David Crombie has been a leader in many different arenas. In stepping down from the leadership of the National Farmers Federation (NFF) in November 2010, Federal Minister Tony Burke said, “It’s fair to say you only have to learn a little bit about David Crombie to learn a lot about the best of Australian agriculture - and Australian agriculture has been in a better place and in a better position because of the way David has led the sector.”

“Leadership is interesting,” says David. “A leader is someone who can empower and encourage others to achieve what they may not be able to achieve on their own. Leadership can certainly be developed, strengthened and fine tuned but I believe you need to have been born with some ability to influence and guide.”  

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Keelen Mailman, ARP 16 Course participant with Dr Bedi, Feb 2010

There is no room in Dr Kiran Bedi’s head for negative thoughts. As an agent of change working with the rural poor in India, Dr Bedi focuses single-mindedly on a positive future and how she can do things better today than yesterday.

“Literally here and now, you need to be a traffic manager in your mind and drive your own self,” Dr Bedi told Course 16 of the Australian Rural Leadership Program during a study tour to India earlier this year.

“This is not theory. You need to practise every day – being conscious every moment, here and now, you are literally listening to yourself, observing yourself and monitoring yourself. If a negative thought comes there is no room for it because it gets surmounted by the rest of the positive energy that says – there is no place for you, get out. You need to be continually steering yourself. It is a very conscious habit and you nurture it by good reading, good deeds, good environment and doing the right thing,” she said.

Breaking new ground and searching for innovative ways around challenges and obstacles has been the story of Dr Bedi’s life – from student to tennis champion, senior police officer, prison leader, social justice campaigner, motivator and social change agent.

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Mike Nunn is a father of four, a self-confessed workaholic and he gets his biggest kick out of sharing his knowledge and experience with others. He is a veterinarian and the Principal Scientist (Animal Biosecurity) in the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) where he works in risk analysis and the prevention and control of animal diseases. He is a graduate of ARLP Course 5 and recently agreed to be profiled for The Rural Leader.

After graduating in Melbourne, Mike went to Papua New Guinea (PNG) where he undertook clinical, training and regulatory roles. He then completed postgraduate studies in tropical veterinary science in Townsville and returned to run PNG's National Veterinary Laboratory and marry Patricia, whom he met on his first stint in the country.

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