At the end of August/start of September 2022, I was lucky enough to attend the Rural Leadership Program at Marcus Oldham in Geelong, thanks to the generous support of the CBBA and ABIF.
 
Heading down, I didn’t really know what to expect, but the content and delivery of the course exceeded any expectations that I possibly could have set. We covered plenty of topics, such as what makes a good leader, considerations to keep in mind when leading a team, mental health in rural locations, and public speaking, both in front of a group and in front of a camera.

We also spent time exploring our own strengths, weaknesses and values, and how we can utilise these in leadership, which was not something I’d expected, but found extremely useful.
 
All 33 course participants came from a variety of different rural backgrounds, from people involved in the cattle industry in locations from far north WA to Tasmania, to crop producers, agronomists, bee keepers, rural bankers, feedlot employees, and more. 

I really enjoyed learning not only during the actual program sessions, but also during the morning/afternoon tea breaks, and breakfast, lunch, and tea, where we had the chance to chat and share information about our backgrounds (who knew that bee genetics are a thing!). 

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet such a diverse group of people, and to now have those connections with people all over Australia.
 
We were kept busy during the evenings with very engaging guest speakers most nights, and an extremely enjoyable team building exercise another night. The week ended with the NAB Agribusiness Industry Dinner, where we had the pleasure of meeting and chatting to a variety of extremely interesting people in many different industries and roles. The highlight of the guest speakers for the week was listening to Barry Irvin, the executive chairman of Bega Cheese and founder of Giant Steps speak at the dinner about his progression from banker to Bega, which was an incredible story, showcasing his leadership skills.
 
I am very appreciative for the CBBA and ABIF providing such a wonderful opportunity, and I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in the future of rural Australia to apply for the 2023 Rural Leadership Program.