UN scholarship winner hopes to see more women in policing

The UN Women NC Australia MBA Scholarship aims to promote gender equality at the most senior levels of the nation's public, corporate and not-for-profit sectors. It covers full tuition of the Business School’s part-time MBA program, valued at over $60,000.

The scholarship recipient, Tara Edgtton, has been a sworn Australian Federal Police Officer for 19 years and has worked across a diverse range of leadership and support roles, including most recently as Acting Director of Leadership Education (Design) at the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM).

While at the AIPM, Ms Edgtton developed the ‘Balance: Women Leaders in Public Safety’ program, which is designed to empower women in leadership as well as improve women’s lives, safety, and capacity to contribute to the community.

“Growing the Balance program was a privilege and challenge driven by my passion for positive change and my deeply held values and beliefs about women succeeding as leaders,” said Ms Edgtton.

“Through this we have created a network that supports individual women wishing to exercise leadership in their roles, and promotes increased gender visibility and female representation in leadership.”

“I believe the University of Sydney MBA will allow me to improve my management and leadership skills to create an environment that encourages outstanding innovation and motivation for individual and organisational success,” said Ms Edgtton.

“I believe completing the Business School’s MBA will equip me with skills which I can use to improve my own performance as a manager and a leader, and I look forward to the opportunity to see what works for gender equity from other industries to share with own organisation,” said Ms Edgtton.

UN Women National Committee (NC) Australia exists to raise funds for and awareness of UN Women, a United Nations organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls worldwide.

Women average between 30 - 35 per cent of MBA participants in Australia and worldwide. With the support of UN Women NC Australia, the Business School aims to address this gap to further women’s education and promote gender equality in leadership.

In 2015, the Business School’s top-ranking MBA program became the first in the country to admit more women than men.