AIS Talent Program
Queensland Ballet
Queensland Ballet is proud to announce that Director of Health & Community, Zara Gomes, has been selected as one of only 15 women for the prestigious AIS Talent Program (STEMM), 2023.
The AIS Talent Program aims to develop and support emerging female leaders in sports and STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Medicine), and Zara Gomes has been recognised for her leadership potential.
Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO said in her role as Director of Health and Community, Zara has been instrumental in establishing a strong Performance Health team at Queensland Ballet.
“Over the past 12 years she’s worked to build the health support services that have underpinned the success of our world-class company.
Zara’s selection for the AIS Talent Program speaks to her passion, knowledge and skills to make a difference in her field.
I know Zara will make a valuable contribution to the AIS Talent Program and I look forward to hearing more about the insights and knowledge she will bring back to Queensland Ballet because of her inclusion.”
Ms Gomes will be joining a strong line up of participants from across the country, who are experts in their fields within elite sport.
“I’m honoured to be selected for the AIS Talent Women in Leadership Program,” she said.
“Working in the world of performing arts, I’m constantly inspired by the resilience, creativity and innovation of my colleagues and the wider arts community. I’m excited to participate in this program and learn from the experiences of other emerging female leaders in health, science and elite sport.”
Over the course of the program, participants will have access to expert mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities to support their growth and development as leaders.
“I am really interested in exchanging knowledge and sharing perspectives between the world of elite ballet and high-performance sport. There are many similarities between the training, goals, and pressures on dancers as ‘athletic artists’ and high-performance athletes. I’m looking forward to exploring how we can assist each other to lead in our fields with innovative approaches.”
For more information about the AIS Talent Program, please visit
https://www.ais.gov.au/people-development/talent-programs/stemm