I hope 2025 is off to a flying start for you all! Here’s a update from me about what is making news in the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s Alumni network this month.
If you’re a regular listener of our podcast, Rural Leadership Unearthed, you might have already caught our latest episode, which dropped last week. If not, now’s the perfect time to tune in! This special edition brings together the collective wisdom of past guests—an great listen as we charge into the new year.
Check it out, along with all previous episodes – all featuring stories about some of our Alumni. They are available on all streaming platforms for live streaming or download on demand. If you enjoy what you hear, we’d love for you to give it a rating!
Catch us at evokeAG Brisbane
Come and say hi to our team who will be attending evokeAG later in the month. We’ll be sharing stall with our friends at Drought Hub.
With so many of our Alumni network members heading to Brissy for the event, we thought we’d make the most of the opportunity for an Alumni catchup. Join us for breakfast on the morning of, Wednesday 19 February before evokeAG kicks off. It’s the perfect chance to reconnect and expand your network over a good coffee and great food.
Know another Alum or a colleague heading to evokeAG? Feel free to invite them along—the more, the merrier!
Event details:
When: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Time: 7:00am – 8:30am
Where: Poppies Cocktail Bar – Shop B11, Little Stanley St, Southbank (just near the evokeAG venue)
Cost: $25 per head (includes brekkie & top-notch coffee!)
We hope to see you there.
Upcoming Alumni network catch ups
When: Thursday, 13 February 2025
Time: 7:00am – 8:00am
Where: Salt Dish – 35 Marine Tce
Cost: $20 (includes brekkie & coffee)
This gathering, driven and hosted by the vibrant and fabulous ARLF Fellows of north-east Vic, is a chance to connect with local Alumni. Discussions will also be held to gather your thoughts on the future direction of the ARLF, to ensure that we remain focused, impactful and aligned with the needs of regional and rural Australia.
Date: Sunday, 16 February
Where: Lake Moodemere Estate
Time: 10:30 am onwards
Cost: Pay your way
Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Time: 7:00am – 8.30am
Where: Poppies Cocktail Bar - Shop B11, Little Stanley St, Southbank (close to evokeAG venue)
Cost: $25 per head for breakfast goodies and good coffee!
When: Monday, 24 February 2025
Time: 7:00am – 8:00am
Where: Jam Packed – 25 Hunter Street, Hobart
Cost: $25 (includes brekkie & coffee)
When: Wednesday, 5 March 2025
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Where: The Commercial Hotel – 161 Brisbane St, Dubbo
Cost: $20 per head (includes nibbles & share plates – drinks are on you!)
Save the date: ARLP community event Kapunda (SA)
As part of ARLP cohort 31 session 3 in Kapunda (SA), there’ll be a Community Event held on the afternoon of Thursday April 10. Local stakeholders, alumni and others connected to the cohort will be invited. Final details still to be determined, but if you’re in SA and keen, pop the date in your diary.
It’s also the week of the AFL’s 2025 Gather Round, so if you’re travelling to SA, arrive a day earlier and add this event into your calendar! Kapunda is only about an hour from Adelaide. We’d love to see you there.
Honouring our award winning Alumni
We are always delighted to see our alumni’s achievements celebrated, and several have been honoured in the past week.
We are thrilled to share that Drought Resilient Leaders Program Alum and founder of Farm Angels (FKA Drought Angels), Natasha Johnston, has been recognised with an Order of Australia in the 2025 Australia Day Honours. This prestigious award acknowledges her exceptional contributions to the community through drought relief.
Since founding the not-for-profit in 2014, Natasha has fostered hope for thousands of drought-stricken farming families across Australia. She has tirelessly worked to deliver care packages and assistance to those in need, addressing the immense challenges faced by rural communities. Her dedication was previously recognised when she was named ‘Queensland’s Local Hero’ in the 2021 Australian of the Year awards.
Natasha’s leadership journey exemplifies the ARLF’s mission to foster courageous and influential leaders who see an issue and then act, driving positive change. Her impact and vision continues to be a source of inspiration for our Alumni network and the broader community. Congratulations Natasha on this well-deserved recognition. Your achievements highlight how the power of rural leadership can help shape stronger, more connected and more vibrant communities.
