FPA to manage and deliver Government’s $1.5 million Women in Finance and Economics Scholarship Program

Following an open and competitive grant round, the FPA has been selected to manage and deliver a $1.5 million scholarship program for women in finance and economics, as part of the Women’s Leadership and Development Program.

Over the next two years, FPA will play a key role in providing 38 scholarships valued at up to $50,000 each to encourage more women to pursue careers in financial planning, accounting, business, finance and economics, or to renew, upskill or refresh their skills in these areas.

FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to roll out gender-friendly policies and programs, particularly programs that invest in women’s economic empowerment.

“The FPA will be using this opportunity to further support, retain and attract women to financial planning as well as the broader economic and financial services industry.

“The appointment is a significant coup for the FPA, reinforcing the strength of the profession more broadly and recognition of the leadership the FPA has taken through its Women in Financial Planning program which was established to create more networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities specifically for women.

“Increasing the number of women in financial planning will not only grow the profession but also fill the unmet advice need in Australia which will help more consumers,” Mr De Gori said.

“This announcement is a great responsibility and privilege and we look forward to reviewing the applications once open in the second half of the 2021 calendar year,” concludes Mr De Gori.

Expanding on the Women’s Leadership and Development Program (WLDP), the program funding will deliver scholarships that encourage and assist women, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, to enter, re-enter and achieve leadership roles across the financial services sector. These scholarships will help create a talent pool and pipeline for diversity in business leadership for the future.

For more information on the scholarships for Women in Finance and Economics grants, visit the FPA website.