John Brockelsby awarded an Australian Rural Leadership Honorary Fellowship

John Brockelsby, affectionately know as JB,  was awarded an Honorary Fellowship for his commitment to the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation's mission of developing leadership excellence to build resilient rural communities. His award was presented by Professor Peter Shergold, Chair of the Foundation on Sunday night at a gathering of Foundation fellows and Course 17 participants in Canberra on Sunday 14 November.

JB has been associated with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation since its first course in 1993. He has attended every outdoor session of the Australian Rural Leadership Program since then, with the sole exception of Course Three.  This remains a cause of great disappointment to him.

Since his first exposure to the Foundation's leadership program, JB has been firmly committed to the Foundation’s aims and objectives and has worked closely with the Foundation’s team over the years to ensure the outdoor session has delivered the best possible outcomes in the safest possible way.

He takes great pride in his long association with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, and believes it plays a vital role, not only in enhancing the strength of the rural sector to position Australia in facing its future, but also in bringing together all the peoples of Australia.

JB is the principle of the Ausworks Pty Ltd, a company that designs and delivers tailored experiential learning programs in remote settings. These range from team building and leadership development to remote area safety and survival.  JB is the preferred remote area safety trainer for some of Australia’s largest exploration companies, delivering training both within Australia and overseas and has recently been approached to deliver training in places as far afield as Egypt and Eritrea.

In addition to his role with Ausworks, JB also currently works for the ACT Government, focussing on governance and business integrity.

With a background in the mining industry, a love of wild and remote places, and a solid belief that people can do amazing things if given the opportunity, JB has spent the last 20 years coaxing, cajoling and challenging people to give of their best.

JB’s interest in and commitment to people development saw him elected to the Board of the Australian Institute of Training and Development in 2004, where he held various positions, including those of National President during 2004-05, and vice President between 2005 and 2007.  He has also held a number of other appointments including Company Secretary for the Australian Institute of Training and Development and for Australian Divisions Member Services Ltd (a subsidiary company of the Australian Divisions of General Practice), and as Principle Officer for the Australian GP Registrars Association.