CEW has awarded Lauren Joyce and Kate O’Connor the 2022 Maureen Kerridge AM Scholarship. Both Joyce and O’Connor now have the opportunity to study executive courses at Harvard and Stanford to further advance their careers.
The Maureen Kerridge AM Scholarship is awarded to mid-to-senior women leaders in advertising, media and television. Joining ARN in 2019, Joyce has overseen promotions within ARN, research, insights and marketing functions for the company; making it clear as to why she was awarded one of two scholarships. As part of the scholarship, Lauren has elected to study Leading and Building a Culture of Innovation at Harvard Business School, an esteemed educational institution.
O’Connor is a former lawyer with over a decade of experience in the television industry. She currently oversees all aspects of brand and commercial expansion for Bluey and other BBC Studios IP in Australia and New Zealand and will study Executive Leader Development at Stanford as part of her scholarship.
Kate O’Connor
In 2022 Kerridge passed away and was posthumously awarded an Order of Australia for her significant service to the television industry, the arts, and charitable organisations. Kerridge was the first woman to run an Australian television network – Seven – and was the first female CEO of a free-to-air television network globally.
Joyce said of the scholarship: “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.”
Joyce has over 18 years of experience in strategic and client partnership roles, including at Mamamia and IPG agencies UM and Ensemble. Lauren was also recently named the winner for the marketing category in the B&T Women in Media Awards.
O’Connor said she was beyond thrilled to receive a scholarship in Maureen Kerridge’s memory:
“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!”