Rachelle Towart named Australia’s top community CEO

After securing more than $8.7 million in funding for Indigenous Education, overseeing unprecedented growth in enrolments and establishing a strong national profile for Indigenous leadership, Rachelle Towart has been recognised with a prestigious award.

The CEO of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC) has been named the winner of the 2013 Westpac Community Leaders Award, recognising outstanding achievements by an executive from an established not-for-profit organisation.

“Thousands of Indigenous people will receive a potentially life-changing experience as a result of the work of Rachelle Towart and the team at the AILC,” AILC Chair Dr Tom Calma said.

“Great deeds require more than great words. Great outcomes only consistently happen as a result of commitment, integrity and resolve. Rachelle has demonstrated those qualities in spades – and this award is a great testament to her achievements.”

The award caps off an outstanding year for the AILC and its Chief Executive Officer. Ms Towart was last month presented with an award recognising her as one of Australia’s 100 women of influence and earlier this year accepted an award recognising the AILC as the ACT’s small RTO of the year.

“The Westpac Community Leaders award is a defining milestone not just for me, but more importantly, for the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre,” Ms Towart said.

“Indigenous leadership education provides extraordinary moments of inspiration and celebration that are profound rewards in themselves for all of us at the AILC. This award is the cherry on the cake – providing recognition for the achievements of our organisation.”

Ms Towart plans to invest the prize money to advance leadership experiences among AILC staff to build the capabilities of her team.

The AILC is Australia’s only national provider of accredited Indigenous leadership programs and has changed the lives of thousands of Indigenous people, including more than 1200 Indigenous leaders who have graduated with nationally-recognised education qualifications.