Our Team

Cheryl Phillips
General Manager/ Training Manager / Principal Facilitator

Cheryl is the General Manager and Senior Facilitator for Leading Industries and has developed a Program which builds the leadership capacity of rural industries.  Her role has been the design and implementation of training programs for both industries and communities, together with building a business which makes a positive and significant difference to rural Australia.

Cheryl established her consulting business Changing Communities in 1987 and specialises in human resource development, community development and strategic planning within a rural context. 

Cheryl has a Masters degree in Social Science, Community Development and has recently completed her Doctorate. Cheryl is a Graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, a former Local Government Councillor and the recipient of the APEN (Australasia Pacific Extension Network) Award for Excellence in Extension 2001.

Jill Briggs
Co-Facilitator

Jill focuses on assisting primary producers to reach their personal goals through leadership skill development. Jill has a history of developing and training in key leadership areas: communication, team development, workplace cooperation, conflict resolution and public speaking.

Involvement in rural training programs has seen Jill facilitate in programs for seafood, dairy and rural women’s leadership.

As a qualified Adult Educator – Post Graduate in Adult Learning - Jill’s work history has seen her develop materials for the Diploma in Horticulture and online learning materials for the Agriculture/Horticulture training package.

Jill is a partner in a primary production business in Northeast Victoria.

Ralph Leutton
Co-Facilitator

Ralph Leutton is the Program Manager – Policy and Legislation for Cotton Australia. Ralph came to the cotton industry after holding the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation for a period of seven and a half years. He holds a Masters Degree in Immuno-Parasitology and has held positions in research – in university and government departments; tertiary education – Senior Lecturer in International Marketing Skills; event organization – Expo 88, Beef 88 and Beef 91; and agri-political organsations.

Ralph is a trained Trainer and has facilitated numerous strategic planning and group dynamics workshops in both rural and voluntary organisations. He has facilitated many discussions and debates that have focused on key issues impacting directly on primary producers.

In Cotton Australia, his key focus is the development of realistic and achievable policy statements that meet the criteria of the triple bottom line – environment, economic and social. This is being achieved through a careful process of consultation involving stakeholders from both inside and outside of the industry.

Kelly Tape
Training Co-ordinator

Kelly is the Training Co-ordinator for Leading Industries and brings exceptional administration and organisational skills which enables the leadership courses to run smoothly.

Kelly has a degree in Marketing and specialises in program logistics, together with accessing sponsorship and ensuring sponsors recieve quality benefits.  Kelly also liaises with industry and community representatives and does follow-up work as required.