Macquarie Group Foundation Professor, Centre for Social Impact, University of NSW.
Prof. Shergold was a CEO in the Australian Public Service for two decades. He was Australia's most senior public administrator serving as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He directly served three Prime Ministers and eight Ministers in both Coalition and Labor governments. His other roles in the public service included establishing the Office of Multicultural Affairs, heading the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), Chief Executive Officer of Comcare and was the Public Service Commissioner. He also served as Secretary of the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business and became the Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training. Prof. Shergold joined the Board of AMP in May 2008. He is actively involved in the non-profit sector and is Chair of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
Community Leadership in Rural Australia Audio 40 min 19MB
Director, National Institute for Rural and Regional Australia,
Australian National University Dr Linda Botterill has had extensive experience in public policy development in the Australian Public Service, both as a ministeria ladviser and as a policy officer in two industry associations. Her research interest is in the area of rural policy with a focus on Australian drought policy, rural adjustment,farm welfare and the wheat industry.
Challenges of Drought Policy and Options for the Future Audio 40 min 14MB
Senior Lecturer, Centre for Remote Health,
Sabina's professional activities have focused on remote, isolated and rural health,in particular Aboriginal primary health care and health inequalities, and she is a recognised leader in remote health nationally and internationally.Sabina was a foundation member, and past president, of the Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (CRANA), foundation deputy Chair and Chair of the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA), and Chair of Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association (CARPA) editorial committee. She has been awarded the Centenary Medal, the Louis Ariotti Award for excellence and leadership in rural health, and the CRANA Aurora Award for leadership and outstanding contribution to remote health. She is aFellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Roya College of Nursing Australia, a member of the Deputy Prime Minister's Regional Women's Advisory Council and the Northern Territory Health Minister's Advisory Council, and a Director of the board of the Rural Health Education Foundation.
The social and health impacts of drought on rural and remote communities. Audio 30 min 6.24MB
Consultant Human Resources Rimfire Resources.
Dennis is an organisational consultant with over 30 years experience in working with leaders and managers of some of Australia's largest organisations. He brings with him a wealth of experience in working with individuals, teams and organisations in achieving excellence and high performance. His main area of consulting expertise is organisational change and effectiveness. He brings with him a practical and pragmatic style that clients' value and is one of his main acknowledged strengths. He recently project managed a national project aimed at identifying strategies to build flexible and sustainable workforces in regional and rural Australia. This experience has him well placed to provide some of the lessons learnt from this experience and to provide advice as to issues to be aware of and strategies to build collaboration between industry sectors in region and rural Australia.
Agriculture: trends in the workforce and needs. Audio 20 min 6mb
Former Deputy Prime Minister for six years, between 1999 and 2005 and locally, Member for Gwydir for nineteen years.
Mr Anderson holds a Master of Arts (Sydney) and is a farmer in Northern NSW. In government, Mr Anderson drove policy initiatives as diverse as the National Water Initiative, Auslink (national transport plan) and Regional Development. Mr Anderson served on the National Security Committee for six years and was on the Economic Review Committee which reconstructed the Federal Budgets in the earlier years of the Howard government. Mr Anderson retains a deep interest in regional development and the sustainable use of natural resources. He has been Chairman of Narrabriâ€based coal seam gas company Eastern Star Gas Ltd since October 2007.
Work force challenges Audio 36 min 8.8mb
Director, Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney
Prior to his appointment at the WRC, John was employed for seven years in the Australian Public Service. During this period he worked on issues as diverse as public sector job creation and local employment initiatives, the employment impact of cuts in barrier protection and labour dimensions of microeconomic reform. Currently his major research interests are the demise of the classical wage earner model of employment and the role of the state in nurturing new forms of multi-employer co-ordination to promote both efficiency and fairness in the labour market.
Understanding workforce participation. Audio 29 min 7.1mb
Chair, Cotton Australia, Vice President, Qld Farmers Federation.
Joanne Grainger is a primary producer and irrigator from the Border Rivers Region of NSW/Qld and has been a partner in a mixed farming enterprise for the past 27 years. She is currently Chair of Cotton Australia and Vice President of Qld Farmers Federation and represents the Cotton industry on National Farmers Federation Members Council. She has recently been appointed to the Primary Industries Education Foundation Board and is a member of the Qld Workplace Health and Safety Advisory Board. Joanne is involved in policy development and advocacy for the cotton industry at a state and national level and has a special interest in capacity building in rural industries and in advancing the achievement of sustainable farming practices.
