Applications have opened for the second intake of the Aspire Women Leaders Program provided by Hollard and Steadfast.

The year-long development program, open to Steadfast Group female brokers, offers relevant and topical courses designed to provide leadership skills and advance participants’ careers within the insurance industry.

“Aspire was expanded from an internal leadership program within Hollard, with the goal of supporting our broker channel,” Hollard says in a LinkedIn post.

“Beyond the formal education components, the women selected to participate will benefit from increased confidence levels and a new network of women who they will connect with deeply, personally and professionally - benefits that will remain with them for a long time to come.”

Participants receive a Certificate in Executive Management and Development from the Australian Graduate Scheme of Management at the UNSW Business School and credits toward a Master of Business Administration.

Hollard says diversity and inclusion is a business imperative and work remains to be done to ensure gender equality in the insurance industry.

“Although improving, there are still steps to be taken to ensure that women are at least equally represented and valued in management and executive positions,” it says.

Applications for the Aspire program are open until July 31 and the course will run from October to November next year.

More information is available here.