Aurora Alumni 2026, pictured left to right: Sonya Goulding, Michelle Moore, Andrea Leyden, and Rhonda Hill.
Absent: Grace Herbert, Amanda Miranda, Anshu Shahdeo
On August 19th, 2026, NCI staff gathered to celebrate this year's Aurora Programme graduates. This onsite get together allows this year's participants to reflect upon their time on the Aurora Programme and share insights with past participants as well as encourage anyone who may be considering applying for a place in the next cohort.
What is Aurora?
Aurora is Advance HE's leadership development initiative for women. It is a unique initiative that brings together leadership experts, research institutes, and higher education providers. The Aurora Programme aims to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions in the sector, taking positive action to support women in their current roles and encourage them to embrace leadership in its many forms; you do not have to be in a management role to be a leader, there are many ways to lead, and throughout the programme, women can discover the leadership qualities that they already possess and utilise.
Andrea Leyden, NCI’s 75th Anniversary Project Manager, was one of this year’s graduates. Reflecting upon her time on the Aurora Programme, she says, “The Aurora programme reinforced the idea that, no matter your role or status, everyone can be a leader in the way they communicate and influence people.
What I found most interesting was the connection with peers from other HEIs across the island of Ireland on many topics such as imposter syndrome and a lack of confidence. The realisation that no matter who you are or what your role is, many leaders are faced with the same challenges that you are, illustrated the human side of leadership. I also found that the sessions forced you to be introspective and reflect on your values and what's important to you which is something that can often get lost in the day-to-day of working life."
Who will Aurora appeal to?
Aurora is for women who would like to explore and develop their confidence and capability for leadership roles and responsibilities. There are more specific criteria listed in the application, but anyone who feels that Aurora would help them reach their full potential should consider applying. You never know where it may lead, and many participants have shared that they found the connections and friendships they built as impactful as the learning objectives.
Aspiring women inspire all
There are many ways to learn and having a range of options available is key. People need to be able to discover the path that is right for them and that cannot happen if there is only one path. At NCI, we want to offer as many options as possible so that everyone can reach their potential and develop their confidence so that they feel they can choose any path that lies ahead. Oftentimes, people can talk themselves out of opportunities that they had the capability to embrace, but they were not confident enough to do so. The Aurora Programme helps women recognise their skills and talents and many have said that the experience has made them feel much more empowered to put themselves forward and grasp opportunities.
The takeaway from the Aurora Programme is clear. Leadership is not linear; everyone has the potential to be a leader in some capacity. Huge congratulations to this year’s graduates. It will be inspiring to see what you choose to do next.