Supply Chain: Retaining people in the regions for the regions Audio 13 min 3.1mb
Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Sylvia is a current Director of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. She served a term on the Regional Women's Advisory Council, which advised the Deputy Prime Minister on matters of importance in rural and regional Australia. Sylvia brings a blend of community, public and private sector experience to her current role.
Building human capacity in regional communities Audio 25 Min 6 MB
Director, Australian Centre for Agricultural Law, The University of New England.
Professor Paul Martin joined UNE as the Director of the Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law in 2005. Professor Martin has many years of business experience, including as a director and substantial shareholder in high technology enterprises, as a director of a successful venture capital firm, and as a member of the NSW Innovation Council and the Australian government Pooled Development Funds Registration Board. He was also a senior Visiting Fellow at the Australian Graduate School of Management for 20 years, responsible for a range of programs in both law and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining the University, Professor Martin was Chairman of the (NSW) Southern Catchment Management Board. He has authored books and studies on taxation, natural resources, and negotiation; and has advised local and international corporations and governments on strategy in a range of areas including taxation leveraged investment, harvesting and shearing robotics, chemicals, healthcare and high technology. In early 2006 Paul published a book 'Sustainability Strategy' with Miriam Verbeek. This book is designed to give a comprehensive understanding of achieving sustainability goals in the public sector, natural resource management and business.
Rural communities resurgence. Resilience. Trends and options. Audio 30 min 4.3 MB
Director Judith Stubbs and Associates.
Judith conducts research and publishes on a wide range of issues including urban social justice, affordable housing, aged accommodation and services planning; social and economic impact assessment of gaming and various types of urban developments; labour market studies, and regional economic development. Judith is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow with City Futures/AHURI at the University of NSW and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with the Social Justice and Social Change Research Centre at the University of Western Sydney. In 2003, she obtained a PhD from RMIT University (Faculty of the Constructed Environment). She regularly provides expert evidence on social and economic impact assessment for the NSW Land and Environment Court and Supreme Court. She has also developed and implemented large and complex community engagement strategies in relation to highly sensitive government projects, including the redevelopment of Bonnyrigg Public Housing Estate in Southwest Sydney. Judith is Chairperson of the Illawarra Legal Centre, Chair of the Tenant Support and Advocacy Service auspiced by the Centre; and board member of Shelter NSW, the peak housing advocacy body for NSW.
Impacts of policy on community wellbeing in the Murray Darling Basin. Audio 30 Min 9.7 MB
General Manager, Namoi CMA.
Bruce has had extensive senior management experience across a number of agribusiness industries. These roles have involved profit centre management, strategic planning, business development and marketing activities. Bruce has a strong agricultural network across both the private and government sectors. He is currently a member of the National Rural Advisory Council and recently participated as a panel member in the review of the National Rural Counselling Service. He is an honours graduate of both Wagga Agricultural College and UNE (Bachelor of Agricultural Economics) and has in the past served as an Advisory Council member of Orange Agricultural College. Bruce also has farming interests involving grain production and cattle breeding.
Agricultural Sector Productivity and Natural Resource Management Audio 30 Min 6.64 MB
Chief Executive Officer, Agrifoods Australia.
Arthur Blewitt commenced as the inaugural CEO of AgriFood Skills Australia in August 2004. Arthur has a background in executive leadership and management in the public sector and statutory authorities, has worked as a business consultant and held company directorships in banking, R&D and the arts. His roles have involved working with boards, industry and government in developing strategy and policy, building organisational capability, business development, financial management, and governance and compliance. Arthur's appointments have included Chief General Manager, Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts; Chief General Manager and Head, Old Parliament House; Executive Director, CSIRO; General Manager, Human Resources, CSIRO; Secretary, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Arthur has a BA (economics and public administration), is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He has completed a number of senior management programs including at Melbourne Business School, UNSW and a global business program at MIT, Boston.
Taking a regional approach to rural workforces Audio 21 min 5 mb
Mayor Western Downs Regional Council Qld.
