Young leaders better equipped to inspire future generations
September 15, 2021

The future of cotton is in the next generation of leaders

Australia’s young cotton industry leaders are better equipped to lead and inspire after attending an industry leadership program.

Held at Armidale in New South Wales, 11 participants in the Australian Future Cotton Leaders have upskilled, focusing on people, communication, leadership and collaboration.

The program, which initially started in 2007 and runs every two years, has shifted focus from a ‘me and my farm/work’ to a ‘me and my industry and what’s my role in it’ approach.

This year’s cohort included researchers, policy managers, growers, consultants and agribusiness professionals from across Queensland and New South Wales.

In the past, several Australian Future Cotton Leaders graduates have gone on to the Australian Rural Leadership Program, with some becoming Nuffield Scholars.

Jo Eady, of Rural Scope, delivered the program and said content had evolved during the years, aligning to changes in society and how people interacted and communicated in the modern era.

“There has been a shift because of community expectations of agriculture,” Jo said.

“We are entering a much more collaborative leadership stage as opposed to a positional leader stage, which is what agriculture is traditionally built on.”

The Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program is supported by the Cotton Research Development Coorporation and Cotton Australia.

This story first appeared in CRDC spring Spotlight magazineread the full story here.

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