FOODSERVICE GENERAL MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP

LEARN. ASPIRE. LEAD

Foodservice General Management Scholarship

Each year, we invite company members and their teams to apply for the Foodservice General Management Scholarship, valued at over $20,000.

The scholarship offers a six-day management program at Melbourne Business School, one of Australia’s leading institutions for executive education. The course is designed for professionals who are already managing teams, budgets, or business units and want to strengthen their leadership and decision-making skills.

This opportunity is available exclusively to members and reflects our ongoing focus on developing capability across the foodservice sector. There is no application fee.

What sets this scholarship apart is its practical impact. It has supported many emerging industry business leaders, particularly those in middle to upper management, by providing structured learning, a fresh perspective, and the confidence to step into broader responsibilities. Awarded on merit, the scholarship is intended to support real career progression.

Applications close: May 29

  • The FoodService Association Australia (FSAA) presents A Career Change Maker — a scholarship designed for professionals ready to strengthen their leadership capability and broaden how they think about business.

    This scholarship focuses on practical development, providing access to learning and tools that support confident decision-making, strategic thinking, and long-term career progression within the foodservice sector.

    It’s an opportunity created with intention: to support people who are ready to move forward, lead with clarity, and take on greater responsibility.

  • Exclusively available to employees of FSAA member companies, this scholarship provides access to a six-day residential management program at Melbourne Business School, one of Australia’s leading institutions.

    The program is well suited to professionals in roles such as state sales manager, business manager, national account manager, product or category manager, and communications manager — or similar positions where responsibility for people, performance, or strategic decision-making is part of the role.

  • Awarded annually, this scholarship supports one recipient with practical skills and leadership thinking designed to strengthen confidence and capability.

  • We apply a fair and transparent selection process, with the scholarship awarded on merit.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FLYER
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

Don’t wait, apply today!
Applications close Thursday, 29 May at 5:00 pm.

We encourage eligible members to apply and take the time to put forward a considered application.

APPLY NOW

We are proud to recognise the finalists for the 2025 FSAA General Management Scholarship, each representing the depth of talent and leadership across the foodservice sector.

  • Abraham Chalhoub, Birch & Waite

  • Holly Tullet, Fonterra

Congratulations to our scholarship recipient, David March, Unilever Food Solutions, who was awarded the $20,000 FSAA Business Scholarship. David’s leadership approach and professional experience reflect the intent of the scholarship — supporting people who are ready to take on broader responsibility and continue building strong, capable businesses within foodservice.

Learn more about each finalist below.

  • Abraham Chalhoub

    Abe is sales leader with over a decade of experience across foodservice and FMCG, currently State Sales Manager at Birch & Waite

  • Holly Tullett

    Holly Tullett is a National Customer Manager – Foodservice at Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, with more than a decade of experience across the FMCG sector.

  • David March

    David March is a Distributor Account Manager at Unilever Food Solutions, with a strong interest in how innovation is shaping the future of foodservice.

“The General Management Program at Melbourne Business School was a career-changing opportunity.  The chance to learn from some amazing facilitators who specialise in Strategy, Marketing, Finance, and People Management has given me tools I will continue to use throughout my professional career.  The course was presented in an incredibly engaging way, and the ability to learn and study with and from like-minded business professionals from different sectors across both Australia and New Zealand has provided me with some valuable skills for my career progression.  Thanks to the General Management Program, I feel better prepared to read and understand financial statements, prepare and execute a well-defined business strategy, and build a strong culture within my team and across the wider business.  The skills I have learnt will be an important chapter in my professional development as a leader and have set me with a strong foundation to continue to grow in my career.

— Nikki Keyte | Innovation Manager Priestley’s Gourmet Delights

"I found the General Management Program to be a valuable mindset reset, helping me step back from functional day-to-day routine and think more broadly about leadership, strategy, and long-term value. I really valued the quality of the discussions, the range of perspectives, and the chance to learn alongside such a strong group. I'm grateful for the opportunity and will be taking these insights back into my workplace, with practical takeaways I can apply."

— David Marsh | 2026 FSAA Scholarship Recipient

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions we’re often asked

  • What does the program involve?
    The General Management Program is a six-day intensive course that combines experiential learning with strong academic rigour. Participants gain exposure to proven management frameworks, contemporary research, and practical application led by experienced faculty.

    Who is this program designed for?
    The program is suited to managers from specialised or technical disciplines who are stepping into broader leadership responsibilities and want to build capability across key business functions.

    It is also relevant for general managers within small to medium enterprises who are seeking structure, theory, or validation to strengthen their existing management approach and support the next phase of business growth.

    How is the learning delivered?
    Learning is delivered through a mix of short lectures, recognised management models, and hands-on application. Participants take part in small group simulations and activities that focus on real business scenarios, encouraging practical thinking, peer learning, and informed decision-making.

  • You’ll develop a stronger understanding of how the key parts of a business work together, helping you think more broadly and make better-informed decisions.

    The program covers core areas including finance, business excellence, innovation and leadership, marketing, and operations. You’ll gain practical skills and a clearer management perspective that support progression into more senior roles or broader responsibility within your organisation.

  • Finalist presentations are held in Sydney. The date will be confirmed closer to the event.

    For finalists travelling from interstate, FSAA will arrange travel.

    •  The winner will receive:

      • Full participation in a one-week residential General Management Program at a leading Australian business school, valued at over $20,000

      • A framed certificate and plaque, recognising the recipient as the FSAA Business Management Scholarship winner

  • The winner is announced at the National Awards of Excellence, held in September each year. Please refer to the calendar for the confirmed event date.

  • Applications close 29 May at 5:00 pm. (AEST)

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