The Observership Program

Yesterday, in Melbourne we hosted our penultimate governance session for the year, designed to help the Victorian Observer cohort maximise their remaining board observerships and prepare for future directorships. A heartfelt thank you to our six panellists Ursula Dyer Lepporoli, Bianca Goebel, Hugo Bieber, Tyson Taylor, Kate Stewart, and Bwe Thay, all former Observers who generously shared their governance journeys and practical insights around transitioning from the Program into board roles. The session was facilitated by Catherine Reiser, Director of the Victorian Program and generously supported by PwC Melbourne. We’re grateful for the continued support of our alumni, participating NFPs and funding partners who assist the Program with developing the next generation of board leaders. #Governance #BoardLeadership #ObservershipProgram #FutureDirectors #NFPBoards #Mentorship #PwCMelbourne #LeadershipDevelopment #ObservershipProgramAlumni

12 days until applications close for the 2026 Observership Program. Apply before 11.59pm, Sunday 3 August 2025. Visit observership.com.au today to apply.

Thank you Joanne Jessop for your post and kind words! What an incredible night in Brisbane! 🌟Our Brisbane launch event exceeded all expectations, bringing together our 2025 Observers, dedicated host boards, and prospective partners for an evening of connection, inspiration, and shared purpose. The energy in the room was buzzing - from our Observers who are just beginning their governance journeys, to our host boards who are committed to developing Australia's next generation of diverse leaders, to the organisations exploring how they can be part of this transformation. A huge thank you to Greg Ewing BSc MAICD and the entire AICD team for hosting us in their fantastic Brisbane facilities. We're grateful for the partnership and support that makes events like this possible. To our host boards who attended - your commitment to nurturing emerging talent is what makes this program work. To our 2025 Brisbane Observers - your enthusiasm and thoughtful questions reminded us why we do this work. Special thanks to Jane Crombie facilitating our Q&A session, Richard Hall and Mateja Hawley for sharing their valuable insights. Finally, thank you to our team for making this happen. Our fabulous CEO Cathy Robinson for hosting the event, Belinda Da Silva and Rachel 🙋♀️ E. for bringing it all together. For organisations considering joining us as host boards or corporate partners, or individuals thinking about applying for 2026 - we'd love to continue the conversation. These connections and partnerships are what drive real change in Australian leadership. Here's to building boardrooms as diverse as our nation! 🙌 #ObservershipProgram #Brisbane #Leadership #BoardDiversity #Partnership

Thank you Tom Levi for your continued support. Dont wait, apply now!

🚀 We are excited to announce applications for The Observership Program 2026 are now open! Here's what our program has to offer: ✨ 12 months serving on a real NFP or government board ✨ Hands-on governance experience that develops skills you simply can't learn in a classroom ✨ Professional training from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and The Ethics Centre ✨ A network of emerging leaders who genuinely care about the world they live in ✨ The chance to develop as a purpose-driven leader who understands both profit and purpose Available across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane - we're building boardrooms as diverse as our nation! This program isn't about ticking boxes. We're developing the next generation of leaders who will carry forward-thinking approaches from the NFP space into corporate Australia. You'll gain governance expertise while contributing to organisations that are genuinely making a difference in the world. Applications close 3 August 2025 for our general stream - don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of the change! Ready to join our 1,400+ alumni who are transforming Australian leadership? 👉 Check out www.observership.com.au for all the details Who do you know that would be perfect for this? Tag them below! 👇 #TheObservershipProgram #LeadershipDevelopment #BoardDiversity

Hello network! We are excited to announce the 2026 Program applications will open at 9am, Monday 30 June 2025. The Observership Program pairs talented emerging leaders with not-for-profit and government boards across Victoria, Sydney and Brisbane for a 12-month period. Observers gain practical boardroom experience while participating in a comprehensive governance training program supported by Program partners; the Australian Institute of Company Directors and The Ethics Centre. Visit www.observership.com.au for additional details on the 2026 Program. We can't wait to receive your application form before our closing date, 3 August 2025.

Today, The Observership Program acknowledges National Sorry Day and remembers the strength of the Stolen Generations Survivors. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their connection to the land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their culture, to Elders past, present and emerging.   We also accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to walk together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.    Today is a day for reflection, acknowledgment, and renewed commitment to walking together towards reconciliation. As we work to build more diverse and representative boardrooms across Australia, we're committed to creating pathways for First Nations leaders. We're proud that 9.4% of our program participants are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, though we recognise there's still much work to be done to achieve true representation in governance roles.   #NationalSorryDay #Reconciliation #FirstNationsLeadership

Thank you to our amazing panelists on Wednesday night, who despite the rain and train disruptions still showed up for our 2025 Sydney Cohort to deliver an amazing AICD Q&A session. The energy in the room was electric! We have such an engaged cohort this year who really are making the most of every opportunity. Deepest thanks and gratitude to Sharanya Srikanth, Solai Valliappan and Leanne Wallace GAICD for your continued support of The Program. And to all the Observers that braved the weather! It was well worth it. 🙏

Hello network! 👋 We can't believe it's May already! For our NSW and VIC cohorts, that means you're nearly halfway through your Observership journey. The feedback on this year's program has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of our Observers are already making a significant impact on their host boards while simultaneously developing essential governance skills that will shape them as future leaders. We're already working towards the 2026 program and applications will be opening soon! Whether you're: - A potential Observer looking to gain board experience - A not-for-profit or government board interested in hosting an Observer - A corporate partner wanting to develop your emerging leaders Now is the perfect time to start thinking about how you can get involved with The Observership Program for 2026. Stay tuned for updates on application dates and further info on 2026! #BoardDiversity #GovernanceSkills #LeadershipDevelopment #NFPBoards