Future industry leaders line up (31 July 2018)

The Australian cotton industry is ensuring it has a vibrant group of people to take the industry into the future, with the announcement of 16 2018 Australian Future Cotton Leaders (AFCL) participants.

From a field of worthy recipients, a panel, including graduates of the course and representatives from program supporters CRDC and Cotton Australia, chose the participants.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Cotton Australia in the Future Cotton Leaders program, ensuring that as an industry we have a strong cohort of innovative emerging leaders,” CRDC Executive Director Bruce Finney said.

“Future Cotton Leaders has been a successful program in preparing and supporting people in the industry to fulfil their potential and enhance skills for future leadership.

“We see many of the alumni still highly involved in the industry and moving into leadership and mentor roles and we look forward to the members of this cohort doing the same.”

2018 Program Participants

  • Greg Anthony, Baulkham Hills, NSW
  • Nicholas Beer, Spring Ridge, NSW
  • Dean Brookes, St Lucia, QLD
  • Georgia Brown, Boomi, NSW
  • Murray Connor, Moree, NSW
  • Alexandra Dalton, Trangie, NSW
  • Lachlan Danckert, Deniliquin, NSW
  • Andrew French, Theodore, QLD
  • Nathan Hamblin, Narrabri, NSW
  • Tristram Hertslet, Talwood, QLD
  • Sharna Holman, Emerald, QLD
  • Rebecca Longworth, Mungindi, NSW
  • Fiona Norrie, Moree, NSW
  • Ngaire Roughley, Wee Waa, NSW
  • Jack Sharp, Couradda, NSW
  • Sam Simons, Gunnedah, NSW

 

Participants in the program have already been meeting with industry leaders and will be mentored by already established and well-recognised cotton industry figures. The future leaders will also develop and implement a leadership project that mutually benefits the individual and the wider cotton industry.

AFCL is one aspect of CRDC’s broader workforce development strategy, which has recently been revised.

“We recognise that people are our most important resource, which is why we as an industry invest so heavily in programs to help upskill and develop our people, and why we at CRDC have an investment program specifically around building adaptive capacity,” Bruce said.