ARN’s chief strategy & connections officer Lauren Joyce and BBC Studios' head of brands and licensing Kate O’Connor have been selected as the two recipients of the 2022 Maureen Kerridge AM Scholarship.
Joyce has been a part of ARN since 2019 and is responsible for the promotions, research, insights and marketing functions of the business.
Joyce is a Cannes Young Lion Gold Award winner and has over 18 years experience in strategic and client partnership roles, including at Mamamia and IPG agencies UM and Ensemble.
As part of the scholarship, she has elected to study Leading and Building a Culture of Innovation at Harvard Business School.
Joyce said: "Exposure to women in executive positions outside of my industry presents a unique opportunity to grow and diversify my own thinking and ways of doing things, while participating in my chosen course will make me a more effective leader and more valuable employee as my career progresses.
"I feel very privileged to be awarded the scholarship and seen as a worthy representation of Maureen’s legacy. To be recognised as someone who can represent the continued growth of women in executive positions across the media industry is an honour and a responsibility that I look forward to fulfilling."
O'Connor is a former lawyer with over a decade of experience in the television industry and currently oversees all aspects of brand and commercial expansion for Bluey and other BBC Studios IP in Australia and New Zealand.
As part of the scholarship, she has elected to study Executive Leader Development at Stanford University.
O'Connor said: “Maureen is an inspiration to me in so many ways, becoming the first female CEO of a free-to-air television broadcaster when I was in high school allowed me to believe I could do the same one day. My career path has been paved by inspirational women like Maureen, and I am so honoured to accept this scholarship.
“Participating in structured learning from experts at one of the best business schools in the US will help cement my business acumen and prepare me to be a future leader. I would like to thank Keith Kerridge and the CEW selection committee for allowing me this once in a lifetime opportunity. I hope to make you proud!”
The Maureen Kerridge AM Scholarship is for mid to senior women leaders in advertising, media, and television. It is awarded in memory and celebration of Maureen Kerridge, who was the first woman to run an Australian television network, Seven, and the first female CEO of a free-to-air television network globally.
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