Owner and manager of one of Australia's largest independent hotel portfolios, Pro-invest Group has announced an equity scholarship and internship program, in partnership with Southern Cross University, that will help to shape tourism and hotel industry leaders of tomorrow.  

Southern Cross University Chief Marketing Officer, Dean Gould welcomed the scholarships as an important step toward closing the education gap.

“This collaboration will be transformative for scholarship recipients who can immerse themselves in university life and embark on an exciting career, without financial hardship,” Dean said.

“It will also prepare more students to be innovators in the tourism and hotel sector, and allow the industry to benefit from fresh talent.”

In addition to financial assistance, a Pro-invest Group RISE Hotel Management Scholarship will offer recipients access to paid internships, mentorships, and potential employment opportunities within Pro-invest Group. A minimum of two scholarships will be awarded annually, with three scholarships already being issued as part of the RISE Hotel Management Scholarship launch by Pro-invest Group. Each scholarship is valued at $5,000. 

Pro-invest Group General Counsel, Anthony Ursino expressed his immense pride in the steps taken by the firm to open the doors of opportunity into the hospitality sector.

 “The RISE program – Reaching for Inclusion through Scholarships and Experiences – is at the heart of our mission to showcase hospitality as a vibrant, rewarding career filled with endless opportunities,” Anthony said.

“Our partnership with Southern Cross University aims to support aspiring professionals, guiding them towards fulfilling careers. Through scholarships and internships, we're committed to not just educating, but empowering individuals with the skills and experiences to thrive in this dynamic industry.”

A driving force behind the RISE program is Southern Cross alumnus, Cindy Van der Wal who earned a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management with Honours and Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management, and is now Pro-invest Group's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Manager, after more than seven years with the firm.

“When developing the RISE program as part of our One Earth, Countless Experiences strategy together with Anthony Ursino, General Counsel at Pro-invest Group, I instantly thought back to my own experience at Southern Cross University and what an incredible time I had as a student embarking on my own career within the hotel sector,” Cindy said.

 The scholarship program brings together social and environmental aspects of Cindy's role, as it is partly funded by the state governments' 10-cent container refund scheme, operating within the company's many hotels.

Our hotel operation teams are very excited about the initiative, because we're not only helping people gain access to their chosen career, we're also supporting waste recycling efforts. It is encouraging to know that 100 percent of the scholarship funding is going directly to the students,” she said.

Pro-invest Group corporate donations and an annual staff 'RISE' raffle will continue to support the scholarship program.

“Our RISE program is set to enrich the sector by introducing diverse talents and perspectives,” Anthony said. “It's designed to bring people together, nurture their potential, and guide them towards becoming the leaders of tomorrow."

For Cindy, RISE is a chance to give back to the University that set her on a path to success.

“I love seeing the scholarship program come to life by providing students passionate about the industry an opportunity to propel their careers and become the next generation of hotel leaders,” Cindy said.

“It will be a wonderful opportunity to track the careers of the RISE scholarship graduates and learn what rewarding career paths within our industry they pursue. The opportunities are endless once you start on this career path.” 

Interested in a career in the hotel or tourism sector? Find out more about the Pro-invest Group RISE Hotel Management Scholarship program.

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About Southern Cross University

Southern Cross University is ranked as one of the world's top 100 young universities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024), and one of the world's top 300 Tourism and Hospitality Management universities (Shanghai rankings 2023) with outstanding facilities in stunning locations. Established in 1994, Southern Cross University has three main east coast campuses and seven metro campuses.

The University is driven by a clear purpose: to change lives through revolutionary learning and research with real impact. It offers a unique academic calendar of six-week terms and a focus on immersive learning and student success in its diverse course portfolio.

www.scu.edu.au

About Pro-invest Group

Established in 2010, Pro-invest Group is a leading integrated platform, specialising in private equity real estate, fund and asset management in Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

Pro-invest Group has c. AUD$3 billion in assets under management through a combination of discretionary funds, joint ventures, and managed accounts. Pro-invest Group's integrated platform spans the entire asset lifecycle, from securing funding and developing, operating and asset managing, through to exit strategy. Pro-invest Group's assets include 32 hotels (approx. 6,000 rooms – open and pipeline) in Australia and New Zealand, in addition to commercial and mixed-use properties. The Group's focus on anticipating future trends in technology, Environmental Social Governance (ESG), services, and design delivers enhanced future value and protection.

Having successfully cemented its position as a leading independent management platform in Australasia, Pro-invest Group's London office is focused on growth in the United Kingdom and Europe. Simultaneously, Pro-invest Group is raising a third value-add fund of A$500 million for opportunistic investment in Asia Pacific. The Group is investing in the future of urban living, rolling out a platform of extended stay and flexible living assets to align with changing lifestyle trends.

Pro-invest Group has a strong commitment to ESG, believing that an active focus on a business's ESG impact has direct competitive, financial, social and environmental benefits. Pro-invest Group has established its own dedicated ESG brand and ethos, 'One Earth, Countless Experiences' which focuses on integrating leading ESG principles and initiatives throughout the business and the assets under its management.

Further information found here www.proinvestgroup.com