Women in Leadership

New Zealand Women in Leadership Programme - Developing Women Leaders in the Tertiary Sector

Are you a potential leader?

The Women in Leadership Programme (NZWIL) exists to support, encourage, and contribute to the development of women who are, or aspire in future to be, leaders within the tertiary sector. Our goal is to increase women’s leadership capabilities and influence by enhancing their personal, professional and national-level skills and networks. This nationwide programme is endorsed by Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara and developed by a steering committee of experienced academic and senior women leaders. Initial seed funding to set up the programme was provided by the Kate Edgar Educational Charitable Trust, named in recognition of Kate Milligan Edgar (1857-1935), the first woman to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in the British Empire. Each programme participant is funded by their university.

We offer two Women in Leadership programmes per annum.

Who can attend Women in Leadership courses?

Each NZ University is responsible for the selection of at least two nominees for each NZWIL programme. University women interested in applying should get in touch with their university key contact person.

We provide programmes for two related target groups:

• women in, or aspiring to, senior leadership positions in academia such as professors, associate professors, Heads of School or departments, Associate Deans, Chairs of major university committees, or principal investigators on major research projects.
• women in, or aspiring to, administrative leadership positions. This includes those with responsibility for budget and people, including directors or managers of student administration, facilities management, student services, communications and marketing, student recruitment, human resources, international, legal, library, faculty registrars and school managers from large schools.

The programme is committed to encouraging diversity, so we welcome people from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines. We are particularly keen to assist women from under-represented groups, such as women in science and engineering, or Maori and Pasifika women.

What do our programmes involve?

We run 5 day intensive, interactive residential programmes, designed to stimulate, engage and boost the skills of women who attend. Those selected gain a great deal, and in return are expected to fully participate and work hard, including completing some pre-work. They should also be willing to host follow-up activities at their university and/or school/department - we want to build strong networks of women within tertiary institutions so that women leaders are supported, recognised and valued.

To see what was included in the programmes, click here for the 2011 programme for academic women and here for the 2011 programme for women in administrative positions.

What do women gain from attending the programme?

The benefits are many. Some are personal gains; others help your university and wider environment as well. Women who have attended tell us the benefits included:

• successful promotion to a more senior leadership role after attending.
• a greater pool of women in senior leadership and management positions.
• women leaders who become more confident and visible. Several participants have successfully increased their public profile after implementing skills gained on the programme.
• better gender balance in senior roles within universities - something Universities New Zealand - Te Pōkai Tara is committed to achieving.
• stronger networks between women, both within universities and nationally. Some participants have gone on to collaborate on research or producing papers, for example.
• greater leadership skills for women attending, whether in research, teaching or administration.
• a better environment in universities and tertiary organisations, through more women leaders who are strong, capable and confident. 

What kind of women attend the programmes?

Women from a wide variety of disciplines, backgrounds, ages and geographical areas have attended the courses. Click here to read the profiles of some of the participants from last year’s programme. So far, 79 women have attended the courses; 60 academic women and 19 general staff. All of New Zealand’s 8 universities have sent participants. 

What results have the programmes achieved?

• a group of NZWIL Alumni have organised and got funding and senior leadership support for further conferences.
• one NZWIL group produced a pan University research paper on women's experience in academia.
• At the University of Otago, some NZWIL Alumni have produced a paper on the 'gender pay gap' which was presented at the NZWIL Conference.
• We have had anecdotal feedback from individual participants who say the NZWIL programme helped them to achieve promotion to a more senior leadership role or to lead a significant project, research or university initiative.
• Many NZWIL participants have increased their media profile and/or been invited to speak on issues due to the increased confidence in their expertise and role as an academic which they gained from the NZWIL programme. 

Who is on the NZ WIL Steering Group?

Chair - Professor Sarah Todd, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), University of Otago

Deputy Chair - Annemarie de Castro, Director Human Resources, Victoria University of Wellington

Dr. Di McCarthy, Chief Executive, The Royal Society of New Zealand

Dr. Judy McGregor, EEO Commissioner, Human Rights Commission

Associate Professor Sarah Leberman, New Zealand Centre for Women and Leadership, Massey University

Dr. Candice Harris, Senior Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology

New Zealand Women in Leadership Alumni Conference 2010

The 2nd New Zealand Women in Leadership Conference was held at Victoria University of Wellington on 29th - 30th November 2010.