Melbourne Business School is supporting more Indigenous leaders to make an impact with the launch of two additional scholarships for First Nations students.
The scholarships were announced last month at the launch of the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership, which aims to improve economic empowerment for Indigenous Australians.
“These scholarships represent one of the many ways in which we can play our part in cultivating future Indigenous leaders and supporting a vibrant and sustainable Indigenous business sector,” says Melbourne Business School Dean, Internal, Professor Caron Beaton-Wells.
Dr Jennifer Beer, a proud Darlot woman from the Western Desert Region of Western Australiam said studying an Executive MBA helped her gain confidence to take on senior leadership roles. Jen’s current position is Head of Education and Health, Regional and Remote, at NBN Co.
“Being able to learn about topics that I’d had limited exposure to, such as operations and finance, really helped build my confidence,” she says.
“The MBA gave me the ability to understand and contribute to conversations with all parts of the business, and most importantly, ask the right questions.
“These scholarships will give other Indigenous people the opportunity to expand their skills and take on leadership roles, which is so important to realising Dilin Duwa’s goal of Indigenous economic empowerment.”
As well as working at NBN Co, Jen also sits on the Indigenous Advisory Group for Dilin Duwa and the board of Zoos Victoria – roles that seem a lifetime away from her humble beginnings in Perth.
“It’s hard to believe that only seven years ago, I started the MURRA Indigenous Business Program which opened the door to the Executive MBA and everything that I’m doing now,” she said.
