Winners announced for 2021 scholarship program
Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL) and Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific have announced the winners of the 2021 Driving the Difference scholarships.
The six winners are Sharon Robertson (Greyhound Resources), Melissa Barry (Border Crane Consultants), Melira Lister (FreightPlus, logistics manager), Melissa Riley (West Tankers), and Carina Wrigley (Don Watson Transport).
All were chosen from a number of outstanding applicants across Australia and will be presented with their certificates at the TWAL EOY function in their nearest capital city.
The Driving the Difference Scholarships program was developed in 2019 for women in the transport and logistics industry and has now awarded 14 scholarships to women in a wide variety of study courses with the objective of advancing their transport and logistics careers.
From this year’s cohort two are already undergoing training to obtain a multi combination licence (Robertson and Wrigley), one to obtain a heavy rigid licence (Barry), one to study her cert IV in training and assessment (Riley), one for leadership development (Lister) and one for implementing strategy for results (Aggarwal).
NSW recipient, Sanjeeta Aggarwal said the course would assist her in progressing her career at a senior level.
“My aspiration is to step into a senior manager/director role. I will build a network of strategy professionals whom I can reach out to for career opportunities, progressing to the next level in my professional career,” said Aggarwal.
Transport Women Australia Limited chair Jacquelene Brotherton was overwhelmed at the calibre of the applicants.
“It is always such a huge decision to have to narrow it down to the final number. We are so fortunate to have such amazing women in our industry with such a thirst to advance their knowledge and careers,” said Brotherton.
“We were so honoured to be able to present the Driving the Difference scholarships for the third year, to enhance participation of women in the transport and logistics industry.”
Unsuccessful applicants were encouraged to resubmit applications for 2022.
The program is not the first initiative from TWAL, with the organisation launching a joint venture in 2018 with the Wodonga TAFE (Technical and Further Educational) and Volvo Group Australia for a female only driver licencing course, called the Women Driving Transport Careers initiative, enabling women to obtain their driving licence and further instruction in load restraint, rules and regulations, timesheets, and other necessary duties.
The initiatives strives to prepare its participants to enter the industry professionally trained and fully employed at the end of the course. For more information, email chair@transportwomen.com.au, or ph 0417422319.