We’re proud to announce Celia Tran as the 2026 recipient of the Cr Sarah Carter Governance Scholarship.

Delivered in partnership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the scholarship honours the legacy of Cr Sarah Carter and her enduring commitment to advancing gender equity in leadership and governance. Through this initiative, GEN VIC continues to support emerging leaders dedicated to creating more equitable and inclusive decision-making spaces.

The scholarship covers 100% of the cost of the AICD’s facilitator-led course, Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors valued at $1,400 as well as a 1-year AICD membership valued at $970.

Celia is an accomplished leader with experience across government, community and corporate sectors. She brings expertise in leadership, policy, project management, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement, with a strong focus on building partnerships and creating positive outcomes for diverse communities. Celia is Manager Communications and Community Engagement at the Scanlon Foundation Research Instituteand previously served as Principal Advisor to the Chairperson at the Victorian Multicultural Commission. She also volunteers her time as Board Member of Western Chances and Founder and Co President of the Vietnamese Australian Professional Network.

Her contributions have been recognised through several honours, including the Premier’s Volunteer of the Year Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Award in 2016 and finalist recognition for the Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Medal in 2017. In 2020, Celia was the youngest recipient of the IPAA Victoria Top 50 Public Sector Women recognition, and in 2021 she was named among the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians, receiving the Government and Public Sector Award. Celia recently became a mum, which has been her favourite new role yet.

We warmly congratulate Celia on this achievement and are incredibly proud to support her as she takes this next step in her governance journey. Her contributions as a leader, commitment to strengthening governance, and dedication to advancing gender equity are inspiring, and we look forward to seeing the impact she will continue to make across the sector and beyond.