Seventy women received scholarships to train at the Australian Institute of Directors today. There were 1600 applications for the scholarships, about the same as last year, the year the program started. 

The 70 women will receive a year's membership to the Institute and a free director's course or "mastering the boardroom" program.

The women, chosen by a selection committee comprising representatives from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Office for Women, have signficant senior executive or board experience, but some have yet to receive a paid positions.

A wide range of industries and geographies are represented in the winners, including engineering, acadmeia, communications, human resources, accounting, banking and law.