PROFILE
THE BUILDERS CHOICE profile
Identifying the barriers women face in their journey into leadership and clearing the path for talented female leaders to progress is now a focus area for many of Australia’s leading organisations. Women represent an enormously under-utilised resource, and supporting a greater percentage of women to step up into leadership positions brings about tremendous economic and cultural benefits for organisations. Responding to these needs, Women and Leadership Australia (WLA) is a national initiative committed to supporting the presence of women in business and community leadership roles. Founded in March 2004, the organisation grew from humble beginnings, running its first event for just eight women in Shepparton, northern Victoria. WLA has since grown into one of the country’s leading authorities on leadership and workplace gender equality. WLA continues to expand, launching Women and Leadership New Zealand (WLNZ) three years ago and this year launching Women and Leadership International, which is based in the UK. Provider of leadership courses and events Focused on developing leadership capability, enabling career progression and assisting
WLA: helping women to attain positions of leadership
women to more effectively manage the opposing challenges of career and life, the organisation has become a highly regarded provider of leadership courses and events to women in every state and territory. Through a powerful national network of several hundred thousand women, WLA regularly connects and empowers females across all industries, providing on-going support, advice and networks at every stage of their leadership journey. As part of a broader network of leadership development initiatives and brands, WLA partners with Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM), Government and Public Sector Learning (GPS Learning), the National Excellence in Schools Leadership Initiative (NESLI), and
Workplace Training Advisory Australia (WTAA). WLA itself provides a number of courses which include the Advanced Leadership Program, the Executive Ready program and the Leading Edge program. Marquee events include the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposiums, the National Defence, Police and Emergency Services Women’s Leadership Summit, and the Australian Women’s Leadership Forum. 100 Days For Change A recent particularly successful project, 100 Days For Change, was a grassroots movement which, in 2018, encouraged all organisations and individuals in Australia to make at least one concrete change to improve workplace gender equity. Up to
200,000 Australian employees (both women and men) were positively impacted by the three-month project. The organisation also pledges to provide $100,000 each year for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to attend networking events. From time to time WLA works with specific industries (particularly male-dominated ones) to increase the opportunities for women through its own or joint funding programs. For example, a pool of scholarship funding is currently available for women working in the construction and engineering sector to participate in a range of leadership development courses. (Expressions of interest close June 21 - www.wla.edu.au/consteng) A further example is WLA’s work with Hort Innovation (the government department that looks after the Australian horticulture sector) to provide co-funded developmental opportunities for women within the industry. This involves a total investment of $273,000 across five years with the project currently being in its third year. Excellence in Women’s Leadership awards Each year a select group of individuals are recognised for Excellence in Women’s Leadership as a way of thanking some remarkable people for outstanding contributions. The
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