Welcoming new alumni
We have had 12 new alumni join the network this month with the group graduating from the Milparanga Emerging Leadership Program experience in Cairns. These alumni bring our continuously growing number of First Nations alumni above 500.
Whilst I am on the topic, applications for the 2025 Milparanga Established Leaders Program are currently open for First Nations people holding senior leadership roles in their communities or industries. We will be closing applications for the 2025 program on Monday 9 December 2025 so make sure you get your applications in on time.
Sydney alumni event featuring Brianna Casey AM
We had the pleasure of bringing alumni together at a gathering in Sydney in mid-November. And a big thank you to our valued sponsor and long-term partner, Telstra, who generously hosted the event for us.
Alum and other stakeholders gathered to hear Brianna Casey speak about her work as CEO of Foodbank and her advocacy work as she tirelessly campaigns to affect tax policy at a national level around food waste. The demands on Foodbank services steadily grows as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
Telstra originally sponsored Brianna onto her Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) and so it was a perfect opportunity for the Telstra team to hear about the ongoing impact of their investment in Brianna those years ago too.
Brianna shared that “undertaking the ARLP was an extraordinary experience and I will be forever grateful to the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and Telstra for the opportunity. It was transformational and the experience we had on Country has never left me. And it wasn’t just about the leadership skills we learnt or the very honest conversations we had along the way. It was the awakening of that part of me around social policy and having a voice”.
The event also showed another really valuable way for sponsors to support us. The event allowed us to shine a light on the longer-term impact of our programs and potentially reach new audiences. Again – very grateful to Dr Ben Gursansky and the team at Telstra.
Also, a big thanks to those locally based alumni (and others not so local) who joined us. We always respect the time you take to stay connected with us, and each other.
I must again acknowledge alum Andrew Monk. It was his idea to host these events to highlight Brianna’s advocacy work to share valuable knowledge through the network.
We are also planning to showcase Brianna in a ‘Lunch &Learn’ webinar in 2025. We love face-to-face events, but also understand their limitations.
Toowoomba alumni gathering
It was great to see aum also gather in Toowoomba in mid-November. Again – we acknowledge the juggle of the busy lives you lead to attend these events, stay connected to us and to meet other alumni local to you.
A huge shoutout to Louise Adcock, our locally based team member who hosted the event.
We are planning the 2025 alumni events now. If you are keen to see an event in your neck of the woods, please reach out. I would love to hear from you.
Alumni ‘Lunch & Learn’ series featuring Tanya Stevenson
We launched our ‘Lunch & Learn’ series in November – a chance for alumni to hear and learn from the network and be re-energised about some element of leadership. And, it is another accessible ARLF touch point. Our first conversation was with Tanya Stevenson about her career long passion for youth and ensuring that younger voices in her community are heard and amplified.
She outlined a very practical example of the successful Read Bear project. This project aimed to increase literacy rates in young children in her community by gifting handmade bears to school children and encouraging them to read aloud to them each night. The key to its success was that each bear was individual with its own unique name. For such a simple concept, the results have been overwhelming.
This conversation with Tanya also delves into some really practical tips about how to successfully get community projects up and running in local communities. If you are involved in grass roots projects, it is well worth a listen.
You can watch a replay of the webinar here if you are keen. And if you missed it in last month’s e-news, we had the team from the Kansas Leadership Centre back with us in October. Here’s the link to that webinar too if you are keen and curious.
And a big shout out to my fabulous colleague Andrew Bryant for facilitating the conversation with Tanya.
Dates and topics for our Lunch & Learn series in 2025 will be announced soon. Stay tuned for more details.
Mighty Networks – alumni connection platform
Mighty Networks is our online communications platform for all current participants, and we are ramping it up as a place of connection for our Alumni network too.
We have made some big changes over the last few months to help us better organise the information and resources contained within it, to make it easier for you to navigate, find and connect with other alumni and ultimately, to be a place of value for you. A one-stop shop for all things ARLF if you like.
Our plan is to reach out to all alumni and start inviting cohort by cohort onto the platform in the coming weeks.
But if you are one of those who like to jump in first – or as we say an ‘early adopter’, click the link below and register your interest. We will be in touch in the coming weeks to help you get started. This is an exciting tool that supports greater connectedness between alumni. We look forward to seeing you in there!
We are also planning a live drop-in info session to better understand how to use Mighty Networks. You’ll find the details for this once you’ve signed in to the platform.
Any questions at all, please reach out. We are here and keen to help. Contact me directly.
Attending Evoke Ag in Brisbane in February?
Knowing how many of you travel from all corners of the country to attend Evoke Ag, we are hosting a breakfast opportunity to bring you all together on the morning of Wednesday 19 February 2025.
More details to come over the next few weeks. Rest assured you will get a good coffee, some breakfast goodies and some fabulous conversation and connections.
Larapinta FUNraising Walk – May 2025
Donna Digby, ARLP Fellow based in Alice Springs, has worked incredibly hard to fundraise in support of leadership development for NT leaders. Donna founded Territory Connect in September 2023 to ensure more Territorians have an opportunity to foster and reach their leadership potential.
On the back of the successful inaugural 2024 Leadership on Larapinta FUNdraising walk, together with her supportive networks, Donna collectively raised over $50,000 to fund an ARLP scholarship for a Central Australian leader to undertake Course 32 in June 2025. Impressive hey!
So – if you are looking for your next adventure and an opportunity to spend time on Country walking with expert local western Arrernte leaders and guides, meet and connect with other leaders and immerse yourself in County along the Larapinta Trail, why not commit to lacing up your boots and joining next year’s walk in May 2025!
Keen to find out more? Reach out to Donna directly at territoryconnect@gmail.com
Network opportunities
AgriFutures Australia are sourcing applications for five nationally recognised leadership and development programs, including two ARLF programs.
If you or someone you know is:
- involved with/or working in an AgriFutures Levied or Emerging Industry
- an AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Alumni, and/or
- an Agrifood Innovation Professional
Take a look and apply for a sponsored position to participate in one or more of the following programs, targeting both emerging and established leaders:
- ARLF TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program
- ARLF Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program
- Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program
- Australian Institute of Company Directors – Company Directors Course
- Australian Institute of Company Directors – Foundations of Directorship
To apply visit Learning and Development Opportunities and Resources | AgriFutures Australia by Wednesday 8 January 2025.
Upcoming gatherings
Darwin | Thursday 12 December 2024 from 7.15 – 9.00amMeet with Partnerships Director Philippa Woodhill and our NT based Project Officer, Jema Brown – Register now
Cuppa Tea’s @3pm
Our last few Cuppa Tea’s for 2024 are coming up. Keep an eye on your inbox for Zoom invitations.
ARLP Cohort C29 | Thursday 12 December 2024 at 3.00pm
Milparanga 2019 | Friday 13 December at 3.00pmMeet our new First Nations Learning and Engagement Manager Annette Simpson
