Are you a top young executive? If you're a motivated young leader in Australia - with strong management skills, good strategic sense, emotional intelligence and an appreciation for the role of business in the broader community - apply now to be a Young Executive of the Year in 2015.

Andrew Conway, CEO at Institute of Public Accountants and guest speaker at our recent Melbourne Networking Luncheon was one of five 2014 winners. Please find below an excerpt about the process of the awards last year.

In September, 10 young executives, chosen from 85 applicants, were put through a gruelling day-long exercise formulated by talent management agency DDI. Playing the role of chief executive of a fictional company, they were asked to analyse the gaps in the business, devise a strategy to address the weaknesses, present a vision statement and deal with a series of mini-crises. As the day wore on, the pressure intensified.

As the CEO simulation progressed, the demands accumulated, revealing not just the executives’ strong suits, but also the gaps in their capabilities. Ultimately, six Boss Young Executives were selected.

Other participants found the process clarifying: “As a senior executive you operate in a bubble day to day and this process helps burst that bubble, and forces you to ask, ‘Is this really the way you should be operating?’ " says Andrew Conway , Chief Executive of the Institute of Public Accountants.

“It’s taught me to be honest with my team about my weaknesses," says Conway. “When I first became CEO I was 28 and I said to my team, ‘I don’t have all the answers. But I will work with you to get them.’"

To read the full article please click here.

To apply and for more information please click here.