The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) chief executive Matt Linnegar welcomes the upcoming collaboration with the Australian Farm Institute (AFI), an organisation renowned for its research and policies aimed at maximising opportunities for agriculture.
The AFI are holding a Roundtable entitled “Walking the talk: putting policy into action” in Canberra next week. While the Roundtable itself will focus on moving past ‘admiring the problems’, the ARLF has designed a complementary workshop to encourage committed action on ag policy issues.
“The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation shares a similar purpose to the AFI in enabling stronger and thriving regions and industry, through leadership,” he says, noting the contribution by ARLF alumni among the event’s speakers. These include AFI executive director Katie McRobert herself, NFF president David Jochinke, AgriFutures chair Cathy McGowan AO, Nuffield scholar and agribiz specialist Cath Marriott OAM, and industry leader and farmer Jen Medway.
“This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to be part of the conversation and contribute to shaping the future of rural Australia at the AFI roundtable on the Tuesday, followed by the ARLF’s leadership workshop the next day,” says Matt.
“We know that turning big ideas into real outcomes in agriculture can take time. Our aim, through the workshop, is to continue the conversation from the day before and explore ways that farming networks can collaborate to combat challenges and identify emerging opportunities across the sector.
“This event isn’t just another conference. It’s committed to walking the talk, taking action and outcomes. The ARLF will hold a creative and action-oriented space for leadership across the sector to do this.”
AFI executive director Katie McRobert says the collaboration is itself a demonstration to the ag community that no single sector or organisation has a monopoly on problems or solutions.
“For 20 years, the Australian Farm Institute has been leading policy discussions on opportunities and impacts for Australian agriculture,” says Katie.
“While priorities have evolved, some key industry tensions remain. We are innovative, and hesitant to change. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder and operate in siloes. We dislike talk-fests and love to admire a problem.
“It’s time for us to collectively challenge ourselves – from paddock to parliament and everything in between – and claim our role in leading the industry to connected agrifood systems.”
The AFI Roundtable will be held at the National Gallery in Canberra on Tuesday 22 October, followed by the ARLF Workshop at Parliament House on Wednesday 23 October.
AFI media contact: Kylie Smith 0415 604 973 | smithk@farminstitute.org.au
ARLF media contact: Nicky McMillan 0439 438 500 | nickym@rural-leaders.org.au
