Major General Michael Jeffery and Prof Peter Shergold trek the Kimberley with 33 rural leaders

Major General Michael Jeffery and Prof Peter Shergold, two busy, national leaders took time out to trek through the Kimberley with 33 rural leaders who have just begun the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).

The program, now in its 17th year, provides leadership training to meet emerging challenges in rural, regional and remote Australia. The hands-on ARLP takes up to 59 days over 16 months and includes challenge-based education, workshops, discussions and an overseas field study.

Those undertaking the leadership program work in food and fibre production, the mining and fishing industries, human services, regional organisations, research and development, and rural infrastructure provision. They include primary producers, scientists, Indigenous Australians, community leaders, private sector personnel, human service providers, and policy makers.

The recently appointed Patron of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Major General Michael Jeffery said, “I see the Foundation as pivotal in the selection and training of the next generation of rural leaders.”

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Thirty-three participants have been selected so far for the 2009 intake for the prestigious, internationally respected Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).

The Program is a unique opportunity for rural leaders to develop high-level leadership skills as well as business, strategic planning, and inter-personal skills. Upon graduation, participants become part of the Foundation’s influential network of over 450 graduates.

Professor Peter Shergold, Chairman of the Board of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation which conducts the Program, said: ‘these individuals have been selected for their demonstrated commitment and potential to lead rural Australia and its industries and communities at local, regional, state or national levels.’

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At the 2008 Conference of the International Association of Programs of Agricultural Leadership (IAPAL), Rob Patrick, Program Director with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, was honoured with the IAPAL award for the Outstanding Leadership Program Director.

IAPAL is a consortium of agricultural leadership programs. The group is comprised of agricultural program directors from over forty US states as well as programs from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. The group which meets annually gathered in Guelph, Canada in October this year.  

Professor Peter Shergold, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board said: “Rob has been responsible for designing and delivering the Foundation’s leadership development programs for seven years. His background in farming (sheep/beef) and management has served the Foundation well in that time, as has his experience in agribusiness and natural resource management.”

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Eighteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders will meet in Alice Springs on Thursday and Friday this week. Along with eight of their fellow non-Indigenous graduates of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, they will consider how they can work together to develop and support rural and remote Australia.

Chairman of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Professor Peter Shergold, said ‘These Indigenous leaders are well placed to be a critical resource. They have completed the highly-effective and respected Australian Rural Leadership Program and are deeply connected and committed to their communities and to the task of making a difference’.

The meeting, hosted by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, is part of a research and evaluation project into the leadership development needs, opportunities and experiences of rural leaders.

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