About the Leading Industries' Programs

Our Products

Leading Industries was established in 1997. In brief the Leading Industries programs are the premium leadership development programs for Australia’s primary industries. Leading Industries provides programs that build the leadership capacity of industry by matching participants to appropriate training; supporting them to operate at a higher level and creating strong links with industry organisations to facilitate effective succession planning.

The Leading Industries' Programs are based in the knowledge that primary industries have a wealth of untapped human resources and that this is under-utilised due to people lacking the skills, knowledge and confidence to participate effectively at the various levels of industry.  The Leading Industries Program therefore equip participants with skills, knowledge, confidence and contacts in an experiential learning environment, together with the opportunities to use these tools in an industry context throughout the Programs.

The Programs developed during the past decade follow extensive work with a number of rural industries and communities and is based on a philosophy of:

• Team leadership.
• Accountability of participants and graduates.
• Connecting graduates with existing industry structures, and
• Mentoring to further enhance the learning culture.

The overall Leading Industries’ Program is offered in seven discreet, articulated units that target individuals at different levels of experience and personal development.  An additional unit is targeted at industry organisations to assist them in developing supportive structures and opportunities for expanding depth and breadth of representation.  The Program can be taken up as a whole or individual units can be customised to a particular industry need. Refer to the section on ‘The Programs’ for more detail.

The unique features of the Leading Industries Training Program include opportunities during the Program for participants to: 

• Identify, plan and implement an industry project.
• Identify and negotiate with a mentor to form a learning partnership for the duration of the Program.
• Chair industry dinners and host guests.
• Chair and manage industry panel sessions.
• Be positioned so they can be assessed and gain recognition toward a formal qualification using the Rural Production National Training Package.

All participants are linked with their existing industry organisations and leaders to ensure that they work with industry after graduation rather than in isolation.  Graduates are encouraged to view leadership as being about teams and outcomes. 

Our Program has strong support from the national industry stakeholders within the various groups we work with such as Dairy Australia and the Australian Dairy Farmers for the Dairy Industry, the Sugar Research and Development Corporation for the Sugar Industry and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation for the Fishing Industry.

1. Start Up - Development of awareness among individual members of the industry / community of the formal decision making processes. A one day program offered at a regional level which provides a context for future involvement, together with the basic skills required by an industry/community member commencing their involvement in formal decision making.
   
   
2. Impact on - Training of individuals to enable their effective participation in industry/community structures and processes. A five day - two session program provided at a state level which aims to develop the skills, knowledge, confidence and contacts required by new members of the industry decision making process. Alternatively, a  three day program has been adapted to meet the specific needs of some industries.
   
   
3. Advance in - Investment in individuals who are committed to a team approach and able to represent the industry/community at the local, state and national level. An eight day, three session program conducted at the national level to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and contacts to become an effective representative of their industry/community. Alternatively, a  five day program has been adapted to meet the specific needs of some industries.
   
   
4. Deliver for – Graduate Action program
   A program designed to create a professional network for young people within an industry in order for them to form alliances to act on issues and opportunities.  Furthermore, participants gain access to new skills and networks customised for each sector.
   
   
5. Learn with - Establishment of a culture of continual improvement by linking experienced industry/community members with the next generation of leaders through a mentoring program. An integral part of each training program is the linking of mentors with participants in order to provide them with the corporate culture of the industry, models of best practice, together with the necessary guidance, support and challenges to enhance the learning of each participant.  A program has been developed to assist mentors in resourcing emerging leaders by presenting a context of cultural change with an emphasis on continuous improvement and the creation of opportunities for the practical application of the skills, knowledge and networks gained. This is a one day program entitled “Getting It” and can be presented at a regional, State or national, level.
   
   
6. Plan to - Organisational change within the formal structures and processes to ensure resourcing and support of training program graduates.
   In order for the benefits of the program to be maximised it is essential for the organisations to be sensitised to the need to facilitate the integration of graduates into the industry decision making processes. This is a process of organisational review, together with the implementation of succession planning and professional development training.
   
   
7. Hook In & Deliver For Newsletters:  the purpose of these newsletters is to profile graduates and the progress they have made on their specific projects as well as within their industry.  It aims to provide a source of accountability and model best practice at an individual, enterprise and industry level. The newsletters also provide an opportunity for graduates to expand their networks.  Finally, the newsletter provides insights into the Leading Industries' programs and other available development opportunities.