We were also thrilled, and not surprised, to see ARLP Alum and Fellow, the late Bruce Simpson, posthumously named Edward River Council’s 2025 Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day Awards, recognising four decades of service to Deniliquin, NSW. Deputy Mayor Kellie Crossley praised Bruce’s dedication, calling him a true leader whose legacy of decency, courage, and community spirit continues to inspire. To continue to honour his commitment to rural Australia, Bruce’s family has launched The Bruce Simpson Rural Scholarship Fund in partnership with us here at the ARLF. This $2 million perpetual fund will support an annual scholarship for a rural leader to undertake the Australian Rural Leadership Program, ensuring Bruce’s passion for strengthening regional communities lives on.
We’d also love to mention, ARLP Alum and Fellow Dr Mary Retallack was the recipient of an Active Citizenship Award for her exceptional commitment to community service from the Adelaide Hills Council.
Australian Rural Leadership Program reunions in 2025
We love seeing Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) cohorts reconnect and strengthen their bonds! This year cohorts 7, 14, and 27 all have reunions in the works. Watch your inboxes and my monthly columns for more details closer to the date.
Thinking of organising a reunion for your cohort? Let us help! Reach out, and we can support you in bringing your cohort back together. Even if we just start with an online ‘Cuppa’ to get things moving. We are very happy to help.
Call out to our Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program Alumni
This year, we’re excited to be celebrating 10 years of the Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program (AALP).
As part of the milestone, we want to hear from our incredible Alumni, partners, funders, and supporters—about the program’s impact over the years.
To kick things off, we’re running a series of one-on-one chats with AALP Alumni. Your insights will help shape our AALP Impact Report and set the stage as we celebrate the collective achievements of this program. Plus, we’d love to hear your thoughts on where agribusiness leadership should head next.
Keen to be part of the conversation? Book a 30-minute chat with our team today
Mighty Networks – your Alumni connection space
If you haven’t recently re-visited Mighty Networks, now’s the perfect time! It’s our online platform for all current participants, and we’re stepping things up to make it a go-to space for our Alumni network too.
Over the past few months, we’ve made some big changes—tidying things up, organising resources, and making it easier to navigate. Our goal? To create a one-stop shop for everything ARLF, where you can connect, find valuable info, and stay in the loop with your fellow alumni.
Starting in February, we’ll be reaching out to alumni, inviting each cohort to jump on board. But if you’re someone who loves to get in early (yep, we’re looking at you, early adopters!), you can register your interest now by clicking the link below. We’ll be in touch soon to help you get started.
Got any questions? Just reach out to julias@rural-leaders.org.
Walk the Larapinta in 2025
ARLP Alum and ARLF Fellow Donna Digby is fundraising again to help another leader from the NT undertake the ARLP in 2026.
There are four places left to walk the Larapinta, and the team would love to lock in the 2025 crew!
If you say yes, you’d be in for an unforgettable experience—stunning landscapes, epic sunsets, waterhole swims, wildlife spotting, and plenty of good yarns along the way. Plus, you’ll be walking with an incredible group of legends!
Trip details
Cost: $3,465 per person (includes transfers, some accom, all meals, guides & more)
Dates: 18–24 May
Fundraising goal: $2,500 per walker
Not sure if the walk is for you? Donna and the team are also planning a Dust & Diamonds Gala Dinner and Auction (Black Tie with a touch of red) on Saturday, 10 May in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). If any Alumni would like to come on board as a sponsor, or make a donation to the auction, the team would be incredibly appriciative.
Keen to find out more? Email Donna Digby: territoryconnect@gmail.com or visit the website.
Opportunities for the Alumni Network
GROW- Festival of Regenerative Food and Farming
I was chatting with AALP alum Terrie Morgan in late Jan and she mentioned her involvement in coordinating the fast approaching Victorian GROW Festival – the Festival of Regenerative Food and Farming. GROW is a one-day conference and field day, bringing farmers and consumers together to drive positive change in agriculture, food production and land stewardship.
ARLP 31 participant Kirsten Diprose and Drought Mentoring Alum Harry Lloyd, as well as Terrie, are all guest speakers on the day.
This all-day event is set for Saturday, 22 February. For anyone interested in attending, visit the GROW event page.
Seeking your insights – AI in Rural SMEs
Susan Sheldrick is a final-year PhD student at the University of Melbourne and is looking for input!
If you own, work for, or regularly collaborate with a small or medium-sized business in regional or rural Australia, I’ve put together a short report with recommendations from my research on AI in Rural SMEs.
There are two easy ways to get involved:
– Complete a short online survey (about 20 minutes)
– Have a quick chat with me (30-minute interview)
Your insights will help shape real-world recommendations for businesses like yours.
If you are keen to be involved and support this important research, please reach out directly to Susie at susie.sheldrick@unimelb.edu.au.
