2022 Female Leadership Scholarship Recipients

2022 Female Leadership Scholarship Winners Announced:

Sport NSW is pleased to announce the successful applicants for the recently announced Female Leadership Program Scholarships and Sponsorships.

The successful applicants for the sponsored placements in the Chief Executive Women Leaders Program are:

• Melissa Achten Netball NSW
• Teale Blessington Cricket NSW
• Stephanie Clarke Cricket NSW
• Louise Cooke Surf Life Saving NSW
• Casey Dellacqua Tennis NSW
• Marita Forss Cricket NSW
• Joanne Scanlon Cricket NSW
• Clare Serafini Tennis NSW

The successful applicants for the Australian Institute of Company Directors scholarships are:

• Rebecca Shaw Little Athletics NSW
• Rebecca Walter Volleyball NSW

The scholarships and sponsorships have been funded by the Increasing Women on Gender Inclusive Boards in NSW initiative; an 18-month pilot study program funded by the NSW Office of Sport as part of the Her Sport Her Way Year 3 Action Plan.

The program aims to support NSW State Sporting Organisations (SSO) and State Sporting Organisations for people with Disability (SSOD) to increase gender diversity on boards and in leadership roles.

Sport NSW invited an experienced panel to judge applications and make recommendations to the Sport NSW board.

The selection panel was comprised of:

• Katriina Heikkanen, Indigenous and Social Policy Manager, AFL
• Libby Sadler, Strategic Projects Manager, Sport NSW
• Susan Horwitz, Director, Sport NSW
• Phil Hamdorf, Director, Hamdorf Consulting
• Mark Windon, Executive Director, Surfing NSW (CEW Applications only)

Judges were asked to determine the successful applicants using a structured assessment guidance document.

Following the selection process, it was determined that a third AICD scholarship should be awarded as part of the ongoing development of a board member of Sport NSW. This scholarship has been awarded to an original applicant recommended to the board by the judging panel and will be funded 50% from Sport NSW and 50% from GIB project funding. The successful recipient of this scholarship is Tracie Edmondson from NSW Rugby League and a board member of Sport NSW.

Sponsored placements for the Australian Institute of Company Directors Not for Profit Foundations for Directorship were not awarded due to a very limited number of applications. Sport NSW is reviewing the sponsorship and will advertise an amended offering in due course.

Congratulations to all successful applicants and thank you to our esteemed judging panel for your hard work.

We look forward to hearing about your professional development experiences and continuing to work with sport to increase the capacity of sport through sustainable gender inclusion on boards and in senior leadership.

For any enquiries about the Increasing Women on Gender Inclusive Boards in NSW Initiative please contact Libby Sadler, SNSW Strategic Project Manager on email Libby.Sadler@sportnsw.com.au