Indigenous Advocate Emerges as Top NFP Leader
11 March 2014 at 8:56 am
Indigenous leader Rachelle Towart has been named as the top emerging leader in the Not for Profit sector at the recent 2014 NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards.
Towart is the CEO of indigenous owned and controlled Not for Profit education provider, Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC) and has secured more than $10 million in funding for indigenous education for the NFP.
The win follows other recent accolades including being named Australia's top community CEO in the 2013 Westpac Community Leaders Awards and recognised as one of Australia's 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review.
"Lots of people talk about helping to Close the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, but Rachelle and her team at the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre are actually doing it,” AILC Chair Dr Tom Calma said.
"This award is special because it recognises Rachelle as an exceptional Australian leader who happens to be Indigenous.
"Indigenous people have a huge potential that is all too frequently unrealised – which translates to a tide of dire statistics and headlines about the plight of Indigenous people. In that context, it is life-affirming to see the recognition of an exceptional leader and exceptional Indigenous organisation."
Towart was appointed CEO of the AILC in 2007 and has tripled revenue and more than doubled the number of course places available to indigenous people without compromising quality. Her success in forging strong partnerships with major Australian corporations and also government departments across Australia has raised national awareness of the value of indigenous leadership and indigenous governance.
Established in 2001, it remains the only national provider of accredited indigenous leadership courses and has also diversified into provision of indigenous governance and mentoring courses as well as consulting services.
"This award is a great recognition of the value of Indigenous leadership and governance education and also a valued recognition of everyone associated with the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre,” Towart said.
"Our graduates earn almost $14,000 per annum extra after completing an AILC course and around four in five take on enhanced leadership roles, which is an amazing return on investment and my fervent hope is that their story will become better known through this award."
