Founded in 2014, the Observership Program facilitates the involvement of talented, energetic and diverse individuals with a wide range of skills and backgrounds in a structure experience on not-for-profit boards. It is a powerful tool to engage emerging community leaders while giving participating not-for-profit boards insight into the next generation’s perspective. Over 250 Observers have participated in the Program, observing on the boards of over 100 not-for-profit organisations. The Observership Program has run in Sydney since 2014 and in Melbourne since 2017. The program provides Observers with first-hand exposure to the role of the board, its decision-making and operations as well as targeted training delivered by AICD and mentorship designed to give Observers important skills to bring to the boardroom. “The Observership Program is in my opinion an outstanding way for the future directors of all levels of Australian business to gain experience in what to do and indeed what not to do around the board table.” David Gonski AC (Patron, The Observership Program)