The Clean Energy Council is calling for applications from talented women in the renewable energy industry for the 2018 Women in Renewables Scholarship.
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, said the scholarship is designed to promote gender diversity in senior leadership roles in the clean energy industry by funding the successful applicant to complete the Foundations of Directorship course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“Numerous studies have shown that companies with stronger gender diversity perform better than those without, with revenue growth, profitability and corporate governance all positively affected,” Mr Thornton said.
“The Clean Energy Council would like to see a better gender balance at all levels of the clean energy industry. We have made a concerted effort to achieve greater diversity in our own corporate governance, with more than 40 per cent of our board, including our Chair, comprised of female members.
“The Women in Renewables Scholarship gives a woman in our industry the opportunity to progress her career and take a leading position as we transition towards a clean energy future.”
The scholarship will be the third awarded as part of the Clean Energy Council’s Women in Renewables initiative. In addition to the scholarship, the initiative launched the Women in Renewables Leaders’ Pledge at the 2017 Australian Clean Energy Summit.
“The Leaders’ Pledge gives members of the clean energy sector the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment and belief in the proven value and importance of gender diversity,” Mr Thornton said.
“By signing the Leaders’ Pledge, participants make a commitment to step up as an inclusive leader, decline to speak on panels that aren’t gender diverse and promote the achievements of women. So far, more than 100 men and women have signed the Leaders’ Pledge, including some of the clean energy industry’s leading figures.”
The Foundations of Directorship course is delivered over three full days and is available in most capital cities. The successful applicant will also receive a one-year membership to the Australian Institute of Company Directors, mentoring by a Clean Energy Council Director, and the opportunity to make a presentation to the Clean Energy Council Board.
For details of the scholarship and to submit an application, visit cleanenergycouncil.org.au/women.
The deadline for applications is 15 October 2017.
