Women & Leadership Australia (WLA)

Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) is a prominent executive coaching and leadership development organisation based in Melbourne, Australia, dedicated to advancing gender equality and empowering leaders across all sectors. Originally founded in 2004, WLA has grown to support over 60,000 leaders through its targeted programs and events, establishing itself as the largest gender-focused leadership initiative in Australia, with its inaugural forum dating back to 2003.

The organisation specialises in delivering high-impact, applied leadership development opportunities through a diverse range of programs tailored for individuals, organisations, and schools. While initially focused on women, WLA expanded its scope in 2023 by joining forces with sister brands, Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM) and National Excellence in School Leadership Institute (NESLI), enabling them to deliver leadership programs for leaders of all genders, while maintaining specialised programs for women.

WLA's methodology is learner-centric, evidence-based, and highly flexible, incorporating the latest research, frameworks, and technology to ensure practical skills are immediately applicable in the workplace. Their approach is influenced by social constructivism, communities of practice, problem-based learning, and inquiry-based learning, fostering psychologically safe and supportive learning environments where participants can thrive and learn collaboratively.

The programs offered by WLA are non-accredited, designed for responsiveness, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, providing actionable skills that drive immediate impact. However, WLA also provides valuable academic pathways for its graduates into globally recognised leadership qualifications through partnerships with leading tertiary institutions. For instance, participants in their Executive Ready and Advanced Leadership Programs may be eligible for credit towards an MBA or Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at Deakin University, and their Women in Schools programs can lead to a Master of Educational Leadership at Monash University.

Under the leadership of General Manager Karen Surmon, WLA continues to champion equity and empower leaders, providing training, resources, connections, and thought leadership to support individuals and organisations on their journey towards gender equality. Their diverse offerings range from short, intensive masterclasses to comprehensive, multi-month development programs, all designed to accelerate careers, hone skills, and enhance wellbeing for aspiring, emerging, existing, mid-level, senior, and executive leaders.