Applications are being called for the inaugural $5,000 ‘City of Mandurah’ Convention Scholarship which is open to people involved with not-for-profit associations across a variety of industry sectors.

The scholarship is designed to assist in personal and professional development, either through attendance at a relevant international conference, or by undertaking further study in their chosen field of endeavour.

The scholarship is offered under the Perth Convention Bureau’s ‘Aspire Program’, the new umbrella term and sub-brand for this highly-successful initiative (previously called the ‘Scholarships and Awards’ program), which has been operating since 1999.

In 2012, the Aspire Program – which also embraces several ‘Professional Development Awards’ for five Perth universities – will see nine awards and two scholarships worth a total of $60,000 presented to individuals involved with the State’s academic and not-for-profit sectors.

Since its inception, the Aspire Program has generated convention business worth more than $80 million in direct delegate expenditure to the Western Australian economy.

Perth Convention Bureau chief executive officer Paul Beeson said the ‘City of Mandurah’ Convention Scholarship was a welcome addition to the long established Aspire Program.

“This is a great opportunity for the Bureau to make valuable connections in an important and growing region and assist with the development of those working in the not-for-profit sector,” he said.

“For years the scholarship program has been such a successful marketing tool for the Bureau and has been recognised and duplicated internationally.”

The Bureau in conjunction with the scholarship sponsor, The City of Mandurah, will launch the program at a prestigious morning tea event being held in Mandurah on the 31st January. The event will be attended by Mandurah Mayor Paddi Creevey OAM, PCB CEO Paul Beeson, local businesses, academia, local council officials and City of Mandurah staff.

Mark Newman, CEO of the City of Mandurah, has this to say about the program, “One the key strategies that the City of Mandurah has focused on in recent years is identifying new and innovative ways of attracting economic diversity to our region. Central to our strategy is the need to identify the skills and expertise that we have as a region. We also realise that taking a proactive approach to business events attraction cannot be overestimated”.

“The Perth Convention Bureau Aspire program addresses these strategies across a number of levels. It will allow us to identify the diverse knowledge base in our region, and address on of the key tourism opportunities by enabling the city to potentially attract business events to Mandurah and the Peel region” said Mr. Newman. “We are privileged to be the first regional city to offer this scholarship to members of our community and look forward to the opportunity this program will present to make our city more livable and vibrant”

The deadline for applications is 30 March 2012. For further information, please contact the City of Mandurah’s ‘Aspire Program’ Project Manager – Andrea Johnson via email at outsidethesquare1@bigpond.com