Mayor of the Western Downs Regional Council covering 38,000km, representing 23 towns and 99 communities, all sitting on a bed of coal in a rural region. Ray and his wife live on their family grain and cattle property in the Moonie District. He has great ties with the rural sector and also having connections to the mining sector through the development of the Moonie Oilfields on one of his properties. Due to his keen interest in sport and agriculture he has travelled the world but his passion is his region's communities and where they are heading in the future. He has been in the role of Mayor for the past 2 years and has previously represented Local Government for 20 years. He is currently; Chair of Surat Basin Leadership Group; Representative of the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee; Member of the Queensland Dog Offensive Group (QDOG). Through his Council duties, he has had a keen interest in development, finance, auditing, and is the Spokesperson for Governance.
How to deal with major industry changes on the ground. A case study from Western Downs Regional Council, Qld.
Audio 36 min 9.1mb
Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Employment Strategy.
Danny is a proud Aboriginal man with family connections from the Singleton, La Perouse and Orient Point communities. The Lester Family has a rich and valued culture that has been taught through generations. Danny attended De La Salle Catholic School at Caringbah and Cronulla and he rose through the ranks as a Manager in the Commonwealth and State Public Service quite quickly, his most recent positions was leading Area East Coast in Centrelink and the NSW Department of Education and Training and now working as Chief Executive Officer at the AES. Danny graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in 2001 with a degree in Adult Education, he also attended the Foundation of Young Australians future leaders forum in 2000. Danny has a passion to improve social and economic well being for Aboriginal people. His work throughout the past years has seen innovative and real change in Aboriginal communities. He wants to ensure real and sustainable opportunities in life are an option for Aboriginal people.
Future opportunities for indigenous workforces Audio 23 min 5.6mb
Rural Communications Consultant and President of Queensland Rural Women's Network.
Georgie is a rural leader with experience in agribusiness, rural tourism and regional development. With a background in communications and regional development, her specialities are identifying opportunities, resolving issues and creating linkages and networks across various sectors. Actively involved in a family owned beef property in southern Queensland and the mother of three children, Georgie is President of the Queensland Rural Women's Network, a member of the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC), and the Queensland Rural Skilling and Labour Strategy Industry Advisory Group. A current participant on the Australian Rural Leadership Program, Georgie is also involved in several community committees and national organisations. Georgie believes in lifelong learning and education, and knows that living in a remote location does not mean you are isolated from information or influence if you choose to stay connected.
Sustaining the people who sustain our communities. Audio 28 Min 6.7 MB
Regional Development Australia - Orana Region.
John Walkom was appointed as Chair of Regional Development Australia - Orana in 2009, having been the Interim Chair from its beginnings. Previously, John was the appointed Chair of Gowest, a NSW government regional development board since August 2005. He has vast experience in board procedures and operations, having served as Company Director on various boards within the private sector plus his years in the role of Chair of regional committees. John Walkom has over thirtyâ€three years of business experience and during this time, has owned, operated and developed his own businesses. This experience includes retail, manufacturing and the service industry and extends to property development, both commercial and residential. Along with this, John exudes a great passion for the Orana region and its development. He believes strongly in growing our communities and thereby our region, as we grow our businesses and economic base. John lives in Dubbo with his wife and six children.
Building businesses to sustain rural communities.Audio 25 Min 6.2 MB
CEO Council of Rural Research and Development Corporation.
Sue was appointed CEO of the Council of Rural R&D Corporation in August 2009 and her role is to help drive the Council's agenda in providing strategic leadership for collaborative, effective and efficient investment in rural RD&E and to provide a national coordinated voice on all major issues affecting the RDCs. Su is the immediate past Executive Director of the Office of Best Practice Regulation where she was responsible for implementation of the Australian Government's regulatory reform agenda including a new regulatory framework, strengthened impact assessment and review mechanisms. She was also a Consultant Specialist Advisor to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources' Office of Small Business and prior to this, Su held senior policy positions with the Business Council of Australia, the National Farmers Federation and the Australian Taxation Office. Su also runs a beef cattle enterprise at Yass
Human capacity development in rural industries.Audio 6 Min 1.5 MB
