A new initiative was launched last month to celebrate healthy masculinity, and highlight masculine traits that are prosocial. The Awards for Under-Represented Men in Leadership are available to Canberran men from a wide range of groups: Indigenous, diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds, young men aspiring to senior leadership, economic/educational/social disadvantage, men with disability, and others.
It’s often said that “you can’t be what you can’t see” and there are many men who don’t see themselves represented in the current leadership of our public sector, companies, not-for-profits, or educational institutions.
The purpose of these new Awards is to inspire and encourage men, as well as to provide practical support for future leaders. Founder of the initiative, David Maywald, says that “when boys and men strive towards being better, the results are positive for our entire society”.
Mr Maywald is a full-time Company Director serving on five boards, including registered charities and a public company in the ACT. His two-decade professional career as an Investment Manager had a focus on research and analysis, product development, marketing, leadership, and governance. He has taken a keen interest in the life outcomes of boys and men.
“Boys and men are performing poorly in key areas of education, health, and wellbeing,” he says. “The return from investing time and money into boys and men is exceptionally high. Healthier, happier, and higher performing men are better for women, children, and for society.”
This Award will be a life-changing experience for all the winners: a $10,000 scholarship to undertake further studies or professional development in the areas of leadership and governance; a structured mentorship program for almost one year; along with networking opportunities and introductions that are tailored to each specific winner. The scholarship alone is enough to fund the Company Director’s Course plus AICD membership, or the Cranlana Colloquium, or an executive education program with a leading university.
Each year, two Award winners will be announced on International Men’s Day. IMD is celebrated on 19 November every year in about 80 countries worldwide. Applications are open for men who live and work in Canberra, and must be sent to [email protected] by Thursday 19 October.
Applicants are required to be available to interview in-person, attend the announcement ceremony on 19 November in Canberra, and to participate in the networking/introductions in-person. The first four pages of each cover letter, and the first three pages of each résumé, will be used to shortlist candidates.
The key selection criteria include: being a positive male role model; the demonstration of agency in your life; making a significant contribution to our community; and having high leadership potential for driving positive change.
Recently released statistics from the Australian Public Service Commission show that women make up 53 per cent of Senior Executive Service positions, and 55 per cent of Executive Level roles.
In Australia, boys have nine per cent lower high school completion rates compared to girls. There are 53 per cent more female university graduates than male, with more than three women graduating for every two men. Men and boys also make up 75 per cent of “deaths of despair” (suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol poisoning), with six or sevenmale suicides on a normal day.
The ACT is further down the gender equality path than almost any other part of Australia. We have a series of trail-blazing initiatives in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space already. Canberrans feel rightly proud about being egalitarian, and having a high level of equality. Continuing to support girls and women, while also encouraging under-represented men to make a greater contribution, is entirely consistent with this ethos. The approach here is “yes, and” rather than “one or the other”.
Mr Maywald says these Awards will increase equality of opportunity by assisting men who are currently under-represented in executive leadership and governance roles.
“Many men are not achieving their leadership potential in our journeys through work, business, and the public sector,” he says. “These Awards provide tangible support plus inspiration for the male leaders of our future.”
Click here or email [email protected] to find out more. Award applications close 19 October 2023.
