Three participants from Gt Southern selected for 'Future Leaders' course

11/8/97

Seven potential leaders from primary industries and rural communities in the Northern Agricultural Region have been selected to undertake a new 'Future Leaders' course, initiated by Primary Industry Minister Monty House.

The Minister today announced the first group of 20 participants to undertake the high level leadership training course in the Kimberley during September.

Dongara lobster fisherman Kim Colero, Yalgoo pastoral station managers Anthony Fellows and Mark Halleen, Geraldton communications consultant Jackie Gill, Calingiri community development officer Angela Kelsall, Geraldton agricultural consultant Paul McKenzie and Agriculture Western Australia's Moora district leader Peter Stubbs are among those selected for this inaugural course.

Mr House said the group represented a large area of the State - from as far south as Albany and as far north as Kununurra - and a wide range of occupations including farmers, fishermen, a rural business banking manager, communications consultants and agricultural consultants.

"All 20 participants are highly motivated with the vision and drive to successfully navigate rural industries and communities through dramatic changes in agriculture, fishing, marketing and trade and the continuing wave of new technology," Mr House said.

"Emerging leaders from these industries and communities now have the opportunity to gain high-level skills and experience to position rural Western Australia as a major force in world agriculture and fisheries."

Mr House said the Future Leaders course was a new component of the Western Australian Leadership Program and comprised two major elements.

The 10-day Kimberley program would provide a challenging leadership experience to prepare participants for case studies which investigated future opportunities for WA agriculture and fisheries and the role of leadership in developing these.

During the following six months, participants would develop case studies at a global level, focussing on WA as a national and international competitor.

"Investment in people, particularly young people, is vitally important to the rural sector's future," the Minister said.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9481 2044