28 diverse rural leaders have been selected as the 29th cohort of the prestigious Australian Rural Leadership Program to commence in June 2022.
The line-up includes a Social Entrepreneur from Deeragun (QLD), an Executive Director from the Food and Fibre sector from Scarborough (WA), an Aboriginal Medical Services Chief Operations Officer from Jingili (NT), a mixed crop and livestock farmer from Sale (VIC), a Beef Cattle Grazier from Mingoola (QLD), and a Manager of Cattle Stations from Gin Gin (NSW) to name a few.
The ARLP is Australia’s longest and most in-depth experiential leadership development program giving participants a valuable opportunity to grow their leadership and create a network of change-makers to positively influence their organisations, industries, and communities across rural, regional and remote Australia.
Participants engage in a range of experiential learning opportunities in varying contexts during their four sessions over 15-months.
Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, 28 scholarships each valued at $50,000, have been awarded in a highly competitive selection process which began in late 2021.
ARLF Chief Executive and alumnus of Course 7 Matt Linnegar congratulated the participants on their selection.
“For almost 30 years, the ARLF has remained committed to ensuring the delivery of high-quality programs that support improved leadership. An adaptive, network leadership approach is more important than ever as rural, regional, and remote Australia faces unprecedented change.
“We are looking forward to the group coming together in June in the first of a series of experiences that will help shape their understanding of themselves and to work with others in influencing change across the country”.
A subsequent announcement will be made to announce a second round of successful applicants who will also join this cohort. Expressions of interest for Australian Rural Leadership Program Course 30 can be submitted here.
Australian Rural Leaders Program Cohort 29
| Renee Bartolo | Jingili, NT | Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment |
| Carly Baker-Burnham | Monto, QLD | Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment |
| Melanie Bish | Golden Square, VIC | Telstra |
| Jack Brennan | Gin Gin, NSW | Cotton Research & Development Corporation, Australian Food & Fibre & Cotton Australia, Paraway Pastoral Company |
| Timothy Brennan | Crows Nest, QLD | Australian Lot Feeders’ Association |
| Melissa Brooke | Bundaberg, QLD | National Indigenous Australians Agency |
| Ryan Brown | Coverty, QLD | Australian Lot Feeders’ Association |
| Robyn Bryant | Mingoola, QLD | Meat and Livestock Australia |
| Zelmari Coetzee | Mildura, VIC | Agriculture Victoria Research |
| Sophie Dwyer | Scarborough, WA | AgriFutures Australia |
| Jay Dryden | Pt Noarlunga, SA | Australian Government Department of Health |
| Steve Fawns | Deniliquin, NSW | AgriFutures Australia |
| Rob Fish | Lennox Head, NSW | Fisheries Research and Development Corporation |
| Jason Herbert | Dubbo, NSW | Australian Meat Processor Corporation |
| Luke Hooke | Castlemaine, VIC | John B. Foundation (Innovation in Agriculture Scholarship) |
| Bernice Hookey | Charters Towers, QLD | National Indigenous Australian Agency |
| Aaron Kiely | Emerald, QLD | Cotton Research & Development Corporation, Australian Food & Fibre, Cotton Australia |
| Erin Lew Fatt | Jingili, NT | Tim Fairfax Family Foundation |
| Renee Lynch | Narembeen, WA | CBH Group |
| Latarnie McDonald | Taradale, VIC | National Indigenous Australians Agency |
| Courtney Mraz | Sale, VIC | Grains Research and Development Corporation |
| Liz Morse-McNabb | Spring Gully, VIC | Agriculture Victoria Research |
| Clare Purcell | Wattle Flat, VIC | Agriculture Victoria |
| Chris Ronan | Cooma, NSW | Prime Super |
| Tracy Sullivan | Cable Beach, WA | Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment |
| Angus Street | Avalon Beach, NSW | Auctions Plus |
| Jane Wardle | Perth, WA | CBH Group |
| Eugene Wong | Avoca, QLD | Tim Fairfax Family Foundation |
Media contact: Karen Freer, karenf@rural-leaders.org.au, 0403 447 344
