Sarah Carstens encourages other Mid Canterbury women wanting to advance their governance skills to apply for the Jan Early Memorial Scholarship. Applications close on August 29.
She received the scholarship, managed by Advance Ashburton Community Foundation, last year.
Carstens, a partner in a law firm, said she was delighted to have received the scholarship which enabled her to attend the NZ Institute of Directors week long residential company director’s course.
‘‘The scholarship is an amazing and generous award. It really makes substantial courses like the one I attended available to women in our region who may not otherwise have access to such in depth governance development courses,’’ Carstens said.
The course equips attendees, current and aspiring board members with the knowledge, tools and networks to provide effective governance.
‘‘It was a pretty demanding week of workshops, board meeting role-plays, seminars, group activities as well as hearing from some really good speakers.
‘‘It was very interactive and used most waking hours of the day and then some! We were all exhausted by the end but left with so many good skills and resources,’’ Carstens said.
Carstens has governance roles with Methven Care Trust, Methven Primary School, Spaxton Stock Water Limited, Mount Hutt Rakaia River Bank Water Supply Association.
She found the course was particularly relevant for the roles she presently holds.
‘‘We had sessions around strategy, finance, legal, board roles and responsibilities, working with others, and addressing risk which have already been helpful in my work.
‘‘The application of risk assessment models was particularly relevant, as was the board self assessment tool both of which I have already used in my roles,’’ Carstens said.
She has plans to focus her career towards New Zealand based governance roles with a view to taking on governance roles in medium sized enterprises in Canterbury
While Carstens did not know the late Jan Early, nee Allan, she was aware of the huge contributions to governance in the region that she made.
‘‘With the generous support of the Allan family, I hope that a succession of women can benefit from the legacy of this scholarship in her name,’’ Carstens said.
Jan Early passed away from cancer in May 2023 and the district lost a community stalwart and woman who was passionate about governance.
The Jan Early Memorial Scholarship, valued at $10,000, is awarded to enhance the leadership skills of an outstanding woman in Mid Canterbury, to enable them to grow their skills in governance and enhance their capability of creating a better Ashburton District.
It is open to women over 25 who live in Mid Canterbury. They must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
Advance Ashburton executive officer Carolyn Clough said Jan had been well known in the community.
‘‘Her impact was huge,’’ Clough said.
While Jan had been unable to complete her governance training plan, thanks to her family’s gift of the yearly scholarship, other women in the district would be able to, Clough said.
In providing the Jan Early Memorial Scholarship through AACF, Early’s family hope to encourage more women to realise their own leadership aspirations by being able to undertake training in governance.
– Applications for the scholarship close on August 29. Forms are available at advanceashburton.org.nz
