COTTON AustraliaΆs important work on policy, advocacy, stewardship and essential services would be known to most in our great industry.

But one of our lesser known programs nevertheless pays huge dividends for Australian cotton – leadership programs.

Alongside its workforce capacity program, Cotton Australia invests in programs designed to ensure the industry has a pipeline of dedicated, talented and passionate leaders.

The leadership programs sponsored and supported by the organisation are diverse and designed to boost the skills and leadership qualities of the industryΆs next generation of talent throughout the supply chain.

Cotton Australia sponsors or otherwise supports numerous industry leadership programs. HereΆs a snapshot of the major programs and how they pay dividends to the industry.

Young Farming Champions
AN initiative of Art4Agriculture and now in its fourth year, the Young Farming Champions (YFCs) program delivers positive cotton industry messages straight to classrooms.

Its purpose is to create an Australia-wide network of enthusiastic young farming professionals and build their capacity to promote Australian agriculture as a dynamic, innovative, rewarding and vibrant industry.

CGAs are encouraged to identify and put forward suggestions for rising stars.

Young industry representatives are trained to represent cotton and actively engage with students in their local schools using Art4Agriculture programs as a platform.

This program is a stepping stone for young people to build the confidence to take on positions of responsibility in the industry after the program.

Participants undertake workshops on public speaking and presentation, audience engagement, digital media and film training, identifying and communicating key industry messages, active listening, and managing difficult conversations.

The current crop of Young Farming Champions are Laura Bennett (ag science student, Wagga Wagga), Naomi Mulligan (grower, Moree), Dwayne Schubert (agronomist, Gunnedah), and Alexander Stephens (leading hand, Goondiwindi).

Future Cotton Leaders
AN initiative of Cotton Australia and supported by the CRDC, the Future Cotton Leaders (FCL) program aims to attracts growers, ginners, researchers, consultants and merchants who are committed to the future of the industry and who want to develop their knowledge, skills and experience.

The program, which is focused on participant projects, has four key stages: leadership development; individual skill application and project goal setting; leading change; and contributing to industry.

Participants focus on innovative leadership models, network with well-established leaders, access current industry and business experts and participate in the Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast.

A major focus of the program is to link participants with established industry organisations and leaders to form an integrated leadership development model.

Projects identified for development by current FCLs range from workforce development and career building strategies to sustainability, and from developing leadership for women to cotton classing.

Cotton Australia Central Highlands regional manager, Renee Anderson, is currently part of the Future Cotton Leaders program.

Her project is to develop a mentoring component for a workforce development program, which would connect trainees with cotton growers to develop a skilled and sustainable workforce pool in the Central Highlands region.

Australian Rural Leadership Program
THE Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) is in its 21st year, and is focused on producing a network of informed, capable and ethical leaders who can work collaboratively to advance the interests of their industries, communities and rural Australia.

It includes challenge-based education, workshops, and overseas field study.

The ARLP is run over 59 program days (delivered in six sessions, over 17 months).

Cotton AustraliaΆs participation in the ARLF is a joint scholarship in conjunction with CRDC.

Cotton AustraliaΆs Dawson Valley regional manager Bronwyn Christensen is in the ARLP program.

Nuffield Farming Scholarship
THE Nuffield Farming Scholarship is for outstanding farmers, owners or managers aged between 28 and 40 to pursue an area of agricultural study internationally and at home.

Participants travel for up to four months overseas, meeting farmers and agriculture decision makers on other continents and learning about farming practices.

Cotton grower Nigel Corish, Goondiwindi, is a current Nuffield participant and has kicked off his global tour of agriculture focussing on AustraliaΆs largest cotton export recipient – China.

He has already travelled to the Philippines and Hong Kong, and in the near future will continue on to Canada (for the Nuffield International Conference), the Netherlands, the US, France and Ireland.

Mr Corish is studying how to improve both fertiliser use efficiency and nitrogen uptake efficiency and he recognises a number of benefits of the Nuffield program.

He already considers the program a ΅life-changing experienceΆ, and encourages growers to put their hand up and apply for the 2015 Nuffield Scholarship program.

Peter Cullen Trust
THE program behind the Peter Cullen Trust focuses on raising awareness of key issues amongst irrigationΆs rising stars and building leadership and communication skills in order to effect positive change in water and catchment management in Australia.

Cotton Australia and the CRDC sponsor the 2014 Peter Cullen Water and Environmental Trust leadership program.

The Trust closed applications for 2014 in May.

In September, 15 successful applicants actively involved in water systems management will begin the program.

The selection process aims to attract participants who can think strategically, understand the political process, have the capacity to influence policy, demonstrate evidence of change leadership through collaboration, and have future aspirations of leadership.

Upon completion, successful participants graduate as Fellows of the Peter Cullen Trust. The Australian cotton industry currently has four Fellows: Juanita Hamparsum, Susan Madden, Brendon Warnock and Brendan Barry.

Assistance
ON top of this significant investment in leadership programs, Cotton Australia also offers assistance to future leaders just beginning their careers in the industry.

Enabled by the Cotton Catchments Communities CRC Legacy Fund, Cotton Australia offers scholarships and sponsorships for university and college students, including:

Final Year Undergraduate Project Scholarships
Cotton Conference Scholarships
Final Year Project Teacher Scholarships
Final Year Textiles Undergraduate Project Sponsorship
Scholarships for the Emerald Agricultural College (EAC) offered in partnership with the Central Highlands Cotton Growers & Irrigators Association (CHCGIA)
Sponsored places on the Emerald Agricultural College TASTE program for senior high school students.
Through these important initiatives, Cotton Australia is working to guarantee a pipeline of talented leaders for our industry well into the future.