This week 23 future wool industry leaders are participating in the Breeding Leadership course. This biennial, week-long program, funded by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), is designed to improve the leadership skills of young people already in the wool industry.
Delivered in Clare, South Australia, by consultancy firm Rural Directions, Breeding Leadership covers personal leadership skills as well as strategic planning and team leadership. The program also includes an industry tour of Michell Wool and Anlaby Station as well as local farm tours and guest speakers.
Helping develop the next wool leaders is a significant focus at AWI, just as it is important to develop the next wool textile experts, wool fashion designers and of course, wool consumers. While young students get introduced to wool through Learn About Wool kits and the Wool4School competition, the next generation of woolgrowers, shearers, brokers and geneticists learn skills through the National Merino Challenge and, in-time, Breeding Leadership.
AWI CEO, Stuart McCullough said “it was great to meet these young people and speak with a room filled with optimism and hope and gained some great insights into their vision for the future of wool”. Mr McCullough delivered a session sharing the AWI strategic direction and insights into current and planned projects.
Since its inception, Breeding Leadership has put more than 150 young people through the course; many of them, such as current WoolPoll Chairman Syd Lawrie, hold leading roles in the wool industry today.
Anna Cotton of Swansea in Tasmania undertook Breeding Leadership in 2016 and said, “I loved every minute of Breeding Leadership – not only the content but the connections made”. Anthony Yeo, from Canowindra in NSW, said “I have lots to take away and work with my team on including better communication”. Anna and Anthony were present at the 2018 session to share with the group their learnings and journey since they attended Breeding Leadership in 2016.
Participants have been selected from throughout the wool industry. Participants backgrounds range from on-farm to education and wool marketing.
2018 Breeding Leadership participants:
| New South Wales: Alexandra Cesnik, Gumly Gumly Jayde Cluff, Deniliquin Roy Elliott, Eumungerie Jock Fisher, Gulargambone Ross Fletcher, Walcha Ally Jaffrey, Crookwell Henry Ridge, Sydney Mark Scott, SydneySouth Australia: Angus Ashby, Gulnare Chelsea Dahlenburg, Naracoorte Angus Halliday, Bordertown Royce Pitchford, Clare William Sandow, Watervale |
Western Australia: Stephen Chappell, Lake Grace Daniel Dempster, Goomalling Kyle Gumprich, Narrogin Justin Haydock, Narrogin Alex House, Claremont Carl Storer, Cunderdin Queensland: Benn Wilson, DirranbandiTasmania: John Chester, Campbell TownVictoria: Sam Crawford, Dunkeld Oliver Vidor, Derrinallum |
