Nicole, 24, joined Carlton as the Membership Operations Manager in December last year. Nicole is an AFL SportsReady graduate and worked for five years in the AFL club membership shared services department before joining the Blues.
Nicole said she was thrilled to receive the scholarship and is considering a business degree with a possible major in marketing and sports management.
“Receiving the Jill Lindsay Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity. My thanks go to the AFL Commission. I look forward to continuing my studies and my career in the AFL industry,” Nicole said.
Jill Lindsay served 41 years at the AFL in various roles including VFL Park match day manger and VFL membership manager before being appointed grounds operations manager in 1991. On February 7, 2011, Jill passed away after losing her battle with cancer.
“We are delighted that Nicole has been awarded the inaugural Jill Lindsay Scholarship and proud that someone from Carlton has been recognized for their work, not only at Carlton but in the industry. It is a wonderful honour for Nicole and having her name linked to Jill Lindsay, who was a wonderful person and outstanding sports administrator, is something she is no doubt very proud of,” said Carlton CEO Greg Swann.
In recognition of her outstanding service the AFL Commission created the annual Jill Lindsay Scholarship to be awarded to the female graduate with the most potential to come through the AFL SportsReady program. The scholarship provides $20,000 to assist further education.
AFL SportsReady is the AFL’s employment and training partner. It was established in 1995 to enhance the career pathways in employment and training for athletes and non-athletes alike. The program employs and mentors more than 600 trainees throughout Australia each year.
AFL SportsReady CEO Phillip Campbell said the organisation prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer.
“Each year many women begin an AFL SportsReady sports administration traineeship at a similar level to which Jill did some 40 years ago. AFL SportsReady is extremely proud that from this year one of these graduates will be the recipient of this wonderful award, that we hope will inspire all women to forge a successful career in the sports industry, as Jill did,” Mr Campbell said.
AFL SportsReady will provide a lap top computer valued at $700 to assist Nicole and future winners with their study.
Leading Australian women’s fashion brand Perri Cutten has kindly made available a voucher to the value of $750 for the Jill Lindsay Scholarship winner each year while Andi Pert, a HR consultant specializing in leadership development and executive coaching, has agreed to act as a mentor to Nicole for 12 months.
