"The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation's nineteenth year has been challenging, productive and rewarding," says Chief Executive Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick.

Building on its past successes the Foundation, throughout the 2010-2011 financial year, has continued to work towards a rural Australia that is economically, socially and environmentally healthy, viable and resilient through leadership excellence.

Click here to download Annual Report

Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Network Fellows got together for their annual Leadership, Engagement and Development (LEAD) Day at Reef HQ in Townsville in late September. 

“The LEAD day was great and the speakers were high calibre and inspirational,” says Victorian Paul Shea from Course 16. "It is my intention to attend the LEAD day annually because for me, this will be an opportunity to reflect on how I am travelling, and to hear and meet some inspiring people and hopefully catch up with as many Fellows as possible.” 

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Great leadership is collaborative!, says Project Manager of AIME, Sam Perry on completing the recent six month Telstra Foundation Community Leadership Development Program run by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. 

The three Telstra Executives and five CEOs of not-for-profit organisations who participated, all heartily agreed the program did more than just develop their leadership skills. 

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The prestigious 2011 Farmer of the Year award was presented to Robert Ruwoldt of Horsham, Victoria at a gala dinner at Sydney’s Westin Hotel on Wednesday 7^th September. 

Robert is a fourth-generation farmer on their 2800ha family farm in the heart of the Victoria’s Wimmera. 

As the winner of the Farmer of the Year award, Robert has secured a placement in the final round of interviews in the esteemed Australian Rural Leadership Program. 

In congratulating Robert on his award, Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation said, “Robert is a fine example of what can be achieved by those on the land  who adapt to the challenges of change and innovation.” 

“Robert and his family are passionate about the land and have shown by pushing the boundaries they are creating a sustainable rural Australia. This is certainly a well deserved award,” she adds.

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The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) will be conducting a Leadership Engagement and Development (LEAD) Seminar at ReefHQ, Townsville on Saturday 17 September 2011.

This Leadership Day follows a series of Foundation events held in Townsville for Australian Rural Leadership Program participants, Foundation Fellows, members, the Foundation’s sponsors and local leaders.

The one day seminar is designed to stimulate leadership thinking and create networks. It features a select group of inspirational speakers from around Australia who will provide leaders with the opportunity to discuss the leadership challenges of rural Australia.

Speakers include:

Professor Sandra Harding, Vice Chancellor James Cook University,  on Leadership in the Tropics

Senator for Northern Territory Nigel Scullion on Political Leadership

Dr Paul Porteous,  Director of Centre for Social Leadership on Leadership

An afternoon series of  interactive workshops will also run concurrently with speakers:

Dr Adam Smith on Climate Change and Rural Communities

Lorraine Gordon,  Access and Equity in Education, Training and Leadership

Assoc Professor Richard Franklin and Professor Sabina Knight on Future issues in safety in Rural Industries

The LEAD Day is being supported by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, James Cook University and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 

The LEAD day is open to the public. Please feel free to contact local organizer Dr Adam Smith on 0418726584 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  if you would like more information on the event.

The passion, innovation and professionalism of Australia’s farmers will be recognised at the Australian Farmer of the Year awards in Sydney on September 7^th  at the Westin Hotel. 

The Farmer of the Year award's gala dinner is the premier event on the rural social calendar and offers everyone in the rural industry a superb opportunity to celebrate the wonderful achievements of Australian farmers. 

This prestigious rural award is a unique collaboration between three of Australia’s iconic rural organisations: Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, ABC Rural and the Kondinin Group. 

The overall winner of the Farmer of the Year award will secure a placement in the final round of interviews in the esteemed Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP). 

Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of the Foundation says, “The Farmer of the Year is an opportunity to formally recognise the outstanding work of farmers in this country as they work to adapt, evolve and ultimately succeed in the challenging rural Australian environment. “

 “Those who push the boundaries in rural industries are critical to the nation yet often go unacknowledged.  This award is an important way to celebrate the contribution of those farmers who work hard to make rural Australia sustainable, innovative and productive. It gives them the pat on the back they deserve.”

 “It celebrates the sustainable approaches and the creativity that individual farmers employ on their properties which underpin productivity in the Australian economy,” adds Fitzpatrick.

Course 17 participants have just completed Session five of their ARL Program which was a case study of contemporary issues. Here participants were challenged to explore the associated political, social, environmental and economic impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. 

“This session was about putting a topical and emotive issue on the table; one on which people have strong ideas and one where participants can explore their prejudgements but then look at a variety of equally viable alternatives,” explains Program Manager Karim Haddad.

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Australian Rural Leadership Foundation CEO, Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick and Program Manager, Karim Haddad joined 150 other leading ACT Executives in sleeping rough overnight outside Canberra’s National Museum on Thursday June 16. 

“It was for a good cause and I like to feel that I am contributing to the community and that my life includes some voluntary community activity,” says Dr Fitzpatrick. 

“The aim of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is not only to raise funds, but to raise awareness of homelessness and I believe that if the serious issue of homelessness could be addressed then perhaps we could move toward resolving many of the other associated social problems like health, particularly mental health, and education,” adds Fitzpatrick. 

Dr Fitzpatrick raised $3130 and Haddad a further $2045. The National CEO Sleepout raised $2.9 million with Canberra contributing $404,199. 

Should you wish to increase the sponsorship of the two Foundation participants donations can be made online at www.ceosleepout.org.au/donate/online-donation/