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Coinciding with International Women鈥檚 Day, the Indigenous Leaders Scholarship was awarded to Amara Barnes, a Wiradjuri woman who has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to enhance education and employment outcomes and leadership opportunities through Indigenous internship programs and grassroots mentoring.

鈥淚 was most impressed with Amara鈥檚 clear vision for how she is bridging the gap between corporate entities and small Indigenous organisations that are working at a community level to drive social outcomes,鈥� said Ms McJannett.

鈥淭oo often the impact of small grass-root initiatives are overshadowed by large not-for-profit organisations. Amara鈥檚 rationale is truly inspiring: these small organisations make the most impact and need greater profile and recognition.鈥�

The Indigenous Leaders Scholarship covers part-time MBA tuition for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander candidate who has demonstrated leadership skills and personal achievements working with Indigenous communities.

鈥淭he support of this scholarship is invaluable to me, as commencing an MBA with the University of Sydney is not an opportunity that I would have otherwise been able to pursue,鈥� said Ms Barnes.

鈥湼咔甯＠�片ing an MBA means I have an opportunity to challenge myself intellectually and build skills that will help me to achieve positive outcomes through the work that I do.鈥�

Ms Barnes hopes the MBA will allow her to build her capacity to drive social impact through business and enhance her leadership skills.

鈥淗aving won a scholarship personally, I can appreciate the huge opportunity it affords and the doors that it opens for your future,鈥� said Ms McJannett, who was awarded the Business School鈥檚 2016 David Anstice MBA Scholarship for her work in international food sustainability within disadvantaged communities in Australia and abroad.

鈥淎t Food Ladder we wanted to be able to do the same for an Indigenous future leader to support them reach a position of authority where they will make decisions on the issues that affect their people and first Australians,鈥� said Ms McJannett. 鈥淪trong indigenous leadership in the board rooms of corporate Australia and policy development in Government is essential.鈥�

Director of the MBA program, Professor Guy Ford, congratulated Ms Barnes on the award.

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome such a promising leader to this cohort,鈥� said Professor Ford. 鈥淲e trust that the MBA will assist Ms Barnes to enhance the impressive work she has already accomplished with Indigenous communities.鈥�

The Business School鈥檚 part-time MBA was the nation鈥檚 number one program in 2017, according to the biennial MBA ranking published by the Australian Financial Review鈥檚 highly respected BOSS magazine.

鈥淯niversities have traditionally been a place of exclusion and privilege,鈥� said Ms Barnes. 鈥淭o invest in, and celebrate Indigenous leaders at universities, is to redefine the space which higher education occupies for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.鈥�

鈥淎s a female Indigenous leader with excellent experience in the development of Reconciliation Action Plans and reach into a broad range of diverse stakeholder groups, I believe Amara will have an even greater capacity in her work with Indigenous organisations as a result of the opportunities of Business School鈥檚 MBA,鈥� Ms McJannett concluded.