Hollard is seeking applicants for this year’s Aspire Women Leaders Program, a year-long career development course tailored to female insurance brokers looking to become future business leaders.

Hollard has run Aspire twice so far and of the 33 participants to complete the program, 14 have had a promotion or career move.

Applications for the latest round are due by the end of July. A maximum of 20 participants will be selected in September for an October start to the 12-month course.

The program promises to “equip participants with the executive skills to support excellence in a senior leadership position.”

Hollard says the initiative recognises the work still to be done to ensure equality in the broking and 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. “We want to show our commitment to our female brokers by offering you an opportunity to participate in a dedicated Women Leaders program.”

Participants benefit from access to a shared mentor throughout the program and meet and network with industry leaders and other participants of a similar calibre.

Hollard has partnered with the University of New South Wales Business School (UNSW), and the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), which will issue a Certificate in Executive Management and Development to successful Aspire graduates.

The course is also designed to provide credits to the AGSM Executive MBA, a $25,000 course that is fully subsidised for the Aspire participants by Hollard and Steadfast, which says it “strongly believes that we perform better as a business with a diverse team of people and an inclusive culture”.

Women are underrepresented at the higher levels of management within the insurance and financial industry, with only 40% in management. Although growing, the representation of women in management declines with seniority and only 18% of CEOs/Head of Business across all industries in Australian are female.

Financial and Insurance Services remains the industry with the highest total remuneration gender pay gap at 27.5%.

“One of the hurdles that women face is the ability to attend networking and sponsorship events due to wide and varied level of commitments beyond work,” Hollard says. “This program provides an opportunity for a sustained support network based on meaningful relationships developed over time.”

See the Participant Brochure here and Business Sponsor Brochure here.