Last day to apply for leadership scholarships open to women working across clean energy
Women working in renewable energy, energy management and carbon abatement have until Friday 11 September to apply for the 2026 Chloe Munro Scholarship, offering fully funded leadership development for emerging and mid-level leaders.
Women working across Australia's clean energy sector have until Friday to apply for a fully funded leadership course through the 2026 Chloe Munro Scholarship for Transformational Leadership.
The scholarship is open to emerging and mid-level women leaders working in renewable energy, energy management and carbon abatement who are employed by a Clean Energy Council member organisation or one of the scholarship program partners.
Successful applicants will receive full funding to undertake one of two leadership programs, with courses available for women at different stages of their careers.
The Clean Energy Council established the scholarship with support from partner organisations in 2021 to recognise and build on the legacy of the late Chloe Munro AO.
Two leadership pathways
The scholarship offers places in the Leading Edge and Executive Ready programs delivered by Women's Leadership Australia.
Leading Edge is a four-month, part-time program for aspiring and early-career managers. Typical candidates have at least 12 months of industry experience and are looking to develop their ability and confidence to lead others.
Executive Ready is a seven-month, part-time program for mid-level leaders seeking to progress towards executive roles. It is aimed at candidates with at least three years of leadership experience in industry who want to develop their skills for roles with greater responsibility.
Applicants can apply for only one of the two courses.
The scholarship covers the full course fees, with recipients and their employers not required to contribute to course costs.
Recipients are also encouraged to build relationships with other women undertaking the program, creating a network through which participants can continue to support each other's leadership development and collaboration within the energy sector.
First Nations people are strongly encouraged to apply.
Continuing Chloe Munro's work in energy
The scholarship honours Chloe Munro AO, whose career spanned energy reform and regulation, government, business and non-executive roles.
Munro served in the Victorian public sector from 1996 to 2004. Her roles included Deputy Secretary in the Department of Treasury and Finance, where she headed the division responsible for implementing Victoria's energy reform and privatisation program.
She later served as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Primary Industries before moving to Telstra, where she held senior executive roles between 2004 and 2009.
Munro became the inaugural Chair of the Clean Energy Regulator in 2012 and remained in the position until 2017.
The regulator was established as an independent statutory authority to administer Australian Government schemes created under climate change legislation. During Munro's tenure, its responsibilities included administering the Renewable Energy Target.
After leaving the regulator, Munro served on the expert panel for the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market, commonly known as the Finkel Review.
Her other roles included Chair of the National Water Commission, non-executive director of Hydro Tasmania and Professorial Fellow at Monash University, where she worked across energy policy, climate change and natural resources policy.
In 2017, the Clean Energy Council recognised Munro for her contribution to the energy industry.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018 for distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in renewable energy, water and climate change process and reform, and to the performing arts.
Munro died on 22 June 2021.
Later that year, the Clean Energy Council, with support from partner organisations, established the Chloe Munro Scholarship for Transformational Leadership to support emerging and mid-level women leaders working in renewable energy, energy management and carbon abatement.
Applications close Friday
Applicants must complete the scholarship application form and provide a CV and letter of recommendation from their organisation.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited to an interview.
Applications for the 2026 Chloe Munro Scholarship for Transformational Leadership close on Friday 11 September.
