Women in Leadership Australia scholars
As FLEET worked towards building Australia’s scientific capacity by training new generation of science leaders, the Centre paid particular attention to increasing the diversity in STEM, including innovative programs such as Women in FLEET and Diversity in FLEET fellowships (see the case study).
Within the Centre, FLEET provided an environment for early-career women to thrive, progress and grow into capable and confident leaders.
A significant cohort of women at FLEET received funding towards high-level leadership training, with surveys confirming the lasting positive impacts of this training in their new careers.
FLEET funded 23 FLEET women to receive training via Women and Leadership Australia (WLA) leadership programs, with the majority of those women subsequently moving on to new roles in which their leadership skills are key.
This aligns with the UN’s 2024 International Women’s Day theme, ‘Count her in: invest in women, accelerate progress’. Investing in women is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic decision that yields numerous benefits for organisations and society.
WLA’s Leading Edge program provides practical management and leadership training. It has a holistic approach to building leadership skills and mindset, enabling women to increase resilience and develop invaluable peer-support networks.
The Impact program is aimed at women who wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves a leader or who aren’t in formal management positions. The 10-week program builds behavioural and interpersonal skills to enable better self-understanding, interpretation, and impact on others.
Scholarships are highly competitive with a limited number of applicants from each organisation eligible to apply.
Efforts to increase the number of women in STEM in leadership positions will also have long-term benefits, as the increased number of women in science leadership in turn become role models to inspire others.
Leading Edge gave me confidence in my ability to be an effective leader
— Charlotte Hurry
Leading Edge taught me how to understand myself better, manage myself, know others, and work well with others
— Maedehsadat Mousavi