commercial arrangements that underpin the QCLNG Project and significant external stakeholder engagement responsibility. In addition to her QGC directorship, Cecile also serves on the boards of UQ sport and St. Aidan’s Anglican Girls School.
INSEAD leading for Results (Singapore)
Lori Callahan
Lori Callahan is the General Manager for Claims at Allianz Australia. Lori has a Bachelors of Business in Economics and a Juris Doctorate. As General Manager, Lori oversees Australia and New Zealand General Insurance, Public and Product Liability, Professional Indemnity, Directors and Officers, CTP, Dust Disease, Consumer Credit and Life Claims. She is admitted to practice law in Australia and the United States.
Venessa Curnow
Venessa has over 19 years extensive work experience, including nine years of strategic industry development at the national level and seven years experience in Queensland state-wide development. She has facilitated over 40 small non-for-profit Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander organisations to maintain viability in developing economic conditions. Her current roles include: Chamber One Director and Board Member of National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples; Member of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dementia Advisory Group (NATSIDAG); Former Board Member of the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency; Treasurer of Parramatta State School Parents and Citizens Association; and Member (Grants and Quality Assurance) of Cairns Community Kindergarten
Ailson Morley
Alison studied Geology at Sydney University, and is now Manager of Project Generation and Geological Services at Iluka Resources, a mineral sands producer. She is active on many boards and committees and is currently Deputy Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Minerals Research Institute of WA (MRIWA), a member of the WA Regional Council for Finsia and a board member at WA Youth Theatre Company. Alison is married with two daughters, aged 6 and 8.
Claire Negus
With a background as a lawyer, Claire holds a current practice certificate (solicitor) and was named Risk Manager of the year (2012) by the Risk Management Institute of Australasia. She held positions of Director of Strategic Development and Company Secretary on the board of the Risk Management Institute of Australasia until 2013 when she stepped down to focus on her role of Director Commercial at Roy Hill ($10B Australian resources project), where she is currently responsible for strategy, leadership and management.
INSEAD Learning to Lead
Stacey Broadbent
Stacey has focused her working life on improving housing outcomes, including sustainable and quality housing for Aboriginal people. In her current role as Manager of the Provider Assessment and Registration System (PARS), she leads a team of nine staff which is a mix of aboriginal and non aboriginal people, and is responsible for ensuring that Aboriginal community housing providers in NSW meet standards to achieve and maintain is registration to access resources to enhance business operations and achieve positive outcomes for the wider Aboriginal community. She is also currently studying an Advance Diploma in Management through TAFE NSW, has recently completed a Diploma in Management and holds a Bachelor in Law and Bachelor in Welfare (Families and Communities).
Renee Garner
Renee holds the position of General Manager, Retail, Regulation & Compliance at Energy Australia, where she leads a team of regulatory, compliance and operational risk and industry development professionals in the development and advocacy of strategic policy, and management of Retails compliance and risk management frameworks. Renee was awarded the Australia Financial Review BOSS Magazine’s Young Executive of the Year in 2014.
Kate Holling,
Kate is the Superintendent Drill & Blast for BHPBillton Iron Ore’s Yandi mine site. She leads a team of people responsible for drilling and blasting more that 100 million tonnes of mineable stock per annum. Since graduating from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science, Kate has held a number of operational and leadership roles across geology, planning, business improvement, mineral processing and mining.
Jessica McCarthy
For most of her career, Jessica has held investment analyst and in her current role as Head of Investment Relationships at AMP Capital, she combines her investment experience with her interest internal business issues and client engagement. She is also currently the Acting Head of Retail Solutions as part of a six-month secondment opportunity.