Stepping into leadership or advocacy often comes with uncertainty, fear of criticism, and the challenge of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. Yet, those who make the greatest impact are often those willing to embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth.
This was the central theme of a recent conversation on Rural Leadership Unearthed, where host Claire Delahunty sat down with podcast host and journalist Kirsten Diprose (Ducks on the Pond) and agricultural leader and advocate Catherine Marriott OAM. Their discussion explored how advocacy, leadership, and personal development are shaped by a willingness to learn, adapt, and push beyond what feels safe.
Advocacy as a Learning Journey
Advocacy is rarely something people feel fully prepared for; it’s something they grow into. Catherine Marriott’s first experience of speaking up came in an unexpected setting – boarding school. Frustrated with the poor quality of food, she rallied students to stage a “walkthrough” protest, leading to an improvement in meals.
That early experience set the stage for a lifetime of standing up for what matters. Later, when the Australian government suspended live exports, Catherine saw first-hand how the decision devastated communities and industries. Despite knowing the controversial nature of the issue, she was determined to stand up for the farmers and Indonesian lot feeders impacted.
“Advocacy is quite scary because you’re putting yourself on a pillar and taking a stand on something,” she explains. “For me, the fear of being criticised or having people say awful things about me was less than my determination to make a difference.”
Over time, Catherine developed resilience, learning to accept that not everyone will agree with her but that staying silent would never drive change.
Using Storytelling to Shape Understanding
For Kirsten, advocacy evolved through journalism, where she witnessed firsthand how narratives shape public perception. She realised that one of the most powerful ways to advocate for change was through storytelling, especially when misinformation was at play.
“When you see misinformation from some circles who have a really sort of strong political agenda and even coming from a comms background, I can see what they’re doing. They’ve got this message and it’s trying to injure the agriculture system.”
She believes advocacy is about sharing knowledge, creating understanding, and offering people the chance to see beyond surface-level narratives.
“When it comes to advocating for the truth, once you can get it to the majority and say (for example), ‘actually that picture of skinny sheep is five years old, taken at the end of the millennium drought and then just being used for this animal activist purpose, it’s not actually reality’, and then you tell them about it, and they go, ‘Okay, right. I didn’t know that’.
“We need to share our stories because if we don’t, someone else will and they might not get it right.”
Evolving as an Advocate and Leader
Both Catherine and Kirsten recognise that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice, it’s about continuously learning and refining your approach.
Catherine reflects on her journey, crediting leadership programs for helping her grow.
“Every 10 years, I do something that pushes me outside my comfort zone. There’s a saying which I love, which is: ‘if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room’.”
She says programs like the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) fundamentally shaped her.
“It kicked me to the curb in all the right ways. It made me question, it made me grow, my confidence dipped, my confidence grew, I was confused. But you need to go there and you need to do the work.”
She emphasises that stepping into new challenges – even when they’re uncomfortable – is what enables deeper impact.
Kirsten, currently undertaking the ARLP, shares how getting out of her comfort zone has already expanded her leadership capacity.
“Just the process of getting out of your comfort zone is a huge leadership thing. Before doing the ARLP, I suppose the first official leadership development course I did was the Observership Program, which was really fantastic. And it’s for people aged 25 to 40, and you get to observe a board and you do a sort of abridged version of the AICD course. And I observed the Southwest TAFE board, which is the TAFE near me. And then at the end of that year, there was a director position and I wasn’t going to go for it. But then I thought, why not? I applied and I was successful and now I’m the deputy chair. And it’s unlocked a new way of thinking about impact and advocacy.”
Allyship, a form of advocacy
With experience and growth comes the realisation that not every battle is worth fighting. Both Catherine and Kirsten have learned to set boundaries, focusing their advocacy efforts where they can have the most impact.
And that being an advocate doesn’t always mean speaking; it’s also about making room for others to be heard.
“I’ve been really thinking a lot about allyship. And I think the ARLP has actually got me thinking a bit more about that,” says Kirsten. “How can I be an ally from having a little bit of a platform to be a good and useful ally and put others forward who do have that knowledge, who should be speaking on those things?”
Catherine agrees: “And I guess the first thing that I would think about is somebody filling the gap? And if there is, that’s wonderful. And if they’re doing a good job, I don’t need to intrude on that.
“You don’t need to be a leader, but to stand beside people while they actually fight for things that matter, I think is a really powerful piece.”
Final Thoughts: Leadership as a Lifelong Learning Process
Ultimately, both women see leadership as a continuous journey, not a destination. Growth happens when we lean into challenges, take risks, and embrace discomfort as part of learning.
Whether it’s through storytelling, strategic advocacy, or community leadership, each person has a role to play in shaping the future of rural and regional Australia. The key is to lead with courage, authenticity, purpose, and a willingness to collaborate.
Kirsten sums it up well: “I want to be in positions where I can have impact. If I can’t change the system, I won’t waste my time running in circles.”
Catherine agrees: “If you’re passionate about something, don’t wait for permission to lead. The best advocates are those who step forward because they care.”
Tune into Catherine, Kirsten and Claire’s conversation on the Rural Leadership Unearthed podcast.
