Chemistry Australia has joined forces with Chief Executive Women to accelerate career opportunities for Women in STEM and increase representation of women leaders in the Australian chemistry industry.

Chemistry Australia and Chief Executive Women (CEW) will partner on a new scholarship to enable an emerging woman leader in the chemistry sector to attend the Women Transforming Leadership Program at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

An initiative of the Chemistry Australia Board, and funded by its Board member companies, the Chemistry Australia CEW Woman Leader in STEM scholarship is open to employees of Chemistry Australia member companies and their supply chain partners, and candidates from the chemistry industry nationally.

Applicants must be employed in a mid- to senior executive role with 5-10 years of senior leadership experience and have the endorsement of a senior manager or Board member.

Applications for the scholarship open today on the CEW website.

Chemistry Australia CEO Samantha Read said the collaboration with Chief Executive Women has enabled the association to deliver a significant scholarship for women working in the Australian chemistry industry.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Chief Executive Women to offer this life-changing opportunity to a rising woman leader in our sector,” said Ms Read.

“The new Woman Leader in STEM scholarship is a powerful way for the Board to promote the development of female leaders in the chemistry industry and increase women’s participation in our sector’s senior leadership roles.”

CEW Chair, Scholarships Committee Deidre Willmott said that CEW applauds initiatives by Chemistry Australia to increase the number of women in leadership across the industry.

“There are already amazing women leaders in the chemistry industry, yet across the STEM sector women hold fewer than 10 per cent of leadership roles.”

“We are very proud to partner with Chemistry Australia to launch the Woman Leader in STEM Scholarship, which will give an outstanding woman leader a once in a lifetime opportunity to advance her career and take the next step in their leadership journey.”

The scholarship is the most recent of measures the Chemistry Australia Board has implemented to advance the careers of women, foster diversity, and sponsor rising talent in the industry.  The scholarship program will complement its Emerging Leaders Advisory Council, which was established in late 2021 to advise the Board on future strategic opportunities, risks, and initiatives to support the growth and future sustainability of the industry.

“Increasing the cognitive diversity in leadership roles and supporting women to have successful careers in STEM-based industries like ours is good for the performance of our economy and key to Australia’s future,” said Ms Read.

“We strongly encourage women in the chemistry industry nationally to apply for the scholarship and take advantage of this transformational career opportunity.”