A major scholarship fund that has already generated half a million dollars has been launched to develop exceptional leaders to serve their region.
As our regions navigate complex challenges and emerging opportunities, strong and courageous leadership has never been more vital. The Bruce Simpson Rural Leadership Scholarship Fund stands as a testament to this kind of leadership, reflecting the character and legacy of its namesake.
Bruce Simpson of Deniliquin tragically died following an anaphylactic reaction early last year, leaving a great void within his family, the wider Riverina community, and throughout the many fields that benefited from his representative and advocacy work.
His family, in collaboration with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF), launched the scholarship fund in Deniliquin at the weekend to honour Bruce’s extraordinary contribution to the rural communities of the NSW Riverina and nearby districts. Specifically, the scholarship aims to reflect the importance of Bruce’s advocacy, leadership and passion for agriculture in Australia and beyond, and ensure that this legacy of leadership and service continues into the future. This is reflective of Bruce’s belief in the power of communities to bring about lasting change, and that there should be much less reliance on governments.
Preparing leaders to meet rural Australia’s biggest challenges
The goal is to build a $2 million+ endowment to fund the Bruce Simpson Rural Scholarship annually and in perpetuity, supporting participation in the ARLF’s flagship Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).
The ARLP is Australia’s longest and most in-depth experiential leadership program designed to build leadership capability in people in rural, regional and remote Australia. It’s delivered over 15 months across multiple sessions including four face-to-face sessions across the country and internationally.
The program is designed in line with proven learning methods and responsive to the needs of the group and rural, remote and regional Australia. They graduate as action takers and thought leaders committed to positively influence their organisations, industries and communities. There are now more than 850 graduates of the ARLP who’ve gone on to lead with impact at a regional, state, national and international level.
“Rural leaders today are navigating everything from renewable energy expansion and major infrastructure projects to agribusiness transformation, access to key services like health and education and building community resilience. The question isn’t whether change is coming, it’s who will lead it,” says ARLF Chief Executive Matt Linnegar.
“The demand for leadership in rural, regional and remote Australia is growing, and our commitment to strengthening rural leadership must keep pace with this need. Looking forward, leadership development must be bolder, more collaborative, and more action-oriented.”
ARLF Chair Rick Sawers explains the ARLF was founded over 33 years ago to address a leadership deficit in rural, regional and remote Australia.
“The Australian Rural Leadership Program, and subsequent programs, are helping to fill that void, investing $100 million over 33 years to develop 3000 leaders and building a national network of changemakers who are at the forefront of agriculture, natural resource management, Indigenous leadership, business, and rural community development.”
Bruce’s twin brother John agrees: “What drew us to aligning this initiative to the ARLF is that they have the know-how of building future leaders in this country. It is absolutely critical that we do this work to connect all of Australia with the issues affecting rural areas. We want to equip people with the skills, confidence and ability to represent not just themselves, but their communities. Instilling leadership skills is vitally important to bring about change.
From one leader’s journey to many: a scholarship that pays it forward
“The ARLP happened for Bruce at the age 41 or so. It was a trigger point for him – for the understanding that he had a great deal to give to rural Australia. He always had that motivation to be active beyond the farm gate and be involved in whatever was happening in the community, and it opened his awareness of having an impact on regional and national issues too. He never put himself above anyone else. With the opportunity and right environment to use his skills, he would.”
Bruce’s wife Shandra adds: “Bruce always put himself in positions where he kept learning. He knew you never stop learning. For future scholarship recipients, I just hope they grow from their ARLP experience like Bruce grew from his and embrace that learning.”
The scholarship is also historic in that it’s the first time individuals have seeded a fund, that have traditionally been supported by corporates and philanthropy. Bruce’s children, Charlie and Lucy, along with John, will have hands-on involvement each year in the selection of applicants to the Bruce Simpson Rural Leadership Scholarship, which will support a promising individual working in agriculture and related sectors to undertake the ARLP.
“Strong communities band together in good times and tough times. Dad firmly believed that people, not governments, are best placed to solve challenges when they arise,” Lucy says. “Rural Australia today really needs people who are committed for the long term. It needs talented, visionary people to give their knowledge and experience to those around them.”
Charlie adds: “It’s a brilliant partnership between committed people and an organization that has made a massive difference to the lives of those who have already taken part in a scholarship before now. If we achieve our goal of raising $2 million, the scholarship will provide one person a year, into the future, to have a chance to take part in one of the best rural scholarship programs in Australia.”
In Bruce’s own words, in an ARLF interview five years ago, leadership is about being consistent with oneself and one’s values, to lead with integrity. And “be strong in your belief that you’re there to lead for change”.
For more information on the Bruce Simpson Rural Scholarship Fund and how to donate, visit https://donate.rural-leaders.org.au/.
Graham Smith, formerly a Program Manager and Honorary Fellow of the ARLF, is currently cycling from Canberra to Hobart (via Deniliquin for the launch) to raise funds and awareness for the ARLF, and more specifically, to support The Bruce Simpson Scholarship Fund. Find out more here.
